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

 

[Bravo 4]

I have killed several deer with my SKS using factory Remmy Core Locks. Great terminal performance at short to medium distances. My SKS is very accurate compaired to most I've seen...if your's shoots well then go for it.

 

[Nagalfar]

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

I disagree with all AKs being inaccurate, both my Vepr and VZ58 are ZEROED at 430 yards.. and they will send pot bellies into some great aerial gymnastics, my Vepr is a bit more accurate than my VZ but it clearly does the job with cheap russian ammo..

AKs are like any other rifle.. you usually get the quality you are willing to pay for.. you dont really think for one minute that a cheap stamped Chicom is going to be as accurate or well built as something with a heavy milled reciver from the Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant? (sorry if the spelling is wrong) do you?..

I have done a great deal of pig hunting in the Pasa Robles area of California, 7.62 will take them down, but not always, and if the shot is off almost never, but I have found that the trusty old 338 does it much better, and is always more fun. Just my 2 cents....

 

[dust]

Dad will be shooting a Saiga 308, so I need to get the scope and ammo figured out. SP or HP?

 

[sandzzzzz]

I belive there is a lot of x milatary 7.62 left , in the market. and non of those are soft point, which I think is not a good load for hunting, it takes a while before the animal is actuly dead. trust me not many of us want them to suffer.

 

[dust]

I have the ammo. That's not a problem, just dont know which would be better.

 

[nwcp]

I would go with a .308 rather than the 7.62x39. Capable of longer range shots, better accuracy and knock down power. You can pick up one of many bolt action rifles chambered for .308 at really reasonable prices. I went with a CZ 550FS. JMHO

 

[dust]

I would go with a .308 rather than the 7.62x39. Capable of longer range shots, better accuracy and knock down power. You can pick up one of many bolt action rifles chambered for .308 at really reasonable prices. I went with a CZ 550FS. JMHO

I will have a bolt in .308, and my dad will have a Saiga in 308. But, we got into the 7.62x39 in the 90's, and the .223 and .308 this year. Needless to say, I can shoot a hunting magazine full of SP 7.62x39 for the same price as 1 round of .308. At less than 100-200 yards, I don"t think the ballistics of the x39 will make the x51 look that much better. I may try plinking at 500 yards with it just to see what it will do, and at that point I maybe wasting ammo when the .308 is still kicking.

The right gun for the right situation. Besides,we could all use more guns, just don't tell my wife that.