7.62x39 for Cali Hogs.

[vlcruz2001]

A buddy of mine wants to go Hog hunting with us. But the only rifle he has is a CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39. We has been looking at several different factory loads as well as different loads for reloading. Which one of these factory loads would be most effective on hogs at ranges of 100 yards or less and 150 lbs or less. I know 7.62x39 is a little underpowered but he is willing to live with it's limitations (close range, broadside shots, smaller hog).

Factory Loads:
Corbon Hunting Ammo 7.62x39 150gr Soft Point
Remington Express 7.62x39 125gr Soft Point
Wolf Ammo 7.62x39 154gr Soft Point

He has also tried reloading with Hornady 150gr SST's using 23.6gr Reloader 7 on Remington Brass. This combo did not work very well at all. With factory 123gr we were getting 1 inch to 1 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards. With the 150 SST's we were getting about 3 inch groups at best. Groups were disappointing and confidence in that round has diminished to the point that he doesn't feel comfortable using it. So now we're not sure to try another 150gr bullet or go back down to the 125gr range which seems to group much better. But bullet selection is not very good in the 125gr range. How are the Speer 125gr Hot Cor bullets? They claim better penetration but not sure of performance. Which would you recomend among the following bullets?

Speer Hot Cor 125gr Soft Point
Sierra Pro Hunter 150gr soft point

Any help or recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Speckmisser]

3" groups are acceptable for hunting conditions, if they're truly consistent.

I'd go with the 150s if he's really dead set on using that caliber. That should put him close to 30-30 ballistics, which is adequate if he is experienced enough to pick his shots.

 

[BirdDawg]

I hope your freind can shoot straighter than speck...........

............NO! NO!...I should be fair since I have the shotgun with the bent barrel..........so I miss the birds...........and speck takes care of the rest of the misses.........HUH!?!WHA?!?.....hmmmmmmmmm........I wonder how he got that name anyhow?

 

[Rancho Loco]

That cor-bon load should work fine out to 100 yds. on a meat sized hog.

As for the other info on this thread...I know what I saw, and I ain't sayin' nothing.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

I have a Hog hunting video shot in central & northern California that talks about using the 7.62X39. Every guide interviewed STRONGLY ADVISES not to use that round on hogs. Just food for thought, If your friend was dead set on using that gun, I would also go with the 150's...Good Luck

 

[LongroofJosh]

Pick your shots carefully and the 7.62x39 will drop the pigs. Dont buy into all the hype that this round wont drop a pig; IT WILL!!

 

[larrysogla]

It will drop a 150 lb. pig if hit in the vital area. The question is how far will it run before it drops. It may drop right there, or after a short distance or it may run a long ways & up & over some brushy ridge & if the bullet does not exit, the entry hole may only be small & will be easily plugged by tissue & pig fat. Then tracking becomes a problem. Hopefully your buddy will have a bloodhound to track the pig at this point, but what the heck, it will probably be found underneath some bushes & your buddy will have some nice B-B-Q. People will always try the David vs. Goliath challenge & claim later that their .22 LR(where it is legal) or .38 revolver bagged their big game. Sure, it happens a lot, a 200 lb. pig is bagged with a .22 LR. Realistically & experie

ntially, your buddy may have only a few seconds to fire the shot & may have a less than perfect shot angle requiring bullet penetration thru lots of bones & flesh. There is a lot of maybe's in the field. Anyways, good luck to your buddy. larrysogla.

 

[Shot]

My uncle and grandfather have drop more pigs with the 7.62 then I could remember, and these were for russian pigs. So you will definitly be fine. Also with any rifle, shot placement is key.

 

[Speckmisser]

Originally posted by BirdDawg@Nov 23 2004, 06:03 AM
I hope your freind can shoot straighter than speck...........

............NO! NO!...I should be fair since I have the shotgun with the bent barrel..........so I miss the birds...........and speck takes care of the rest of the misses.........HUH!?!WHA?!?.....hmmmmmmmmm........I wonder how he got that name anyhow?

