What Animals Can You Hunt With A 7.62x39

History

During the 1890's war machine powers of the world abased unmarried shot infantry rifles in favor of new mag fed commodities action repeating rifles and auto guns. Although the magazine fed infantry rifle was highly effective, the main cause of casualties inflicted on all sides during the Start World War (1914-1918) came from artillery and secondly, a combination of machine gun fire and barbed wire barricades which slowed down and entangled troops making them easy prey.

One of the first successful firearm designs to achieve sustained automatic fire was Richard Jordan Gatling's hand cranked multi barreled Gatling gun, patented in 1861. This weapon was utilized by the Union Ground forces during the American Civil State of war, adopted by the U.S Army thereafter, remaining in service for some 43 years. The Gatling design was eventually superseded by the Maxim Machine Gun.

In 1884, US born British resident Sir Hiram Maxim announced the introduction of his recoil operated Proverb Auto from whence the term "automobile gun" is derived. The British and continental European powers were initially dull to accept the Saying, but eventually the Proverb pattern was adopted in large numbers. The British first used the Proverb in colonial warfare in smaller numbers (.577/450 Martini Henry), somewhen employing the Proverb chambered for the .303 British cartridge. Deutschland adopted the Maxim equally the Maschinengewehr 08, 8x57JS while Russia employed and nominated the Saying as the Pulemyot Maxima PM1910 in vii.62x54. The U.Due south armed services employed the Maxim pattern in small numbers, chambered in .30 quotient (.30-03 followed by .xxx-06).  Maxim was eventually bought out by the English firm Vickers and in 1912, the British Army adopted the new and improved Marking 1 Vickers .303. The U.Southward followed suit with the Colt-Vickers automobile along with the Browning M1917.

The machine gun tin can be roughly defined every bit a weapon capable of sustained bursts of fully automatic burn and has a loading mechanism that uses either gas from the fired bullet or recoil from the barrel to load successive rounds. The first machine guns were what we now call heavy automobile guns (HMG). On the Western front end of 1914, the Saying type car gun was responsible for 90% of all bullet related casualties. Nevertheless, a major weakness of the tripod mounted water cooled Maxim blazon machine guns was the heavy weight and lack of mobility, requiring four to half-dozen men crews for operation.

The demand for greater mobility led to lighter and more compact machine gun designs such as the Lewis, adopted by Britain in 1915, the British Bren in 1917 and the Browning BAR adopted by the US in 1918. These were highly mobile Lite Machine Guns (LMG) that could be utilized by private soldiers. Historically and generally speaking, light auto guns (LMG) came first with Medium car Guns (MMG) such as the German MG 34 arriving later, though this is a gross generalization. Medium Machine Guns (MMG) are generally described every bit either belt or magazine fed motorcar guns that are air cooled with interchangeable barrels and spare ammunition carried by other soldiers within a military unit.

During the first and second globe wars, all three types of machine gun utilized stiff cartridges capable of engaging targets out to 1200 yards. Today the LMG may simply be an assault burglarize fitted with heavy butt and large chapters magazine however one main feature that sets the modern LMG autonomously from earlier LMG'southward is the employ of small calibers such as the 5.56 NATO (.223 Rem) for a reduction in ammunition majority and weight.

Forth with the medium and lite automobile gun some other type of weapon was developed for trench warfare, the submachine gun or SMG. The SMG featured the automated fire of the machine gun but used pistol ammunition making it a compact, light recoiling weapon constructive out to an absolute maximum range of 150 yards. Prior to the SMG, High german designers had experimented with plumbing fixtures large chapters magazines and detachable shoulder stocks to the C1896 Mauser and Luger 9mm Parabellum pistols. These semi automatic weapons gave limited success while the 9mm Parabellum cartridge would show more useful for future designs.

In 1915 the Italian military adopted the Villar Perosa, a light but unwieldy double barreled automated 9mm bipod mounted carbine. Similar the MMG and LMG the Villar Perosa was yet a defensive or supportive arm rather than an offensive weapon. In 1918 Italy adopted the worlds first true submachine gun, the Beretta 1918. Weeks after Frg adopted the Bergmann/Shmeisser MP18 (Machinen Pistol of 1918)  in 9mm Parabellum, along with strategies to utilize the SMG to information technology'due south fullest potential. Using the strategy of General Erich Ludendorf, modest units of German soldiers armed with the MP18 would test centrolineal lines to find weak defensive positions. Upon determining a weak point the Stosstruppen (stormtroopers!) would initiate a full assault on the position, breaking allied lines before immobilizing artillery and HMG positions allowing the chief body of the attacking force to accelerate and dominate.

