Best 7.62x39 Hunting Ammo: Putting Bambi in the Freezer

If you’re looking for the best 7.62x39 hunting ammo, then you’ve found the right article.

We are going to tell you exactly what to load into your AK, Ruger Mini-30, or SKS if you want to make sure that trophy buck ends up on your wall and not another “I almost got him” story.

If you simply cannot wait, the best 7.62x39 hunting ammo is Hornady Black 123 grain SST.

If you’re new to the 7.62x39 and aren’t sure what to look for in a hunting round, check out this buyer’s guide HERE. Otherwise, continue scrolling for the full list…

The Best 7.62x39 Hunting Ammo on the Market

1) Hornady Black 123 grain SST

2) Federal Fusion 123 grain JSP

3) Winchester Deer Season XP 123 grain Extreme Point

4) Nosler 123 grain Expansion Tip

5) Prvi Partizan 123 grain JSP

Hornady Black 123 Grain SST

Shop 7.62x39 Ammo

Specs

Case: Brass
Bullet Type: Super Shock Tip (SST)
Bullet Weight: 123 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,350 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,508 ft-lbs

Pros

Polymer tip for smoot semi-automatic feeding
Bullet developed for rapid expansion and weight retention
Easier to find and less expensive than other hunting rounds

Cons

More expensive than steel-cased FMJ ammo

Why We Chose It

When you need excellent terminal expansion, deeper penetration, and field-tested reliability, you should reach for Hornady Black 123 grain SST ammo. Perfect for deer hunting *and* home defense, the Hornady SST bullet is a true jack-of-all-trades.

Developed with whitetail hunting in mind, the Hornady Super Shock Tip (SST) bullet utilizes a polymer tip that protects its hollow point nose cavity and promotes smooth semi-automatic feeding. When it encounters soft tissue, the polymer tip plunges into the underlying cavity where it acts as a wedge that initiates expansion almost immediately.

The SST was developed for supreme accuracy. It sports a secant ogive profile and boat tail profile: two features which reduce drag, minimize wind interference, and amplify downrange stopping power.

In terms of availability, SST ammo is easier to find and less expensive than other hunting rounds. Yet another reason why it's our top choice for putting venison in the freezer each hunting season.

Federal Fusion 123 Grain JSP

Shop 7.62x39 Ammo

Specs

Case: Brass
Bullet Type: Jacketed Soft Point (JSP)
Bullet Weight: 123 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,350 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,508 ft-lbs

Pros

Proven deer hunting bullet design
Affordably priced
High availability

Cons

Not the best for long-range shooting

Why We Chose It

Federal Premium ammunition and deer hunting go together like backstraps and bacon grease.

Federal Fusion is a proven deer hunting round, and the go-to choice of tens of thousands thousands of sportsmen each fall. Similar to the older Federal Power-Shok ammo, Federal Fusion is purpose-built with deer hunting in mind.

The Fusion 123 grain soft point provides quick expansion and some of the highest weight retention in the industry. Its bonded jacket minimizes fragmentation following impact, thus promoting altogether deeper penetraion..

As the least expensive American-made ammo on our list, Federal Fusion is cheap enough for target shooting and varmint hunting. It's also powerful enough for to put down any deer, hog or coyote who dares venture near your hunting blind.

Federal ammo doesn't just help keep your wallet fatter. It is also plentiful and easy to find.

The only downside to Federal Fusion is its bullet design. Soft point bullets, by nature, are not extremely aerodynamic, and therefore suboptimal for long-range shooting. Even so, we found that this ammo is perfectly fine for shots out to 200 yards, which is more than enough range for most hunting situations.

Winchester Deer Season XP 123 Grain Extreme Point

Shop 7.62x39 Ammo

Specs

Case: Brass
Bullet Type: Extreme Point
Bullet Weight: 123 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,380 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,547 ft-lbs

Pros

Purpose-built for deer hunting
Large polymer tip's large base accelerates expansion

Cons

Low availability

Why We Chose It

If you’re looking for a purpose-built deer hunting round, look no further than Winchester Deer Season XP.

Deer Season XP ammo features the Extreme Point bullet, which is designed to inflict maximum impact trauma and a massive wound channels to ensure a clean and quick kill.

