Will the 135 gr. Sierra Single Shot Pistol bullet and the Hornady 130 gr. Single Shot pistol bullet hold up to about 2000 fps with the 7.62 x 39 in the Mini MK X Rifle? It will be used on smallish to medium White Tail Deer. I have a quantity of these left over and thought they might be of good use in the Mini MK X.

Steve E...........

Steve, I think you'll be okay using the Single Shot Pistol bullets in your 7.62X39 m/m rifle. Your velocity will be in the neighborhood of 2,300 to 2,400 FPS.

I'm hoping that being as they are SSP bullets (in a 20 inch barrel) they will behave somewhat like a Ballistic Tip (or similar bullet) and open up pretty good but not fly apart.

Steve E...........

I have shot the Nosler BT's and the Sierra "pistol" bullet with good accurate results in my little Sako 7.62 x 39. Even the 150 grain Nosler's perform very well on Deer sized game.

Looks like a nice Sako Rifle. Did you have it rebarreled or is Sako chambering rifles in 7.62 X 39 m/m?? In my Ruger Model 77 MKII; I used 150 grain (Silvertips made for the .30-30) and used 23.5 grain of IMR-4198. Shot several Ky. Deer with this load, and all were one shot kills.