So how far can you usefully shoot a 7.62x39?

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06-03-2020, 07:09 PM
Max Headroom

So how far can you usefully shoot a 7.62x39?

As per title.

Interested to know how far you can usefully use the 7.62x39 round.

My SKS was capable of ummmm, Milk jug at 50m type accuracy.

Then Jacinda bought it off me.
(How in the world is she gonna test fire and learn to shoot all these rifles? She has a husband, a child and a country to run)

I'm sure I coulda hit a barn door at any range under 350 m with it .(as long as it wasn't open.....)

So how far can you usefully fling a 7.62x39 round?. By usefully, I mean to about consistently about 3 ish MOA accuracy.

I'm guessing this is one for the handloaders.
06-03-2020, 07:23 PM
Tararua Phil

It depends on ones ability & eyesight. i've got a mini actioned Howa with 3-9 scope & can consistantly knock over goats & odd deer out @ 200 mtres, but wouldn't want to shoot @b that distance too many times. Targets are different matter & can be hit @ greater distance.
06-03-2020, 07:26 PM
Tommy

Overhead shot, or from the hip, the projectile self-seeks target, so utterly efficient out to 2km
06-03-2020, 07:29 PM
Max Headroom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

Overhead shot, or from the hip, the projectile self-seeks target, so utterly efficient out to 2km

Just as I thought .

Thread closed.

Thankyou to all the respondents.
06-03-2020, 07:47 PM
northdude

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

As per title.

Interested to know how far you can usefully use the 7.62x39 round.

My SKS was capable of ummmm, Milk jug at 50m type accuracy.

Then Jacinda bought it off me.
(How in the world is she gonna test fire and learn to shoot all these rifles? She has a husband, a child and a country to run)

I'm sure I coulda hit a barn door at any range under 350 m with it .(as long as it wasn't open.....)

So how far can you usefully fling a 7.62x39 round?. By usefully, I mean to about consistently about 3 ish MOA accuracy.

I'm guessing this is one for the handloaders.

what got a country to run is she actually going to do that before the election
06-03-2020, 07:50 PM
Sideshow

^^^^:XD::XD:^^^^
Now that’s the funniest thing I’ve read since “Auckland is the best place to live”:wtfsmilie:
06-03-2020, 08:00 PM
Max Headroom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil_H

My little sarcasm detection antennae started quivering then.......nah?....maybe it wasn’t anything. :wtfsmilie:

Cheers
Phil

Shooting 2km accurately from the hip appealed to my sense of humour.
06-03-2020, 08:11 PM
Max Headroom

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimms2

MOA is an angular measurement, not a linear one. I'll take it you mean 3" diameter.

Yes.
06-03-2020, 08:22 PM
Micky Duck

SAID it before and no dought will do so again....its a 150 yard big animal round so being super silly accurate is nice but not essential for basic body shots. mine was 2-3" at hundy any time I tried it. 2-3" at hundy is still plenty good enough for a 150 yard chest shot....once you get past that range the energy becomes marginal.
06-03-2020, 08:29 PM
Russian 22.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

Overhead shot, or from the hip, the projectile self-seeks target, so utterly efficient out to 2km

Did you learn that from the bush wars lol? Max elevation setting max powa
06-03-2020, 08:30 PM
Max Headroom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

SAID it before and no dought will do so again....its a 150 yard big animal round so being super silly accurate is nice but not essential for basic body shots. mine was 2-3" at hundy any time I tried it. 2-3" at hundy is still plenty good enough for a 150 yard chest shot....once you get past that range the energy becomes marginal.

Aye aye, Captain.

Does it have potential for wobblies/goats further out?
06-03-2020, 08:40 PM
Cigar

Jacinda doesn't have a husband.
06-03-2020, 08:48 PM
Micky Duck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Aye aye, Captain.

Does it have potential for wobblies/goats further out?

wobblies...as far as you can hit them...goats similar...neither are hard to kill,over all the years Ive hunted wallabies both with and without dogs,we have NEVER found a wounded wobbly.or one with healed up wound. the rainbow trajectory would make 250-300 a big challenge.
06-03-2020, 08:49 PM
Max Headroom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigar

Jacinda doesn't have a husband.

Good point. I mean Clarke Gayford.
06-03-2020, 09:41 PM
Marty Henry

300 is about the limit ethically energy wise on game the "rainbow trajectory" is easily compensated for with a bdc or mil dot scope or you can dial if that way inclined. Drop is predicable unless the government alters gravity. If its gongs then in a good bolt action 500 yds is probably the limit.
06-03-2020, 10:43 PM
Dead is better

Will second that. We had a little '39 hitting shoebox sized targets at nearly 500y. Just needed to keep the shot count to 3
06-03-2020, 11:50 PM
timattalon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

As per title.

Interested to know how far you can usefully use the 7.62x39 round.