Both Britain and the US were unable to develop an SMG before the wars end in 1918. The effectiveness of the SMG led both countries to adopt the Thompson .45 ACP SMG with Britain likewise adopting the 9mm Sten. Of great interest to all parties was the effectiveness of mobile German language assail units armed with fully automated weapons compared to the static and more defensive HMG's and LMG's with assaults performed using bolt action rifles. The SMG did have its weaknesses though, having far lower constructive range than the bolt action burglarize or machine gun using full powered cartridges. The SMG too lacked the power to produce suppressive fire for defense or supportive fire at ranges much beyond 50 yards.

Between the kickoff and second world wars, military developments were somewhat varied. By the mid 1930'south, ordnance departments of both the Usa and Germany had began studies into the feasibility of cocky-loading rifles chambered for intermediate powered cartridges that generated mild recoil for better control during semi-automatic fire. Britain, economically suffering a nifty deal from the previous state of war and in the throes of a depression was unable to fund any such research. The British also believed that a menstruation of peace lay ahead, having no idea of (or ignoring) the fact that Germany was breaking the Versailles treaty and secretly amassing weapons. By 1936 the US ground forces had adopted the M1 Garand self-loading rifle (SLR) simply rejected an intermediate powered cartridge (7x51 / .276 Pederson) to make apply of existing stocks of .30-06 ammunition.

Germany was committed to expanding its existing armament in clandestine while also suffering the effects of the depression. In 1939 Deutschland would in one case over again assail her neighboring countries and by 1942 the Heeres Waffenampt (weapons department) was free to pursue further experiments. In a like vein to the Us Ordnance department, German designers produced a cocky loading rifle, the MKb 1942, chambered for a scaled down cartridge, the 7.92x33 Kurzpatrone. Just every bit MacArthur did, Hitler accepted the rifle merely rejected the cartridge for logistical reasons, allowing experiments to continue based merely on the full sized parent 7.92x57JS. But with the tactics of General Ludendorf now the preferred method of fighting, many German language officials realized the need for a cartridge and rifle that would allow the Sturmtruppen to initiate assaults without having to typically movement within enemy range before engaging targets with the submachine gun. To this end experiments with the 7.92x33 Kurzpatrone were continued in undercover while prototype rifles carried submachine gun designations to disguise their being from Hitler.

The commencement secret paradigm MP43 (Machinen Pistol 1943) was an immediate success in the field. The weapon looked very much like the famous AK47, featuring a 30 round mag and full or semiautomatic selective fire. As popularity and demand for the weapon increased, give-and-take finally got dorsum to a furious Hitler. Production was withal allowed to continue for a further yr of trial and evaluation resulting in the slightly improved Model MP44. Shortly thereafter Hitler's bodyguards demonstrated the effectiveness of the MP44 to their superior. Immediately impressed, the Furor officially accepted the blueprint also as giving the rifle a fearsome new name – Sturmgewhr 44 translated, tempest rifle or assault burglarize. The term assault rifle is the term used today to describe a selective burn down rifle firing an intermediate powered cartridge.

The armed forces assault rifle tin can be seen as a development based on the demands of battle versus economical limitations. Although it's acceptance was based on a gradual evolution, the assault burglarize could have been successfully adopted much, much earlier. The get-go weapon bearing the hallmarks of the modern set on rifle was the Cei Rigotti, created by Italian officeholder, Amerigo Cei in 1890. The rifle was chambered for the mild six.5x52 cartridge and although the weapon worked well it was never adopted. The adjacent land to produce a significant blueprint was Russian federation. In 1916 Vladimir Federov produced the Federov Avtomat in the Japanese caliber 6.5x50. Federov believed the Russian military 7.62x54 cartridge to exist also powerful to control in a self-loading rifle. The mild half dozen.5x50 fired a 137 grain .260" (non .264") bullet at around 2200fps, ideal for his new design. Only effectually 3200 Avtomat rifles were built and saw limited utilise confronting the Germans in 1916 and Russia's two revolutions of 1917. Like most countries, the economical pressures of war committed the Russian military to production of the standard infantry rifle – the Mosin Nagant quotient 7.62x54. The Avtomat was officially rejected and removed from service in 1928, not only for economical reasons but also on the grounds that it was not constructive to 1200 yards.

While Russia struggled to arm it'due south soldiers with Mosin Nagant rifles during the second globe state of war, military arms designers were able to explore the feasibility of an intermediate powered cartridge and self-loading rifle. In the years 1938 to 1940 Russia did adopt a full powered seven.62x54R self-loading rifle, the Tokerov SVT, however reliability bug saw the SVT used in a limited capacity. Several prototype cartridges were developed resulting in the adoption of the 7.62x39 M43 in 1943, this cartridge was designed past Nickolay Elizarov and Boris Semin. The M43 used the same .311" bullet diameter as the long standing vii.62x51 Russian cartridge however the rimless instance was much smaller, giving a velocity of 2300fps with a 123gr bullet from a twenty" butt.

