125grn .30 Caliber at 3100fps?

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Josh Smith
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125grn .30 Caliber at 3100fps?

Post by Josh Smith »

Hello,

I've been thinking about what might happen if I drive a hollowpoint or soft point intended for a 7.62x39mm to 3100fps or thereabouts with a 7.62x54R.

What would you expect the terminal performance to be like, in, say, a coyote?

How about a 200lb deer?

I personally like the 150 grain bullets in rifle .30 to .32 caliber, but this has been eating at me, sort of, as I have a few 7.62x39 laying around that I don't trust to fire but could pull the bullets from easily enough...

I've never played with light-for-caliber bullets and might find them useful for something-or-other.

Thanks!

Josh
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desdem12
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Re: 125grn .30 Caliber at 3100fps?

Post by desdem12 »

I don't know about the hollowpoint but my lee book has loads for 123 grain jacketed over 3100 :?:
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Ironnewt
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Re: 125grn .30 Caliber at 3100fps?

Post by Ironnewt »

I think your biggest issue would be in stabilizing the bullet. I'm not sure what the typical "twist" is for a 7.62x39 compared to 7.62 x 54R.
Damn, I'll bet that's going to leave a mark! Probably hurt too!
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Burrhead
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Re: 125grn .30 Caliber at 3100fps?

Post by Burrhead »

A soft point might work pretty well but the hollow point might not penetrate on deer. I think it would be a very shallow wound and just blow off some fur and meat especially if you hit a bone. How ever as to a coyote that might be an OK bullet as you very rarely get a really close shot on those varmints, but Deer I think a soft point would do OK. Myself I use a 150 grain soft point for deer out of my 308 Winchester and I have loaded this in 30-06 for friends with very good results, I think the 150 grain is a better deer getter than the 180 grain that is so common among the 30-06 guys.
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entropy
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Re: 125grn .30 Caliber at 3100fps?

Post by entropy »

It would work as a close-in varmint round, but that's about it. The rate of twist in the MN would probably not stabilize the 125 well enough for any long distance. not a good choice for deer, for the reasons Burrhead mentions.
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res45
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Re: 125grn .30 Caliber at 3100fps?

Post by res45 »

I've Mexican Matched some surplus Bulgarian 54r using the Sierra 125 gr. .310 SP bullet accuracy was excellent but at the time I didn't have a chrono to check MV. I still have a small batch loaded up and now have a chrono but it bullet casting season so it might be awhile before I can test some.
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