7.62x39 questions for pigs

[dust]

What i have seen about the rounds tells me it's just a commie 30-30 ballistically. But I still get several, that's not a pig caliber comments. Does anyone have any good or bads about the caliber, assuming decent ammo is used and the gun is not stretched past 300m(the range I was told it was designed for shooting people within)? Would be used in N/NW Texas if that matters.

Next, the gun for the round. We have a few SKS's, and are looking at buying 2 more ARs. I have read some bad things about the x39 in ARs in regards to magazines, but haven't been able to pick one up since the new people got in. Does anyone have any comments on SKS or AR for the 7.62x39?

[specweldtom]

dust, the biggest drawback to hunting anything with a 7.62x39 is the accuracy of the rifles chambered for it. In my limited experience, a good SKS is more accurate than the best AK. Also, the AK will hurt your ears without plugs or muffs, and I don't like to hunt with either. The hardball round will certainly kill a hog, but some jacketed softpoints are available for it too. And some tracer (corrosive).

I would try a low powered scope on the SKS's (there are some good mounts available) and if the best one is accurate enough for your needs, use it. I've killed hogs out to 140 yds with an AR in .223, so I know the 7.62x39 will kill them if you hit them. For 300 yds, I'd go to a .308, like an M1-A.

Good luck, Tom

[dust]

I was questioning the AR, not the AK. I have a mount on the SKS, but it's loose. It's one of the reasons we are looing at going over to the AR. But magazines are gonna be hard to deal with. We have quite a bit of ammo, in FMJ and HP, maybe SOME softpoint. I may see what I can get a HP to do with some testing when I get back. The SKS was minute of clay pigeon at 100 yards with cheap ammo, so it should be accurate enough to take out pigs around 100 yards, and would be fast enough to get more than one shot off if possible.

[SkyScrapin]

7.62x39 is an awesome pig round as far as my experience goes. Last time I went out, dropped 9/20 pigs. Course... took the vultures about 2 days to find 4 of them.

Sorry, im not help with your AR issue though.

Preston

[specweldtom]

dust, sorry, but I couldn't comment on the AR in 7.62x39. Never had one, never fired one. I commented on the AK and SKS because both were designed for that round, and I have shot both. Back when I could almost have afforded an AR, I never considered one in 7.62x39. The biggest issue for me was that most of the ammo was steel cased and corrosive. The gas system in a SKS is not as corrosion resistant as an AK, but both were designed for corrosive ammo and both are easy to clean. The AR pipes combustion gas and residue right into the breech, and would not be easily cleaned after firing corrosive ammo.

I don't know which mount you are using on the SKS, but if it's not tight and steady, you're better off using the battle sights. I have seen several very secure steel scope mounts that were not expensive, (they may be now).

Sounds like the SKS may be your best bet, and if your hunting is in open country, you can empty a 10 rd magazine before they can all get out of range. You can kill some of them and ruin the day for the rest. I believe that when you hose them down, the survivors remember where they were longer. That's important to me because I'm just trying to keep them off my feeders. The ranch owner doesn't allow feeder pens.

Good luck, Tom

[dust]

I have been thinking about the AR platform only because it may be more accurate. Any ideas on the SKS mount that isn't flimsy?

[specweldtom]

The best idea is to go to a gun show and look them over before deciding. From what I remember, some were crap, but 2 or 3 looked well made and could be either fitted to an individual receiver or had rails and clamp screws that could hold the cover satisfactorily. Next best would be Brownell's or Tapco and talk to a technician about the quality of a particular mount.

Good luck, Tom