brush gun 7.62x39 vs 308

Do you reload?

No, 7.62x39. Plinking ammo is much cheaper 20c compared to 30c per round. There is enough good hunting ammo, even v-max available

Yes, read on


The 7.62x39 upper I own now was bloodied by the PO at 275 yards ranged. He handloaded the ammo. IF by brush gun, you want something short, and will hit at close range(less than 300 meters), then the 7.62x39 will do it. That is what the round was developed for by the Russians. Saigas, SKS paratroopers, or any of the AR pattern rifles will work. The "minimum" length for a 308 I am told is 18", and it is a different platform in the AR range.

IF you reload, you will find everyone and their dog shoots .308 reloads, and if you want to get serious, the 308 is one of the most widely used rounds for everything.
 
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Originally Posted By: The Big SleepI'm torn between the two calibers 7.62x39 and 308

I'm not shooting long range with it but I don't want to sacrifice knock down power.

I won't use a scope I'm hunting thick brush. Should I just go with a semi auto shotgun and slugs?

I'd appreciate any help or personal experience with either caliber.

What are you hunting? Deer?

The platform and how it fits YOU is gonna be more important than the caliber, so is shot placement. There is ton's of calibers/cartridges that do fine inside 100 yards including the 2 you mentioned. The 7.62x39 is no .308 nor is it as powerful as the 30/30 (common myth). Anything from .243 on up will do well though IF you do. BTW, don't get hung up on semiauto's. In reality, they don't add much in the field (predator calling being the exception). A good, short bolt, pump or lever gun will do as well or better than a lot of the semi's out there (including ALL foreign made, milsurp type semi's shooting 7.62's). IMO the fast follow ups that semi's offer are nice but lead to bad shooting habits in a lot of shooters, me included.

My choice for a woods gun would be a bolt gun with a 18" barrel in .257bob, 7mm-08 or .308. That and the venerable lever gun in .30-30.

CB
 
I'd go with a big-bore levergun. I own 45-70, 444, 348, 356, 308, 30-30, 35 Rem, and more.

30-30 is the cheapest, ammo wise, but I prefer the bigger cartridges...........
 
I don't hunt deer or elk. I've got a 243 bolt gun that hits sub moa
I'm going to be hunting pigs, probably oregon, but I have a friend who wants me to go on a hog hunt in Washington. He saw one and he keeps finding tracks around trees their rubbing on. I'm in it more for the week of backpacking, its about a day hike in and lots of acres to cover.

I like longer backpacking hunting trips, my main concerns are bears or cougar at night , but with the hogs I want to take more than one if possible. I don't know if a 243 bolt gun is the best choice, its my only rifle but I know how to use it. I shoot good groupings in fog haze and rain as the suns going down. Don't get any sunny days at the range here in Washington

I'm also looking for a bolt gun in 7mm for long range and big game, I might build one off an old action. Or maybe a larger caliber. So I don't need the semi auto for long range shooting. I'm looking for a rifle that would work in tight places. I wanted a "black rifle" before any potential bans happen.

I can get 1000 rnds of 7.62 for under $180
 
Originally Posted By: The Big SleepI don't hunt deer or elk. I've got a 243 bolt gun that hits sub moa
I'm going to be hunting pigs, probably oregon, but I have a friend who wants me to go on a hog hunt in Washington. He saw one and he keeps finding tracks around trees their rubbing on. I'm in it more for the week of backpacking, its about a day hike in and lots of acres to cover.

I like longer backpacking hunting trips, my main concerns are bears or cougar at night , but with the hogs I want to take more than one if possible. I don't know if a 243 bolt gun is the best choice, its my only rifle but I know how to use it. I shoot good groupings in fog haze and rain as the suns going down. Don't get any sunny days at the range here in Washington

I'm also looking for a bolt gun in 7mm for long range and big game, I might build one off an old action. Or maybe a larger caliber. So I don't need the semi auto for long range shooting. I'm looking for a rifle that would work in tight places. I wanted a "black rifle" before any potential bans happen.

I can get 1000 rnds of 7.62 for under $180

If you are backpacking sound like you need a 44mag. handgun. I have the Ruger Super Redhawk with a Millet red dot scope on it. I have some 320 WLNGC hardcast bulltes loaded up at 1331fps. I have a bandaleer holster and leave the red dot on while hunting. I just change the battery every year and have no problems. Less weight and more compact. Just another idea to throw out to you.
 
i want to know where you can get 7.62 for under 180 bucks a case .its 200 and some here and when everuthing was so high it was little over 300 a case
 
Is that $180 a 1000 for soft point hunting ammo? Sounds cheaper than what I've been seeing for hunting ammo lately.
 
My thick brush and I mean thick viney, hog hammer is a Savage 10, in .308, with red dot scope. It is light to carry, the red dot works very well in woods with heavy canopy. With bullets from 85 to 200 grain avail. it can be used for virtually any game from predator to elk. During deer season I just change to a regular scope for longer range.
 
I hate limiting my range with a gun only capable 100 yard shots. While I may not expect shots over 100 yards I HATE IT when that longer range shot presents itself and I don't have the right equipment for the job. Guess that comes from living in a "shotgun only" deer state and seeing trophy bucks standing 250 yards away. Carry enough gun to reach the unexpected.

CB
 
I'd pick the 308 over 7.62x39. Another inexpensive option could be the russian Mosin Nagant carbine. Shoots a similar round balistics wise to the 308. Very inexpensive, got mine for $75.00 in excellent condition with a pristine bore. Mojo make a peep sight for it around $60.00 and timney has a dropin trigger for $100.00. sound about perfect for what you want to use it for. I used a rem 742 in 308 w/ open sights for a long time and killed a lot of deer with it so I'm partial to that myself.
 
I'm looking into an SKS instead of the vepr II. I'm going to fabricate a synthetic stock to look more like the vepr. It just feels better in my hands than most semi autos. But I love the SKS action. I'll have enough left over from buying the SKS to get another rifle.

I'm thinking of building something in 7mm or even 7.56x54 but a 375h&h would be nice.

My great grandfather worked for smith and wesson in Massachusetts and he taught me all about building firearms and fabricating parts with a file saw and drill press.

I'd love to build a leveraction in 375h&h or larger for big game. Anyone recommend an action I should start from?

I love the flat shooting calibers, 6 and 7mm but anyone recommend a larger caliber that shoots pretty flat?

And yes I'm not packing my gear until I see a better photo of the hogs. He's got my gps to record where he took the pictures. He's going to hold the gps in the photo just to prove he's not pulling my chain.
 


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