Although having created a cartridge suitable for controlled bursts of fully automatic fire, the showtime rifle to exist accepted for the M43 cartridge was the semi-automated SKS 45. Designed by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov the abbreviation SKS 45 translates as Samozaryadnyi Karabin Sistemi Simonova 1945 or cocky-loading carbine organisation Simonov 1945. The SKS would remain in front line service for only 4 years before another design would eventually replace information technology, the selective burn AK-47 designed by Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov in 1947, officially adopted within the USSR in 1949. This final burglarize blueprint proved extremely robust and reliable under adverse conditions, qualities that cemented and ensured seemingly eternal popularity of the AK-47 blueprint.

Both the SKS and AK-47 have been widely exported equally well every bit being produced past former Eastern Bloc countries and China. The more than popular AK-47 has been produced in diverse forms by at least 31 countries and has been the standard service weapon of 55 major and minor nations. An estimated 100,000,000 AK-47 blazon rifles take been produced as of 2013. It seems that where always there is conflict on our planet, 1 political party or some other will exist utilizing the AK-47. In Russia, the AK-47 has remained in service for over 60 years although the 7.62x39 M43 cartridge has been gradually phased out by the .22" quotient v.45x39 based on the parent M43 case.

While the AK-47 and SKS were primarily designed for war machine utilize, vast numbers of these weapons have been exported and sold to Western civilian markets every bit cheap alternatives to sporting rifles. Both rifles are particularly popular with military machine lucifer shooting enthusiasts besides every bit hunters involved in culling operations while the cheaper SKS has found favor with hunters on a strictly limited upkeep. In its home territory, the AK-47 is oft used as a basic hunting tool, employed throughout the vast expanses of Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Performance

As a hunting cartridge, the M43 round is adequate for close range hunting of lighter medium game but it's performance is generally poor to fair. Using either armed forces FMJ or commercial sporting ammunition, kills with a chest shot are often delayed while animals shot beyond 200 yards may show no sign of being hit, in farthermost cases going then far as to keep grazing (in a confused state) after moving to safer cover.

Full metal Jacket ammunition by and large produces pin hole wounding unless os is struck. Fast kills can therefore simply be obtained with select shot placement.

Loaded with soft point (expanding) bullets, the seven.62x39 produces somewhat better performance only due to a combination of low muzzle velocities and low BC's, bullet expansion is limited, the cartridge quickly losing the ability to create asymmetric to caliber wounding. At around 100 yards, width of wounding begins to taper dramatically. At around 200 yards, well-nigh soft point bullets have lost the ability to create fast killing wounds. Beyond 200 yards, retained energy is extremely low forth with excessive wind drift. Equally suggested, the 7.62x39 is best suited to the hunting of lighter medium game at shut ranges.

In more than recent years China and Yugoslavia accept produced bolt action rifles specifically for the 7.62x39 cartridge. Ruger have too produced runs of the bolt activity M77 and semi-automated Mini 30 in 7.62x39 although diameter sizes are .308", forcing .311" projectiles down to .308" at the chamber. Un-tuned, these rifles (scoped) oft produce accuracy of between i.5 and iii MOA, like to the SKS and AK-47, giving acceptable accuracy out to ranges of 100 to 200 yards.

As a youth grooming cartridge, the vii.62x39 is non completely ideal. In war machine rifles (eg-SKS), the heavy trigger and semi-machine office oftentimes lead to poor shooting habits. Due to the frequently delayed or slow killing, the 7.62 tin cause disappointing experiences. But in properly tuned bolt action rifles, using soft point ammunition used at close to moderate ranges - along with optimal coaching regarding shot placement, the 7.62x39 tin be used by youths in a reliable manner.

Factory Ammunition

Loaded with armed forces surplus total metal jacket ammunition at effectually 2300fps, the M43 is acceptable for alternative just can be unethical in some respects. During the mid 1990'due south hundreds of Chinese SKS rifles and Norinco ammunition were made available to Australian and New Zealand farmers with the cartridge condign immensely pop in the outback of Australia. Out to 200 yards the FMJ M43 bullet gives clean but generally delayed kills, with speed of kills slowing fifty-fifty farther as range increases. Unethical situations result when the culler shoots game, expects a slow impale and therefore does non follow up wounded animals to audit whether shots have struck the chest crenel or gut, the latter resulting in cruel wounds.

