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7.62x39 for hogs?
#5600548
02/15/15 07:44 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 266
clayguy
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 266 |
I normally shoot hogs with 30-30 but have a 7.62x39 ar as well and have been thinking of trying on in my next hog hunt. Anyone have much experience with this. Thanks.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600550
02/15/15 07:46 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,248
Double Naught Spy
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,248 |
No, but I know several guys who do have experience with it. NONE are disappointed with using it.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600603
02/15/15 08:29 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 266
clayguy
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 266 |
Thanks, I'll give it a shot.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600609
02/15/15 08:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,039
Vern1
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,039 |
For many years, we used a pair of SKSs to lay waste to our feral hogs.
As I got deeper and deeper into hunting pigs, I determined I needed more accuracy than an SKS could reliably produce at longer ranges. I started using ARs and eventually bought a 7.62x39 upper with stainless barrel for my AR as I had tons of ammo already.
The 7.62x39 round shot out of an AR platform is surgically accurate and deadly on pigs. I used FMJ and HP rounds from Wolf and took quite a few pigs.
I needed a little more range than the 7.62x39 could reach and eventually switched to 6.8x43 AR Performance chamber running warm handloads but the 7.62x39 is still carried around on my 4 wheeler around the ranch. Having owned and used both, I would take an AR with a good 7.62x39 upper over a 300BO upper all day, everyday unless running suppressed and subsonic, which I never do anyway.
Cheers, Vern1 Texans since The Old 300 in 1824 NRA Lifetime Member
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600629
02/15/15 08:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,741
passthru
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,741 |
Where are you at? I have a couple boxes of HP ammo you could try on them if you're not to far.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600709
02/15/15 09:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,789
ZenArchery
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,789 |
Killed my biggest hog to date with a 7.62x39 so yep... winner winner bacon dinner.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600720
02/15/15 09:41 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,453
dfwroadkill
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
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Posts: 3,453 |
I have had excellent luck with my AR in 7.62 x 39.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600721
02/15/15 09:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 266
clayguy
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 266 |
Nrh passthru I figured it would work pretty well and have taken several with well placed .223 but have had my best luck with 30-30. I think the 7.62x39 is a good compromise having good accuracy and still a little thump. Thanks for the input guys.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600731
02/15/15 09:49 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,226
papa45
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Posts: 1,226 |
I've killed several pigs using Wolf 154gr soft point ammo, thinking the heavier bullet would give better penetration than the 122-124gr stuff. The 154's work OK, but hardly expand at all. I presume most folks use the lighter bullets, because they are more popular and much more available. Any thoughts on what's the best cheap ammo to use?
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5600771
02/15/15 10:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,384
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,384 |
I have a Ruger Mini 30 I'll have to try on them, IF (and I'm certainly not wishing for it, but fear it's inevitable) hogs start showing up regularly.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#5601600
02/16/15 01:22 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 174
Jaydub
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 174 |
A have AR's in both 5.56 and 7.62 and all I use is the 7.62. I have upgraded to a 20" heavy barrel and a longer stock with a Nikon P223 scope. I will be putting a 3.5# drop in trigger this spring. It's all I will use on hogs and it is also what I deer hunt with. The farthest I've had a deer run was approx. 60 yds. I had been shooting 154 gr. Herter's soft points but I have switched over to Hornady 123 gr. Trying to drill down on the precision.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5604381
02/17/15 06:24 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,741
passthru
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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Posts: 11,741 |
We aren't far apart. If you want to meet up and try a couple boxes of this you are welcome to it.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5604386
02/17/15 06:28 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 553
FlowerOf Life
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 553 |
you know that's what poachers use in africa on elephants right?
it will kill anything on the planet if you shoot it enough times..that said HP or softpoints out of my sks leave golf ball size holes in pigs and deer..
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5604729
02/17/15 10:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,753
Nathan Nelson
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,753 |
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5604751
02/17/15 10:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 145
WhoDat
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 145 |
I've owned about 5 of them, over the years, and currently have a 10.5" 7.62x39 SBR. It's an adequate round for hogs, and that round shoots accurately, on the AR platform.
Only a few problems I have with it:
1. Reliability - While I've had some that were fairly reliable, many require tweaking and adjustments. Also, you have to do some additional work (enhanced firing pin) to get them to shoot cheap steel ammo. In my experience, about half the mags I buy are reliable. Trouble is you've got to take the time to go through mags and sort the good form the bad. I've had some that have pretty much shot reliable, and others that I just couldn't get to shot reliably enough to feel comfortable with. 2. Reloading - It's a .310, and not a .308, bullet. So, there are fewer options out there, most of which are 123gr. So it's not as easy to play the Super/Sub game, like with the 300 BO. 3. Drop - it has a bit too much of an arc, for me. Then again, even 300 supers have too much of an arc for me, so take that with a grain of salt. I'm just lazy, and don't like to think or adjust much between 50-200yds.
Overall, I think a 7.62x39 AR is great for plinking. It's also a great pig round. So, I'm not disagreeing with anyone about that.
But I have several 6.8spcs, and usually grab for those first. It shoots reliably, flies flat, and there are plenty of great options for reloading (85tsx-120sst, with many in-between). I can reload it pretty cheap, if I look around, but still not as cheap as 7.62x39. I also have a couple 300 BOs, and prefer them over 7.62x39 for their reliability, compatibility with AR mags/bolts, ease of reloading, and the ability to shoot subs.
Still, I own a 762x39 AR. But I always reach for a 6.8/300 BO/.308 AR 10 first. YMMV.
Having said all of this, if you do own a 7.62x39 AR, take that sucker hog-hunting!!! And if you don't reload, pick up a couple boxes of the 123r SSTs...
Last edited by WhoDat; 02/17/15 10:35 PM.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5609574
02/20/15 02:08 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,856
REALKILLER
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,856 |
The soft point will do for body shots and some FMJs for those head shots. Some drop shots[ in between the eyes or real high on the shoulder]
Recently got a gym membership, strange folks! I like to show up the roid zombies with my full motion curls with the 55lb. bells. Not their cheater short stroked light weights. It's holarious.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5609634
02/20/15 02:39 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 825
Spent Brass
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 825 |
My x39 AR gets sub MOA at 100yds with the 123gr SST's, and it is pure poison on pigs. Anywhere between the ear hole and the shoulder and they just drop and wiggle.
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5609721
02/20/15 03:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,039
Vern1
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,039 |
Yeah, Winchester makes some nice 7.62x39 brass. You can start with all new components and load up the 123gr SSTs to make amazing rounds for that caliber. I used them exclusively on pigs for a while and plinked with FMJ and HP.
Cheers, Vern1 Texans since The Old 300 in 1824 NRA Lifetime Member
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Re: 7.62x39 for hogs?
[Re: clayguy]
#5609780
02/20/15 03:52 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 38
krm944
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 38 |
I am unfortunate that I have to travel for each and every hog trip- I dont have them in my back yard or in a location easily obtained within my state.
My first lig hunt I used an 556 AR with the 77 grain ammo. Great for stationary hogs, but once the shooting started the 22 holes didnt pile up the bacon on the running hogs.
At the time all ammo was out of this world expensive and 7.62x39 was semi reasonable.
So far I am super pleased with my AR, It did need the enhanced firing pin, gets super dirty quickly when shooting suppressed, and Remington 123 grain soft points enter the skull above the eye socket, travel along the CNS/spine to about 8 inches past the heart on 212 pound NC hogs!
It was nice to hear credible inputs about the Wolf ammo, as thats my long term intent.
Kyle US Navy Got Hogs? Always up for a road trip!
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