texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
nmmuledeerhunter, Dzia-Dzia, TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed
71989 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,417
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics537,039
Posts9,719,720
Members86,989
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs #7799540 04/08/20 01:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
T
tacotime Online Content OP
Pro Tracker
OP Online Content
Pro Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
Not too confident in this bullet for medium hogs, maybe to 100 lbs.

6 recent examples of body shots under 80 yards, 95% confidence in all hits, all run offs, 1 found later. Pretty sure the others had holes and dropped later though.

7th event was a DRT at about 20 yards.

Yes I know the body shots are hard to predict but before this 4 body shots with the WIN 123 Powerpoint were down in 10 to 20 yards. These have a larger lead tip with cuts in the jacket by the tip. I think the SST with the sharp point and uncut jacket is penetrating but not giving as much expansion.

Anyone else have experience with the 123gr. SST?


When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7799896 04/08/20 05:25 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,218
Double Naught Spy Online Happy
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Happy
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,218
Body shots? What are body shots? Just anywhere on the body? That you are "pretty sure the others had holes" doesn't exactly sound very confident in regard to shot placement.

If you don't do significant CNS damage either directly or indirectly, expect the hogs to run. A hog can run upwards of 100 yards with a blown heart. They can run about that far with both lungs hit. 400 yards with a single lung hit.

I have used SST 123 gr. in Grendel. Great bullet. In 6.8, great bullet. The two guys that I know that hunt 7.62x39 use SST and have been quite pleased. In .308, great bullet.

There are several vids on YouTube using the 7.62x39 Hornady SST and it seems to work just fine.


Hogdalorian - Si vis pacem cum sus, para bellum.
My Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7799973 04/08/20 06:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,045
M
mikei Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
M
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,045
Originally Posted by tacotime
Not too confident in this bullet for medium hogs, maybe to 100 lbs.

6 recent examples of body shots under 80 yards, 95% confidence in all hits, all run offs, 1 found later. Pretty sure the others had holes and dropped later though.

7th event was a DRT at about 20 yards.

Yes I know the body shots are hard to predict but before this 4 body shots with the WIN 123 Powerpoint were down in 10 to 20 yards. These have a larger lead tip with cuts in the jacket by the tip. I think the SST with the sharp point and uncut jacket is penetrating but not giving as much expansion.

Anyone else have experience with the 123gr. SST?


It's the bullet I use in my X39. Over the years, I've found that it takes the piggies down very reliably if I hit them forward of the front shoulder; neck, earhole, eyehole. They generally just collapse, do a bit of squealing and kicking, and then check out. The further back, behind the shoulder, that I hit them, the less reliable DRT's I get. Hindquarters hits from the side just give me a long search that usually comes up empty. The buzzards find them the next day, and the amount of ground they covered dragging both hind legs is startling! So, it's very good bullet, IMHO and experience, but it needs to be put in a critical place to give me one shot kills/take downs.

Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7799983 04/08/20 06:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
T
tacotime Online Content OP
Pro Tracker
OP Online Content
Pro Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
OK, good info, more welcome...

And by body shots, I meant rib cage area. And I would bet on all the hits being within a 6 inch circle in that rib cage area.

Last edited by tacotime; 04/08/20 06:43 PM.

When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7800156 04/08/20 09:07 PM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,136
D
Dalee7892 Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
D
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,136
Originally Posted by tacotime
OK, good info, more welcome...

And by body shots, I meant rib cage area. And I would bet on all the hits being within a 6 inch circle in that rib cage area.

Rib cage on any bullet the pigs will run off. Shot placement is the key. Ear hole all day long......

Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7800171 04/08/20 09:19 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,045
M
mikei Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
M
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,045
I've used these three Hornady bullets interchangeably and have noticed no difference in expansion/penetration. The SST's seem to like my particular rifle very well, and, from a rest, I can put 5 of them into one large, ragged hole at 100 yards if I behave myself. Start shooting more to the front of those hogs and your success and recovery rate will increase. Having said all this, if the Win Power Points puts 'em down for you, use 'em! Still urge you to aim for the head/neck area.

[Linked Image]

Last edited by mikei; 04/08/20 09:21 PM.
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7800329 04/08/20 11:18 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,218
Double Naught Spy Online Happy
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Happy
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,218
Originally Posted by tacotime
OK, good info, more welcome...

And by body shots, I meant rib cage area. And I would bet on all the hits being within a 6 inch circle in that rib cage area.


tacotime, the 'rib cage area is HUGE and it includes everything from the base of the neck to the stomach and upper intestines. You can make rib cage shots that are nothing but gut shots if you aren't careful. If you want to be successful with killing hogs with "body" or "rib cage" shots, you want to be hitting the lungs and/or heart with a shoulder area shot. A little farther back and maybe you hit the liver, which will be a good bleeder. Beyond that, you get into the guts, but are still in the rib cage.

You might consider looking up some anatomical views of actual hog anatomy and figure out where you want to place your shots based on what is inside of the hog where your bullet is going.


