ammo (7.62x39?) for deer hunting
Gary Crum
I have heard that full metal jacket ammo such as the Norinco 7.62x39
steel core and lead core is not good for deer hunting because it does
not stop and kill deer as readily as ammo that is not full metal
jacket (e.g. soft point). But, soft point ammo does not seem to be
available at the same low prices as full metal jacket military-type
ammo. For example, Norinco 7.62x39 is 10 cents per round while soft
point ammo is above 50 cents per round.
So, what do people think of this hunting setup: A Norinco AK hunter
rifle as advertised by Birmingham Pistol Wholesale for under $180, and
when hunting, loaded with the first round being soft point and the
other four rounds being full metal jacket steel core (using one of the
5-round magazines that the rifle comes with). This way, the first
round has good stopping power, but if the deer is not hit in a good
spot (e.g. due the the relatively low accuracy of the AK rifle or due
to my inexperience) I can fire quickly at the same deer using the
other full metal jacket rounds, and not worry about getting too much
lead in the deer. Plus, the full metal jacket rounds are inexpensive
as I mentioned above.
It's not illegal to use the military type full metal jacket ammo for
deer hunting, is it? I understand that it is illegal, however, to use
soft point ammo (with exposed lead) in war situations.
Thanks, I appreciate any related info, and also referrals to places that
have scope mounts for AK rifles. I was going to get a bolt action rifle
for the hunt, but I think I will instead stay with the AK type rifles
even though they are probably not as well suited for use with scopes,
and have the convenience of semi-automatic loading.
Gary
[MODERATOR: Independent of taking a stance on the other issues, I would
be surprized that the difference in cost for a few rounds (JSP vs FMJ)
should really be considered significant. In neither case would one be
hosing bambi down.....]
John S. Van Etten
#I haven't been deer hunting for a while, but I'm planning on going this fall.
#
#I have heard that full metal jacket ammo such as the Norinco 7.62x39
#steel core and lead core is not good for deer hunting because it does
#not stop and kill deer as readily as ammo that is not full metal
#jacket (e.g. soft point). But, soft point ammo does not seem to be
#available at the same low prices as full metal jacket military-type
#ammo. For example, Norinco 7.62x39 is 10 cents per round while soft
#point ammo is above 50 cents per round.
#
#So, what do people think of this hunting setup: A Norinco AK hunter
#rifle as advertised by Birmingham Pistol Wholesale for under $180, and
#when hunting, loaded with the first round being soft point and the
#other four rounds being full metal jacket steel core (using one of the
#5-round magazines that the rifle comes with). This way, the first
#round has good stopping power, but if the deer is not hit in a good
#spot (e.g. due the the relatively low accuracy of the AK rifle or due
#to my inexperience) I can fire quickly at the same deer using the
#other full metal jacket rounds, and not worry about getting too much
#lead in the deer. Plus, the full metal jacket rounds are inexpensive
#as I mentioned above.
Gary, I would under *no* circumstances advise you to use FMJ ammo for
hunting deer. There's a reason why it's outlawed in several states
for the purpose of hunting. The stuff is designed to only wound.
Plain and simple. That's why the military loves it.
Also, I would never recommend using mixing different bullets in a
gun while hunting. As an example, one of my friend's rifles (a .308)
shoots a good 5" lower and a couple of inches to the side at 200 yards
when using 180-gr. softpoints vs. 147-gr. (I think) FMJ military
surplus ammo. I realise that the AK is not a 200 yard deer rifle, but
such changes in point of impact with different ammo can make the
difference between a clean kill on deer and a gut shot.
Your comment about "getting too much lead in the deer" seems to
imply you're worried about lead poisoning or something. This is not a
problem when hunting animals (OK, OK, chewing on BBs in a bird is
perhaps an exception under the "or something" category ;-).
Also, the 7.62x39 is a marginal deer rifle even with the
softpoints. With the FMJ stuff, it would *not* be effective. (note
to 7.62x39mm fans with stoked flamethrowers: being marginal for deer
doesn't mean I think your pet round is not a good one in general.)
#It's not illegal to use the military type full metal jacket ammo for
#deer hunting, is it? I understand that it is illegal, however, to use
#soft point ammo (with exposed lead) in war situations.
If it's not illegal in your state, it certainly should be. It's kind
of like trying to pound nails with a screwdriver. Just not the right
tool for the job.
#Thanks, I appreciate any related info, and also referrals to places that
#have scope mounts for AK rifles. I was going to get a bolt action rifle
#for the hunt, but I think I will instead stay with the AK type rifles
#even though they are probably not as well suited for use with scopes,
#and have the convenience of semi-automatic loading.
I'd agree wholeheartedly with your choice of rifle. It wouldn't be
*my* first choice in a deer rifle (nor even my 53rd :-) but the point
is that *you* are comfortable with it, and that's the key to success.