Awright now... I resemble that remark!

Besides, that 30-30 is semi-retired now. Still can't believe it had that curveball bullet in there... who'd have thunk it?

 

[41mag]

I can only add this to what has already been mentioned. Here in Tx where we hunt, the hogs will drop to the 7.62x39 and the 123 gr bullets. Most of the shots are less than 100 yds. with the average in under 50.

Both my friend and I have the Russian made SKS's, and use them exclusively for the thick brush hunting, generally when we have a pack of dogs out. WE get set up in an area and release the dogs on the far end heading to us. They will move those piggis out and as they come by us, we take as many as we can. The 123's will knock them down in most cases, with some needing a backup shot if hit in the paunch. However, the vast majority will drop within about 10 yds of where they were hit.

I have been really impressed with not only the 123 gr soft points but also the 122 gr hollow point put out by Wolf. It isn't all that accurate, grouping in at around 3"" like you said, but it has downed a ton of hogs for us.

One thing that was also mentioned, if you do not get an exit, and your using that Wolf fodder, be sure to be careful when you are skinnin that critter. Those steel jackets will cut you quick as a razor if you grab it while tryin to pull the hide off.

Good luck on your hunt,

 

[larrysogla]

Not to dispute anything as I have not used the 7.62 X 39 MM for big game & thus have no experience with it's performance on big game, but to put things in perspective, may I ask the following question:
1) How many hogs total were shot with the 7.62 X 39 MM??
2) What is the guesstimated weight of the smallest/biggest hog shot with this caliber??
3) Has any of the hogs escaped & not recovered??
4) Was a dog used to track & locate the wounded hogs??
5) Were dogs used to bay & catch the hog for the "coup de grace"(terminate the hog)?
6) Was any of the shots with the hog quartering away from the shooter??
7) If so, did this quartering away bullet reach the vital area??
Any other info you would like to add for further enlightenment??
Like I said, if it is legal & the hog is a nuisance, go for it. Just that I also have 2 SKS. One a rifle & the other a paratrooper model(16" barrel) & would appreciate performance info garnered from the field as opposed to some gun writer executing a 20 lb. block of ballistic gelatin. God Bless. larrysogla.

 

[Zippy the Pinhead]

Well, it looks like 7.62x39 worked pretty well for that guy Vang up in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, he wasn't exactly hunting hogs.

 

[jephs422]

I've never hunted Hogs with my old SKS, but it dang sure was a coyote killin machine back in the day!!

 

[41mag]

Originally posted by larrysogla@Nov 25 2004, 12:58 AM
may I ask the following question:
1) How many hogs total were shot with the 7.62 X 39 MM??
2) What is the guesstimated weight of the smallest/biggest hog shot with this    caliber??
3) Has any of the hogs escaped & not recovered??
4) Was a dog used to track & locate the wounded hogs??
5) Were dogs used to bay & catch the hog for the "coup de grace"(terminate the hog)?
6) Was any of the shots with the hog quartering away from the shooter??
7) If so, did this quartering away bullet reach the vital area??
Any other info you would like to add for further enlightenment??
Like I said, if it is legal & the hog is a nuisance, go for it. Just that I also have 2  SKS. One a rifle & the other a paratrooper model(16" barrel) & would appreciate performance info garnered from the field as opposed to some gun writer executing a 20 lb. block of ballistic gelatin. God Bless. larrysogla. 

Hey Larry,

Here are some answers to your questions, as best as I can put it.

