quote:

Originally posted by El Deguello:

I use H335 with both 150 and 180-grain bullets (180 = Speer .311 RN) and get 2300 and 2100 FPS @ 10' respecively. My load for the 150 is 31.5 grains, and 28.5 grains with the 180. Both shoot well from my CX 527 carbine, and those velocities are produced by its 18" barrel. I see no pressure problems with these loads, BUT they are probably close to MAX! This stuff shoots OK in my two SKS's as well.

I'm interested in 150 gr loads using the Sierra or Speer .311 bullets. Seems H335 is good powder, but what brass is best? I'm specifically interested in using Lapua brass, and I'm wondering if that takes a large or small rifle primer. Any discussion will be appreciated. Thanks. KB

I've had a Mini MKX Mauser for some years. I haven't tried any jacketed bullet heavier than 150 gr as the bullet eats up too much powder capacity. With 150 gr .311 Sierra's and .312 150 gr Hornady's I use RL7 for right at 2300 fps also. Both are quite accurate shooting consistant 1.5 MOA. I've not hunted with them as I feared (don't really know) that the bullets would not perform that well. My rifle also shoots the Speer .308 130 gr 30-30 bullet quite well. At 2400 fps it is my choice for deer. I use the R-P cases that take SR primers. Don't know what the Lapua takes but most everything else is LR primers.

Larry Gibson

The 150gr Sierra's shoot beautifully in my CZ. Honest to goodness one hole for 3 shots on several occations BUT...At 100 yds the bullets do not expand reliabliy on game, at least they didn't one time. Yep, damn small samplilng but enough for me. Since the animal in question was a kudu cow and the shot placement was a picture perfect "vital triangle shot" I doubt that the preformance on a whitetail doe is going to improve.

123gr Hornady's are another story, so far, then again, I haven't tried a frontal chest shot at 100 yds on anyting bigger than a coyote. The smal sampling of a few whitetail does that were DRT with side on shots does inspire confidence, with side on shots at whitetail does...

It may well be that the 7.62x39 is just a marginal round period. Not really a big game round and not realy a varmint round. Still toying with the idea of putting on a new barrel and converting the thing to 6mmPPC.

I've toyed with the idea of a fun and light recoil gun for years, and finally got a CZ in 7.62x39. It's a neat looking little cartridge, and the BOLT ACTION rifles made for it are neat. I have read that it is comparable to the 30-30 in power, but I've also read that it really isn't up to the 30-30 performance. I’ve got a feeling that it ain’t as good as the 30-30, but if it is, then that’s plenty good for deer.

Also, to my chagrin. I have read some guys belief that it is an elk cartridge – out to 200 yds. Some folks are true believers, and can’t be confused by the facts.

I have always been a skeptic about the cartridge, but I decided to try it anyway. I have a late season trip planned to Texas in January, and I’ll have plenty of opportunity to try it on some hogs.

So, I plan to hand load something that is most likely to succeed. If it can be achieved, personally I think 2300 fps MV is pretty good, if the shots are kept within the 80 to 100 yard or less range. But it would certainly not be desirable if the bullets didn’t opened up.

I would prefer something in 150 gr, but what about that Barnes .310 bullet 123gr? Sierra also makes a 125gr in .311, which should achieve the 2300 or 2400 fsp goal.

What do you guys think? Perhaps I should take my 280 just in case?

KB

Been traveling for a few days and was not able to answer this posting right on. The 16" Colt and the 23" Wiseman I have both shoot the heavy for cartridge bullets well. The AA 1680 powder and the VV 130 work very well for me. 150's exceed 2200 in the 23" Sako and have been quite successful on 200 lb and under animals. Longest shot was 135 yards and performance of the Nosler BT was excellent.

Lapua brass takes LR primers. If you go here http://www.superiorshooterssupply.com/catalog_page.cfm?...onents&ProductCode=9 you can purchase it for $23/100. That's cheaper than Win brass. It is head stamped K&P, but it is Lapua brass.

Loading heavy bullets for hunting can be a problem. You need to choose a bullet that will expand and penetrate at these slower velocities. I contacted Sierra awhile back and was told that the 150gr .311 and .308 Pro Hunters were designed for higher velocities and would most likely would just pencil through a Whitetail at 7.62x39 velocities.
I have been using .308 bullets without any ill effects in the accuracy dept. Bullets in the 30-30 class or Ballistic Tips work great. I have a couple of great loads using Speer 130 and 150gr FN bullets with H322 or N130.
I found that H 335 was a bit to slow for my 7.62x39 with the 150s. Very heavily compressed and came up short in the velocity dept.
Give some thought to the .308 bullets. Much larger selection and your rifle might shoot them just fine.

Look what I found: https://dakotaammo.net/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22_64&products_id=126

Could these be the trick for my Texas hog hunt in Jaunuary, and whitetail too?

Does anyone have any experience with these CorBon loads? I'm wondering if the bullets are .311? I'll probably call them tomorrow and ask.

KB

Have any of you actually used the Russian soft point (hollow point) ammo for hunting? I would be interested how it might perform on deer or hogs.

quote:

Also, to my chagrin. I have read some guys belief that it is an elk cartridge – out to 200 yds. Some folks are true believers, and can’t be confused by the facts.

My CZ 527 carbine with 18.5" barrel will fire a 150-grain spitzer bullet at 2300 FPS, and a Speer .311" 180-grain RN at 2000 FPS. There is no doubt in my mind that either of these loads would work as well as any .30/30 load for elk, moose, and grizzly bear. I know for a fact that in the early days of the last century there were people who used .30-30's on all three of these species. Probably because that was all they had!

I would not be too hesitant to use this little gun on small whitetail deer out to maybe as far as 150 yards. If I were seeking anything larger or at longer ranges, I would use a larger cartridge!

My take is that the problem is not the cartridge, but the available bullets. The velocity, energy, and accuracy are there for a fine woods cartridge for the smaller big game, but the terminal performance is not and that's all in the bullet. The .308 150 grain Nosler BT certainly sounds like a workable makeshift solution for some of us and close to optimal for those with .308 barrels, but it sure would be nice to have a .311 bullet of 150 grains designed specifically for the 7.62x39.

I have killed 2 deer with the 30 Russian Short, out of an AK 47 [semi-auto].

This was several years ago I used Hansen 123 gr [if I remember correctly it might have been 124gr] factory loads.

Both shots were in the 85 yard range. Both deer ran a short distance and fell over dead.

I see the 7.62x39 as a light bullet 30-30.
I think it is probably best with bullets @ 125 grains.

If I was to load 150 grain bullets I would use those designed for the 30-30.

I would not use the cartridge on game larger than deer.

Although I can say that a good friend of mines daughter has killed deer and a black bear with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Leftoverdj:
My take is that the problem is not the cartridge, but the available bullets. The velocity, energy, and accuracy are there for a fine woods cartridge for the smaller big game, but the terminal performance is not and that's all in the bullet. The .308 150 grain Nosler BT certainly sounds like a workable makeshift solution for some of us and close to optimal for those with .308 barrels, but it sure would be nice to have a .311 bullet of 150 grains designed specifically for the 7.62x39.

Correct. The 7.62x39 will do a nice job on deer sized game out to about 150 yards. The problem is the bullet. Even in the .308 there are only a handful of bullets that will work well. Bullets like the BT and bullets in the 30-30 class or better yet the discontinued SSPs from Hornady and Sierra. Finding a good Whitetail bullet in .310-.311 over 123gr is a problem.