The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

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

I don't know about the hollowpoint but my lee book has loads for 123 grain jacketed over 3100

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.

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.

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.

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.