1) As for the numbers, I really couldn't tell you. WE have been using the SKS's for about 8 years now, and really don't keep track.
2) WEll the smallest were about a couple weeks old up to some really bad tempered tuskers going over 200#. The bigger ones, were generally held up by the dogs in a brush top or taken while on the run from the dogs.
3) Yes, some of them we have hit have run off into the old part of the river bed that is on the place we hunt. Some have just simply not been found due to chasing after others or a bad hit. WE generally take most of the good one's we can. However, when we put the dogs on them in mid January after deer season, it is generally a search and destroy mission. You just can't imagine how much these things tear up over night in the hay fields and roads.
4) Yes and no. If they are hit sometimes the dogs will root them out if that is one in particular they are after. However if they are after a pack of them, then the dogs will just keep after anything that is running. As for looking for a particular hog after being shot, if it is a good one, like a big sow, and we are really wanting it, we will track it down. Most do not go but maybe 50 yds after being hit.
5) Yes, we use the dogs for bay and catch. WE do not have any ourselves but bring in a couple of folks who do own them. When we do, it is up to the dog owners as to wether we catch the hogs live or shoot them. It is their dogs so we respect their wishes. WE do however always carry on a hunt, as the dogs well being is always the top of the list. Several times we have had to put a hog down to keep it from mameing ot killing the dogs.
6) Shots are generally taken on the pigs as they are running through the underbrush. Most times you just pick a hole in the stuff and as the critter comes through you touch it off. Where you hit them is dependant on how fast you are on the trigger and how fast the hog is running. If they pull up and stop well it is always a head shot.
7) Most if not all shots on the hogs using the 123gr bullets are thru and thru. We have had several that were quartering away that did not exit and like mentioned the jackets were found by looking or by accident when we skinned the hog out. The hollow point bullets we have used are pretty devestating as are most of the soft points. There is not much expansion control on them. WE bought up several brands in bulk a couple years back and are still going through them. One brand we got is in a red white and blue box. Not sure of the brand name, but they have a 123 gr bullet that features a fairly large soft point on it. Thos things are not so accurate but will drop a hog like split lightning.

Most, if not all of the shots we take on these critters are in under 100 yds with under 50 being more the norm. We also carry side arms in .357, 41, and 44 magnum. These are generally used up close when the dogs have the hog tied up under something. The loads are using heavy soft point bullets and not loaded to max velocities. This is to try to keep a pass through shot from getting one of the dogs. The bullest used are generally Remington JHP's , in 158, 210, and 240 gr. They don't have to be moving fast to pack a close up whollop.

All in all we use a variety of rifles and such in our quest. WE might sound like cowboy hunters just out for the kill, but it is really a matter of control more than anything. These things are so out of hand over here that you do what you have to, to get things done. WE shoot them on site in about all cases. If they are good and we have time we dress them out and haul them home. If we happen to be busy working on fences or clearing fallen trees from the roads or mowing, well they don't really get a second thought. Some folks we have heard of use other tactics, that we do not condone, and will not be mentioned. Other's use traps which do a fair job till the hogs get educated. At which point you will get mostly the younger one's and not the one's primiarily responsible for ruining acres of pasture or crop land. WE have used the traps but the big thing is you have to be there to use them. The other part is that we hate pulling both live and dead deer out of the traps. and yes they will and do get in them all the time.

Anyway, to sum it all up, we average only about 50 hogs a year or so. This might sound like a lot to some and not many to other's. I love nothing more than to stalk up on a pack that is out in the thick stuff using either my pistol of my Ruger compact .308. The biggest thing that these critter do is tear up so danged much stuff, and breed like rabbits. Since there are no natural preditors which will challenge a sow and her litter, most of them will make it. Even if only half do, you talking about 4-6 generally per sow. Add that tiems 8 or 10 in a pack, and they add up quick. Combine that with the miles of impenetrable underbrush along the rivers and swampy areas in East Texas, and the thick brush of south Texas, and you have the makings for a quick problem. They not only eat just about everything, but push out the other critters in the process. Heck even the cows on my friends place give them room when they come out.

I am heading over to some property this morning to get some tree's cut off some fences and such. I will take my digital and try to get a few pic's of some fresh diggin's done up by the pigies to the coastal fields that we bale. IF I got enough time, I may even get some of me with a few rooter's themselves.