7.62x39mm Russian on coyotes

Shotgun505

Shotgun505

New member
Sorry if this has already been discussed. If you guys have any experience shooting coyotes with 7.62x39mm, I would appreciate it if you share them with me. I am a new member, and this is my first post. I am an avid coyote hunter, but the only animals I have seen shot with this cartridge are prairie dogs and a javelina. I have a complete 7.62x39 upper on order from Palmetto State Armory to finish up an 80% lower that I milled out. If anybody has any experience with Palmetto uppers in this caliber, I would again be grateful for the feedback. My plan is to break it in and initially sight it in with Fiocchi 124-grain FMJ ammo. I will then get the more expensive Nosler Silver State Armory with 123-grain Varmageddon bullets to get a final sight-in and use for coyote hunting. I have plenty of other rifles perhaps more suitable for the purpose, but I am just having some fun with a new gun. I plan to put a Vortex Spitfire 3x prism sight on top. I only expect to use it out to 200 yards or so, where most of my kills take place anyway. Maybe it will work out, and I won't feel the need to carry both my shotgun and a rifle to each set-up. I would have posted this in the ammo and reloading forum, but I did not want the topic to sidetrack to reloading. Thanks if you reply.

Happy hunting. Never give it up.
 
I use the Hornady steel case ammo for hunting. It shoots better than S&B and PPU brass in my guns. Several yotes and few deer have fell to the hornady between my boys & I. My youngest boy shoots a PSA upper on his AR & hasn't had to many problems. Replaced bolt with a Brownells Enhanced one. I shoot a radical arms & have yet to have problems. Accuracy on both are around 1.5 @ 100. My daughter is using a Ruger ranch in x39 for her deer. Good luck & welcome to PM.
 
I load my own from spent S&B brass. H4198 and a 123 or 124 grain HP or SP shoot very well at the ranges you are interested in. I would shoot store bought S&B but I am a cheap Bat Rasterd. For optics, I use one of those Nikon or Bushnell AR scopes in 1X4 power. Works great.
 
i to have the howa and it also shoots the tula good but i have some reloads im going to try to see if i can make it more accurate, using 125gr spitzers and starline brass, whenever the weather decides to cooperate ill find out how it shoots
 
No reason that it won't work for you. If you have put a javelina down, a coyote is no problem.

Just choose the right bullet, and it will anchor them. You might have to hand load to get the performance that you want.
 
Thank you to those who took the time to respond. As far as accuracy and reliability goes, I will follow the advice that I frequently give others: Shoot it first. As far as kill power, I can't think of a more fun way to find out than calling predators. I am sure if it is reliable in combat and deer hunting that it is just as effective on a coyote. I just wanted some stories. I have changed my mind on the optic to get the more affordable Bushnell 1x-4x AK Optic scope. I think it will be more versatile for my intentions.
 
on my howa i have a 4-12 vortex bdc, i had a 1-8 on it found it lacking in the zoom for shooting past 100 yds at least for paper work anyways
 
For all the guys in California facing the lead ban next year, Lehigh Defense makes an all copper 123 grain hp that seems to work well on coyote sized game. They are available on-line.
 
Below is a link to a collection of ballistics gel tests for the 7.62x39. Anything in the link should be good for dropping dogs. I would probably shoot the 8M3 if I had the choice. Thankfully I have a can of it, and SGAmmo has some new stock made especially for them.

As to accuracy, I just don't see a reason to try for Sub-MOA in a gun with a 250-300 yard range.

https://www.msrhunt.com/post/7-62x39-hunting-ammo-7777153
 
I have a 18" psa 7.62x39 upper that i'm using at the moment That from the bench using a mtm pistol rest at the range has no problem ringing a steel coyote target at 400yds. This is the second "39" psa upper to do so. It rings it with plenty energy to kill a coyote, i did change out the firing pin in it, and now feeds anything i put in it.
 


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