[eightshot627]

Most states DO NOT ALLOW FMJs for hunting. There are plenty of choices in soft point hunting ammo. Winchester, Remington, Federal and even Wolf make soft point deer hunting loads. A friend from SC uses his SKS and Federal 123gr soft point and takes deer and hogs just fine.

Good Luck,
Walt

Originally Posted by BearTitan

The bullets used in most 7.62 x 39 are the military type: cheap. The jackets on the JHP bullets separate from the bullet on inpact and the whole bullet disintigrates. This is great if wounding is the goal, like in wartime. If you don't hit the vitals, you won't recover the deer.

Hunting bullets are, in one way or another, bonded to their jacket to increase penetration without sacrificing expansion.

FMJ will not perform much better than JHP, but the solid core should hold the bullet together to at least give you an exit. I am not sure if anyone makes a 7.69 x 39 hunting cartridge, but it might be worth it to look into it. If not, the FMJ's will do the job.

If you are going to hunt like a bow hunter and go for the double lung through the ribs shot, then the JHP will work fine. If you hit bone, any bone, the FMJ will perform much better for you.