Hollow pointing FMJ ammunition tends to show just limited improvement merely can initiate tumbling, resulting in internal wounds of effectually 1.v to 2" in diameter. It is important to empathise that virtually 7.62x39 ammunition is designed around a steel core (lite armor piercing). To this end, hollow pointing cannot crusade mushrooming and instead, serves only every bit a ways to cause instability on affect. There is also an affluence of corrosive primed surplus armament in circulation. This ammunition is extremely harsh on the gas systems of military machine rifles and does somewhen swallow through chrome lined bores.

FMJ armament is capable of reasonably deep penetration on medium game by its very nature - only this does not hateful that animals can be taken from all angles. If heavily raking shots are taken (rear to front), chest wounds tin can be extremely narrow, causing very dull killing. Furthermore, the sectional density of the 123 grain FMJ bullet is rather low and although FMJ bullets are prone to deeper penetration than soft signal bullets, in this example due to SD, in that location are limitations.

Shortly Winchester, Remington and Federal produce 123 to 125 grain soft point ammunition at advertised velocities of 2350 to 2365fps, giving average velocities of 2300 to 2320fps. Norinco, a past major exporter of cheap surplus military ammunition besides load a 122gr soft bespeak bullet giving around 2320fps, traditionally available in k circular packs at a very low price. Performance of all these brands is very like and although the soft bespeak bullet causes greater wounding, faster bleeding and more humane killing than FMJ ammunition, information technology is sometimes hard to tell the difference in performance between these loads and FMJ ammunition as ranges are extended.

Russian manufacturers Barnaul and Wolf, both produce steel jacketed, atomic number 82 core 7.62x39 ammunition. Of these, the 123 grain hollow points tend to produce slightly wider wounding than their 125 grain soft signal counterparts. This is due to the fact that the jackets are copper done steel which when filled with lead, tends to display express expansion on touch on. The hollow point bullets in dissimilarity, are prone to tumbling if stability is disrupted, having the potential for broader wounding. Accuracy of these brands of ammunition (likewise in other calibers) is largely dependent on the individual rifle. Where 1 burglarize volition shoot iii MOA, some other volition shoot within i MOA. If possible, information technology can exist worth utilizing these loads (if accurateness is acceptable) due to the potential for both fair wounding and relatively deep penetration.

Of all of the brands, Hornady lead the manner when it comes to vii.62x39 manufactory ammunition. Hornady currently list two loads which include the 123 grain SST and Zombie Max (Z-Max) bullets, producing around 2350fps in 20 to 22" barrels. Both are actually the same bullet, the latter being a lite hearted marketing campaign - because you know….

Both of the Hornady loads are assembled utilizing (probably Russian) steel cases which helps go along costs well down. The SST bullet design optimizes performance of the 7.62x39 by delivering a balance of the widest possible wounding versus optimum penetration within the limitations of this caliber. Performance is unfortunately limited however the SST / Z-Max set the bar for M43 performance. Hornady have besides produced a V-Max load but this is non currently listed. Performance of all three Hornady projectiles is discussed further in the alee hand loading text.

Hand Loading

Mitt loading does fiddling to improve the velocity and killing ability of the M43 round and nigh hunters using semi-automated military way rifles do not reload but because of the difficulty in recovering ejected brass. All the same, there are a number of hunters using bolt activity 7.62x39 rifles with hand loaded components.

Fast burning powders such as IMR4198 and H4198 (ADI 2207) through to IMR 3031 and H4895 (ADI 2206H) give all-time results. Correct bullet diameter is 310" to .311", with common bullet weights running between 123 and 125 grains. Notwithstanding information technology is possible to utilise 150 grain bullets (.311 /.312') designed for the .303 British. Average velocities with paw loads are 2350 to 2400fps with 125gr bullets and 2000 to 2150fps with 150gr bullets, the quondam giving similar power to manufactory loads.

The common question when reloading for Ruger rifles, is which bullet diameter to employ. Ruger rifles accept .308" bores, while typical vii.62x39 projectiles are of a wider diameter. The trouble is, if .308 projectiles are used, neck tension of re-sized cases is normally quite poor due to instance necks being sized down to suit wider projectiles. In such instances, the hand loader may take no selection but to use .310" bullets. In practice, this is no dissimilar than the .303 Barbarous design premise (See .303 Savage text). Safe incremental load development is the key.