My SKS was capable of ummmm, Milk jug at 50m type accuracy.

Then Jacinda bought it off me.
(How in the world is she gonna test fire and learn to shoot all these rifles? She has a husband, a child and a country to run)

I'm sure I coulda hit a barn door at any range under 350 m with it .(as long as it wasn't open.....)Yes you can hit a barn at long range. It has to be a long barn and you need to be inside...(I can hit any barn from the inside or conversely if its a poor shooter it could not hit a barn door from inside a barn made of doors....

So how far can you usefully fling a 7.62x39 round?. By usefully, I mean to about consistently about 3 ish MOA accuracy.

I'm guessing this is one for the handloaders.

Decent ammo and in a decent barrel etc accuracy can be pretty good. Brothers one hits around 1 moa using Hornady SST. Cheap (inconsistent) ammo in a sloppy barrel is not a good mix.

What are you using now? A CZ with good ammo should do rather well.
07-03-2020, 07:29 AM
Max Headroom

Quote:

Originally Posted by timattalon

Decent ammo and in a decent barrel etc accuracy can be pretty good. Brothers one hits around 1 moa using Hornady SST. Cheap (inconsistent) ammo in a sloppy barrel is not a good mix.

What are you using now? A CZ with good ammo should do rather well.

Haven't got anything to replace my SKS at this stage. I'm thinking a Howa, when I can afford it.
07-03-2020, 07:31 AM
Max Headroom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

unless the government alters gravity.

Shit!! when are they gonna do that? I have to make a submission to the select committee . Which one is it??
07-03-2020, 08:33 AM
Micky Duck

have a look at the sexy Zastava wingman has rebarreled.......that certainly has the accuracy....the cartridge is using a 123grn projectile NORMALLY and creedmore users (I didnt put loosers) will tell you its good to a thousand yards...... I have used it and disagree.
07-03-2020, 09:14 AM
Marty Henry

@Micky Duck A .22 will also get to 1000 yards and then some, not to say it's anywhere near where you pointed it or can do much damage when it arrives. Just saying,
07-03-2020, 09:52 AM
Simon

Shot my Ruger Ranch in 7.62x39 last weekend at 200m at 8” steel plates with a 2moa red dot using mixture of FMJ. Shooting prone I scored hits at least 90% of the time. Misses were generally my fault.
Great little Round.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
07-03-2020, 10:01 AM
The bomb

Loved my mini 30 till Jacinta stole it back,always keeping an eye out for a howa mini or zastarva but having a .308 I can reload to 39 speeds makes buying another gun a bit hard to justify,always killed well with sst bullets on Sika but went to highland ammo for reds as it was harder and seemed to punch on thru..the sst were more accurate though.
07-03-2020, 10:09 AM
timattalon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Haven't got anything to replace my SKS at this stage. I'm thinking a Howa, when I can afford it.

The Howa is a good choice from what I hear. Scott Trails masterpieces are also very good (very light and not cheap) but he has stopped making them for a bit as he is too busy.

Zastava made a nice one as does CZ. I like the feel and fit of the Zastava but CZ is a better grade / quality. (If only it had the flush internal mag of the Zastava....)

I have a Baikal here new and for sale, (dont have the ones above..so am not pushing anything in particular) Baikal singles may lack the finesse of the Euro / Japanese but with the carry and being able to put them IN your pack, they do have they advantages.....
07-03-2020, 10:14 AM
Slug

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon

Shot my Ruger Ranch in 7.62x39 last weekend at 200m at 8” steel plates with a 2moa red dot using mixture of FMJ. Shooting prone I scored hits at least 90% of the time. Misses were generally my fault.
Great little Round.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I also got an Ruger ranch 7.62x39 as a SKS Cindy replacement with intentions of using up my mil surp spam can ammo for off hand practice. Well there was no need for better ammo for range target shooting as on sighting in on first group (and following groups) where all touching abet at 50m, due to time constraints (range about to close) I have not tried further out yet.

And yes I do take hot water to flush rifle before leaving range when using mil surp.
07-03-2020, 01:07 PM
Hiawatha

I have shot several hundred deer and pigs with my Howa Mini with a suppressed short barrel. It shoots 3 shots sub inch at 100m. Have only used Hornady 123gn SST. Slower due to short barrel. Can consistently kill them out to 250m (ranged). Have shot them out to 300m in ideal conditions. No dial up just know my trajectory. At ranges over 200m, bigger deer and pigs will run 50m sometimes and pile up dead. A very consistent killer. Hope this helps. As with everything it comes down to knowing your rifle, knowing your range and using the right bullet.
07-03-2020, 04:42 PM
Marty Henry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiawatha

Hope this helps. As with everything it comes down to knowing your rifle, knowing your range and using the right bullet.

Thats what it all comes down to in the end though isn't it. Well said