I'd advise you to do a lot of practicing with the cheap surplus stuff
and then use only the softpoint ammo for hunting. Don't forget to
sight your rifle in with the softpoints before using them on deer.
#[MODERATOR: Independent of taking a stance on the other issues, I would
#be surprized that the difference in cost for a few rounds (JSP vs FMJ)
#should really be considered significant. In neither case would one be
#hosing bambi down.....]
I agree with our Moderator. You've got to buy a box (20) of the
softpoints anyway. Might as well use them and not risk wounding the
deer and losing it.
John
--
******************************************************************************
John S. Van Etten vane...@unix.cie.rpi.edu
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1000 MIPS GaAs F-RISC Project
--"If sand didn't irritate oysters, there would be no pearls"--
James Douglas Del-Vecchio
#So, what do people think of this hunting setup: A Norinco AK hunter
#rifle as advertised by Birmingham Pistol Wholesale for under $180, and
#when hunting, loaded with the first round being soft point and the
#other four rounds being full metal jacket steel core (using one of the
#5-round magazines that the rifle comes with). This way, the first
#round has good stopping power, but if the deer is not hit in a good
#spot (e.g. due the the relatively low accuracy of the AK rifle or due
#to my inexperience) I can fire quickly at the same deer using the
#other full metal jacket rounds, and not worry about getting too much
#lead in the deer. Plus, the full metal jacket rounds are inexpensive
#as I mentioned above.
I think that is a real bad idea. If you know that FMJ is unsuitable
for deer, there is no reason you should have _one_ round of it in your
gun. Just buy, or better yet handload, the type of ammo that you need.
Spend a little money, and use ammo that is suitable for the game you are
hunting.
#Thanks, I appreciate any related info, and also referrals to places that
#have scope mounts for AK rifles. I was going to get a bolt action rifle
#for the hunt, but I think I will instead stay with the AK type rifles
#even though they are probably not as well suited for use with scopes,
#and have the convenience of semi-automatic loading.
An SKS is much less expensive than an AK, and I hear they are more
accurate.
Jim Del Vecchio
Chris Luchini
#I haven't been deer hunting for a while, but I'm planning on going this fall.
#
#I have heard that full metal jacket ammo such as the Norinco 7.62x39
#steel core and lead core is not good for deer hunting because it does
#not stop and kill deer as readily as ammo that is not full metal
#jacket (e.g. soft point). But, soft point ammo does not seem to be
#available at the same low prices as full metal jacket military-type
#ammo. For example, Norinco 7.62x39 is 10 cents per round while soft
#point ammo is above 50 cents per round.
#
#[MODERATOR: Independent of taking a stance on the other issues, I would
#be surprized that the difference in cost for a few rounds (JSP vs FMJ)
#should really be considered significant. In neither case would one be
#hosing bambi down.....]
Two points: 1) your attitude to blamming away at bambi is _not_
sportsmanlike. One shot, one kill is the way to go.
2) You probably will have to buy a box (20 rounds) of soft point
ammo at a time. That'll run you about $10. Since you have to buy
a full box, why not just load up with soft points? Unless you intend
to use one box of ammo for the next 20 years. . . :|
3) The two different styles of bullets will most probably shoot to
different points of aim. 15" @ 25 yards differences between point of
impact of different types of ammo in some guns!
4) The $1.60 you save by using 1 soft point and 4 FMJ's is probably
about .08% of the fine you will pay for use of illegal ammo. Max fine
around here is $500/round of illegal ammo. Think about it.
-Chris L
*1110 W. Green/Urbana IL 61801/217-333-0505/c...@uihepa.hep.uiuc.edu
* Remember, only mere mortals need sleep!
Gary Crum
how the different bullet styles might shoot to quite different points
of aim. I will just stick to using soft point ammo for deer hunting,
even if full metal jacket ammo is legal in the place where I go. I
would like to know more about any risk of lead getting into meat that
is to be eaten, but I suspect that any such risk is quite low. Just
one more thing: I wonder if the bigger size of .50 BMG ammo would make
it, in full metal jacket form, at least as deadly as 7.62x39 soft point
ammo for deer hunting. That $2800 single shot .50 caliber Maadi
Griffin rifle looks pretty interesting.
Thanks,
Gary
Michael Justice
#one more thing: I wonder if the bigger size of .50 BMG ammo would make
#it, in full metal jacket form, at least as deadly as 7.62x39 soft point
#ammo for deer hunting. That $2800 single shot .50 caliber Maadi
#Griffin rifle looks pretty interesting.
Well, you *could* use .50BMG for deerhunting, but only if you
didn't want to eat the deer ("Deer?? What deer???") afterwards.
-- Michael.
--
Michael A. Justice | "They're not filling out the forms!
jus...@panix.com | They're not doing the waiting period!"
NRA Life / ILA | -- An L.A. TV reporter covering a riot-time gun
Registered Voter | store robbery (quoted in Shooting Times, 8/92)