Hornady currently lead the style regarding optimum projectile designs for the 7.62x39. These include a 310" 123 soft betoken, 123 grain SST and 123 grain Z-Max. Hornady accept in the past besides produced a 123 grain V-Max bullet but this is not currently listed amongst the Hornady line upward. The Zombie Max loads (Z-Max) Hornady produce are generally based on repackaged V-Max or A-Max bullets but in this instance, the Z-Max is based on the SST bullet. From softest to stoutest, the order includes 5-Max, soft indicate, SST and Z-Max.

The V-Max bullet is perfectly adequate for hunting lighter bodied medium game, fifty-fifty though it is designed for varmints. The low muzzle velocity of the 7.62x39 ensures acceptable penetration, along with a cannelure which helps arrest expansion and or fragmentation. This is perhaps the very best bullet for hunting lighter medium game with the vii.62x39, however a modest degree of penetration is sacrificed when using the V-Max bullet. The 5-Max has a physically, noticeably lighter jacket than the SST.

The Hornady soft point bullet is a very bones bullet design, performance on lighter medium game is 'acceptable' which is a typical description of the M43 in general. The SST and Z-Max, though stout, expand very quickly due to the wide hollow signal behind the carmine (or green) tip. Equally a general purpose hunting bullet, this projectile offers a remainder of widest possible wounding versus adequate penetration within the limitations of this cartridge design. Nevertheless, hunters should not wait the same dramatic changes that occur when adopting the SST in other cartridges - the 7.62x39 doesn't play brawl in this style.

Sierra produce a stout 125gr .311" bullet while Speer offer a 123 grain .310" soft point. These are very basic conventional projectiles suitable for cross torso shooting of light medium game and should non be expected to penetrate vitals from long raking angles. These are non deep penetrating projectiles, nor are they broad wounding, particularly equally ranges exceed 100 yards.

Sierra and Speer besides produce heavier 150gr .311' .303 British projectiles while Hornady produce a 150gr .312" .303 projectile. These heavier bullets can be used in bolt action rifles, producing deeper penetration than their lighter counterparts however wounding can exist express due to decreased velocity. Nevertheless, the college bullet weight does help ensure penetration on mid-sized deer if raking shots are to be taken at close ranges. Of the heavier projectiles, the Hornady Interlock is the softest projectile and is capable of producing fair wounding, out to ranges of around 100 yards.

Closing Comments

Within its armed forces function, the 7.62x39 and AK-47 rifle can be used to create effective suppressive and offensive fire. Lethality is non an issue here, simply the ability to incapacitate. Outside of its military role, the vii.62x39 displays limited functioning.

As a general hunting cartridge, the 7.62x39 is all-time utilized at close ranges, employing select shot placement - adequate for shooting lighter framed game across small-scale clearings and clear cuts / fire breaks. Results can range from extremely poor to adequate depending on how the cartridge is employed and what type of armament is used. Accurately controlled fire, suitable ammunition and realistic expectations are the keys to success. Personally, I have used the vii.62x39 out to ranges of upwardly to 400 yards and in my experience, results at ranges beyond 200 yards tin can be extremely disappointing.

There are of class those who are completely reliant on the AK-47 rifle for subsistence, a tool that puts food on the tabular array. Similar any tool, the more it is used and its limitations understood, the better ane becomes at achieving desirable results.

Above, equally the bores of AK and SKS rifles get worn, groove diameter tin can open upward to equally much as .315" . At this diameter diameter, .311" bullets do not yield great stability and tend to tumble on impact (along with poor accuracy). The to a higher place photo shows the extend of wounding with tumbling FMJ ammunition at a range of 25 yards. recovered bullet beneath.

Suggested loads: seven.62x39					Butt length: 16-22"
No	ID		Exclusive Density	Ballistic Coefficient	Observed  MV Fps	ME Ft-lb'due south
1	FL/HL	123gr Generic*	.183	.275	2350	1508
two	HL	150gr Hornady Interlock**	.220	.361	2050	1400

Suggested sight settings and bullet paths
i	Yards	50	110/100M	150	200	250
	Bt. path	+.two	0	-one.viii	-6.2	-13.4
two	Yards	100	150	200	250
	Bt. path	+2	0	-4.8	-12.8

No	At yards	10mphXwind	Velocity	Ft-lb'south
one	200	half-dozen.vii	1785	870
2	200	6	1648	905

*Sight height .5" (open sights graduated in meters)
**Sight elevation 1.six" (scoped bolt action rifle).
Notation extremely poor energy and current of air migrate at 200 yards!

vii.62x39	Imperial	Metric
A	.447	11.35
B	.443	xi.25
C	17 deg	17 deg
D	.369	10.06
E	.337	eight.56
F	one.198	30.42
M	.330	viii.38
H	i.518	40.18
Max Example	one.518	40.18
Trim length	i.508	39.88

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