is 7.62 by 39 good for deer ?

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ive killed deer with a rifle in that round. just have to keep in mind that that round was not made to hervest animals with it was designed to kill man. but if thats all u have to use then use it. unlike a standard rifle round like a .270 this 7.62 x 39 tumbles head or heals to create an enterance like a key hole a standard round creates what we would consider a "bullet hole" good luck

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7.62x 39 is a fine deer round, just use soft point or hollow point ammo, it has about the same ballistics as a 30-30 and maybe less recoil, don't worry, the bullets don't tumble in flight, they shoot the same as any other caliber, why do you think it's such a popular military cartridge.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of buying an sks for deer hunting just because of thier low price. Is the 7.62 by 39 ammo expensive ?

the rounds do tumble just like a .223 does im not bashing any one i carry one for a living in my line of work. like i said if you ever look at a paper target you'll find it crates a key hole and not a "bullet hole"

If you have a rifle that throws bullets that key hole, you better think about trading it off on something else. No bullet in any caliber is designed to keyhole or tumble. If a bullet keyholes it's because the bullet isn't being stabilized, as in the rate of rifling is wrong for the bullet weight. Most modern firearms are made to handle most bullet weights, although some may be more accurate than others,they still won't keyhole unless there's some other problem. A bullet that keyholes wouldn't hit anywhere near the same place twice and would be basically useless.

762 is a great deer round when you use soft point or hollow point ammunition. great brush gun in my opinion, and like it was stated earlier similar to a 30-30 ammo isnt expensive heck it is probably cheaper than green box remington.


Ok here we go, I know I am going to catch some flak from some folks for this but as a student of the rifle I have some thing to say here. 223 and 762 do not tumble out of the barrel it is a myth. if they did it would be ridiculously inaccurate. if you look at a wound channel from these rounds they dont realy tumble once they hit either, the 223/556 round apears to do so because of the inherantly light wieght projectile (55 grain for military rounds)when it hits bone or something hard it changes course, causing tissue dammage, and a larger wound channel that angles and twists. the 762x 39 is a "slow moving" bullet that relies on energy transfer when it hits some thing. Because of its lower speed and heavier bullet (139 gr if memory seves me) it has more of the preverbial knock down power.

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Well said, thank you, those old myths die hard.

I've killed more than one deer with the 7.62x39. I use the 154 gr soft point. I am by no means an ammo expert but if shot several thousand rounds of this caliber, and have never saw a key hole in a paper target. I dont think a tumbling bullet would be of any use as it would not be very accurate.
I started hunting with an sks bout 15 years ago. Now i use a MAK90 with an eotech site. Works for me out to 200 yds. If i'm hunting any further than that i'll take an American made rifle LOL

an M91 is cheaper than an SKS and is a bolt action.
7.62 ammo, 20 rounds from cheaper than dirt is $4.79
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemList ... ?catid=606

M91 takes 7.62x54--R.

I used to just plink with the sks, haven't shot my M91 yet.
A few years ago I bought an SKS for about $150, the M91 was $105.
For Maryland, both would be overkill for our dog size deer. The places I go for gun season we have to use shotgun with slugs.

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its all about shot placement if a 22 will kill a deer, then an sks should have no prob

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There's been truck loads of those m91's around lately, both military surplus condition and sporterized versions, they're a tough rifle, cheap, lots of ammo available, and good all around caliber, might be a little rougher on the shoulder though. But if you needed a behind the seat rifle for anything up to Elk or moose, that would be a good choice.

maybe if your using a sling shot.

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a sks is a good deer gun,just get you some soft point or hollow points,its all one of my hunting buddies will use to deer hunt with.

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I have used sks's as well as ak47, for deer in Ohio on nuisance permits. They will drop pretty quick with a well placed shot out to 350 or 400 yards, but it depends on shot placement, and bullet used.