AK47 for hunting
#21
RE: AK47 for hunting
ORIGINAL: zak123I just got an AK47. Can I use it for hunting? I shoot 123 grain bullets at about 2,500 fps (about). It puts out 1,555 foot pounds. Could I use it for deer, hogs, coyotes? I've heard the bullets start to tumble. What distance does the tumbling start?
Forget about the "tumbling" business- 7.62X39mm military bullets might tumble, but it happens when they hit something, like an enemy soldier. The .22 caliber AK 74 bullets are DESIGNED to tumble on impact, to increase the killing power. The 7.62X39 military ammo is not made on purpose to do this, but under some conditions it no doubt will tumble. However, it is NOT INTENTIONALLY understabilized!
#22
RE: AK47 for hunting
ORIGINAL: cehjwh I own a Ruger mini 30 ranch rifle and plan to make it into a deer rifle. It is chambered in the 7.62x39mm. From the research that I have done on the round it ballistically compares to the 30-30 winchester. I plan to use remington's 125gr. pointed soft point for hunting purposes. I don't plan to take shots at more than 150 yds. with it.
#24
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Gypsum KS USA
Posts: 1,289
RE: AK47 for hunting
Hey zak, don't be discouraged by the comments made here, you can always add a scope to the AK, or you can change out the sights for a better, more accurate sight...One of my SKS's had a HUGE peep sight on it (rear sight is a disk with a hole in it, but the hole was massive, almost should have been called a ghost ring), terrible for accuracy, I had a gunsmith replace it, cost me $15 labor plus $30 for the sight itself, went from 10" groups at 50yrds to 6" groups at 150yrds...with a scope, I get about half that.
THe 7.62x39mm is a FUN round, fun to plink with and fun to hunt with, better trajectory than a .30-30 (retains more velocity) and comprable energy, I've had a LOT of fun with all of mine, and taken several game species (I once put down a sick buffalo at about 75yrds with an SKS, one shot to the neck/throat). Only complaint from me about hunting with the AK, for the weight, I could carry a mid-weight bbled or "light" heavy bbled bolt gun that would have twice the range (more energy AND much faster), but then again, the AK's more fun to hunt with, and more than good enough for typical hunting ranges.
THe 7.62x39mm is a FUN round, fun to plink with and fun to hunt with, better trajectory than a .30-30 (retains more velocity) and comprable energy, I've had a LOT of fun with all of mine, and taken several game species (I once put down a sick buffalo at about 75yrds with an SKS, one shot to the neck/throat). Only complaint from me about hunting with the AK, for the weight, I could carry a mid-weight bbled or "light" heavy bbled bolt gun that would have twice the range (more energy AND much faster), but then again, the AK's more fun to hunt with, and more than good enough for typical hunting ranges.