Hogdalorian - Si vis pacem cum sus, para bellum.
My Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7800343 04/08/20 11:30 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,012
O
Old Stony Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
O
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,012
I love the SST's and use them regularly with my Grendel or Creedmore. Shot placement seems to be your only problem as you need to hit the hogs further forward than you would with a deer. I always try for the middle of the shoulder or forward of that area. With the middle of the shoulder I end up with a broken front leg as well as the internal damage to the organs and CNS. They generally fall right on the spot !

Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7800927 04/09/20 04:07 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
T
tacotime Online Content OP
Pro Tracker
OP Online Content
Pro Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
Ok, I'm seeing the light here then. Shoulder/head it is. I usually don't doubt Hornady products, and my own error appears to be the issue.

And, I'm old school - a plastic point on a bullet and a steel case were never seen back in the day, and of course almost no one had a "Soviet" cartridge.... but my suspicions look unfounded. Thanks.


When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7801085 04/09/20 05:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,489
syncerus Online Content
Extreme Tracker
Online Content
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,489
Draw a mental line between the hog's eyes and the point of his shoulder, then shoot along that line. You won't have any more problems. The vitals of a hog are lower and further forward than the vitals of a deer. A perfectly good lung shot on a deer is very likely to be a gut shot on a hog. I once shot a hog behind the shoulder with a 9.3x62 Mauser, meaning a 286 grain bullet moving 2400 fps, and the hog still ran about 80 yards into the underbrush, even with lung fragments lying on the ground. We were very lucky to find him. That was also the last time that I deliberately made a shot behind the shoulder of a hog. On the point of the shoulder or along the eye/shoulder line, only. BTW, you will also find it much easier to field dress if you neck/head shoot rather than body shoot.


NRA Patriot Benefactor & DSC Lifer
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7801903 04/10/20 03:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,829
Adchunts Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,829
Shot a 125ish pound sow a few years ago with a 300 grain 12-gauge slug (Hornady) @ 40 yards through the heart. Hog still ran almost 100 yards with heart blown to pieces and huge holes through both sides. If you don’t take out the CNS, they are going to make tracks.

Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7803344 04/12/20 02:21 AM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,279
onlysmith&wesson Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,279
Here's 129 gr. SST doing work. [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]


An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7803484 04/12/20 06:20 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
dogcatcher Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
up


Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back.
_____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________

[Linked Image]
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7803524 04/12/20 11:25 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,045
M
mikei Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
M
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,045
Keep on whackin' and stackin' 'em!

Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7804321 04/13/20 12:36 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 497
T
TexasOutdoorsman Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
T
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 497
I use the Hornady 123gr SST in my ruger ranch 7.62x39 and have dropped all the pigs I’ve shot with it except for one that I shot on the run but that one only went a few feet before collapsing.


Dropped this 240lb boar with one center shoulder shot the other night.
[Linked Image]


texas

Tejas Wildlife Company - Selling Apparel to Benefit Wildlife!
Instagram - @tejaswildlifeco
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7804374 04/13/20 01:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,560
G
garyrapp55 Online Content
Extreme Tracker
Online Content
Extreme Tracker
G
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,560
tacotime, I too lost a few hogs years ago when they showed up on our property because of the deer hunters shot. I had only hunted deer all my life and the "right behind the shoulder" shot works great on deer, hogs, not so great. This sounds like your issue. Hit em anywhere between the shoulder and ear and down they go. It ain't the arrow but rather the Indian.

Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7804819 04/13/20 04:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
T
tacotime Online Content OP
Pro Tracker
OP Online Content
Pro Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
I am in agreement...


When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #7807924 04/16/20 01:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 119
E
earl39 Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
E
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 119
If you want to do a behind the shoulder shot do a quartering away shot where the bullet will go behind the near shoulder and come out in front of the off shoulder


"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 (New King James Version)
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #8099243 12/22/20 03:20 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,356
B
bronco71 Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
B
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,356
I agree bullet placement is key when shooting hogs if you want to recover them. That being said I go with cheap 154gr soft point steel case ammo....

Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #8100273 12/23/20 02:40 AM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 78
B
Bacon8tor Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
B
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 78
I can't bring myself to pay the premium for the SST. I use the Tula soft points and have good results. I always aim for the neck area when I can. I pulled this out of the back strap of a hog I shot at 75 to 100 yards last week. Tula soft point 762x39. 12.5" barrel I think.

[Linked Image]

Last edited by Bacon8tor; 12/23/20 02:45 AM.
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: tacotime] #8100364 12/23/20 03:55 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
T
tacotime Online Content OP
Pro Tracker
OP Online Content
Pro Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,151
That is good expansion from a medium velocity, medium power round.


When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: Hornady 7.62x39 123 SST for hogs [Re: Bacon8tor] #8100648 12/23/20 02:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,560
G
garyrapp55 Online Content
Extreme Tracker
Online Content
Extreme Tracker
G
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,560
Originally Posted by Bacon8tor
I can't bring myself to pay the premium for the Barnes 95gr TTSX

Fixed it for ya. SST are not premium.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3