The Extreme Point owes its capacity for wide expansion to its large-diameter hollow point nose cavity. In addition to streamlining its frontal profile, the Extreme Point's massive polymer tip helps to accelerate expansion. The giant tip's proportionately giant base causes massive upset when impact drives it into the underlying nose cavity. The result is a bullet that really does a number on whitetail and hogs.

The only downside to Deer Season XP is that it can be very tricky to find in 7.62x39. If you can get your hands on it, you won’t be disappointed!

Looking for more ammo options? Check out our Winchester 7.62x39 ammo page!

Nosler 123 Grain Expansion Tip Lead-Free

Shop 7.62x39 Ammo

Specs

Case: Brass
Bullet Type: Expansion Tip (E-Tip)
Bullet Weight: 123 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,350 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,508 ft-lbs

Pros

Extremely accurate
Reliable expansion at low velocities
Exceptional terminal ballistics

Cons

Expensive
Hard to find

Why We Chose It

If you like firing the best of the best, then Nosler 123 grain E-Tip 7.62x39 hunting ammo is just what you’re looking for.

Loaded with the extreme precision requisite for pinpoint accuracy, Nosler E-Tip ammo is one of the best options for long-range hunting you can load into your Ruger American Ranch or Mini-30.

E-Tip bullets don't just exhibit rapid and devastating expansion results in medium game. They are also lead-free, and compliant for hunting in states that prohibit traditional lead projectiles.

There’s only one problem. This ammo is about as rare as hen’s teeth, and is pricey to boot. However, if you want the best of the best, Nosler Expansion Tip 123 grain ammo is hands-down the best choice.

Prvi Partizan 123 gr JSP

Prvi Partizan 7.62x39 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 123 Grain SP Ammunition

2 Reviews

Out of stock

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +10

Shop 7.62x39 Ammo

Specs

Case: Brass
Bullet Type: Jacketed Soft Point (JSP)
Bullet Weight: 123 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,461 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,653 ft-lbs

Pros

Least expensive option
Easy to buy in bulk
Highest muzzle velocity and energy in the top 4

Cons

Higher potential for over-penetration

Why We Chose It

Rounding out our top 5 list, we come to the only non-American ammo: Prvi Partizan 123 grain jacketed soft point.

Prvi Partizan (PPU) utilizes the older soft point bullet design to maximize expansion and terminal ballistics. This is great for medium game hunting, but doesn't maximize the round's long-range potential.

Coming in at the lowest cost per round on our list, PPU 123 grain JSP ammo is a great option when you want to buy bulk 7.62x39: enough for deer hunting, and some extra left over for self-defense.

Parting Shots

The 7.62x39 is an intermediate cartridge that is just as capable of putting meat on the table as the 300 Blackout, 30-30, or 308 Winchester. Combined with any of our top 5 selections, your AK or (converted) AR-15 will become a semi-auto hunting rifle that can fill deer tags and freezers with venison.

To check out all the 7.62x39 ammo we have in stock, visit our 7.62x39 ammo page. Otherwise, keep scrolling if you’d like to read our buyers guide to 7.62x39 ammo.

Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for in 7.62x39 Self Defense Ammo

Welcome to our buyers guide for 7.62x39 hunting ammo. There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about 7.62x39 that we want to clear up in this guide. In it we will discuss what cartridge cases you should look for, the best bullet for hunting rounds, and how to save money on 7.62x39 ammo.

Steel Case vs. Brass Case Ammo

A lot has been said all over the net about the downsides of using steel-cased ammo. If you want to read our full write-up about it, click this link: Steel Cased vs. Brass Cased Ammo.

If you want the Cliff’s Notes version instead, here’s the rundown:

Steel-cased ammo is great for use in the Soviet designed AK-47 or SKS
Brass-cased ammo can have problems in the AK or SKS due to violent extraction causing a stuck case
AR-15 carbine, Ruger Mini-30 and bolt action rifles function better with brass-cased ammo
Accuracy is generally better when firing brass- cased ammo
Steel-cased ammo is typically less expensive and easier to buy in bulk

Although this is just the tip of the iceberg, the bottom line is that most semi-automatic rifles or handguns on the market should be able to fire both brass- and steel-cased ammo. The important thing is to test your chosen ammo at the range before taking it into the woods or relying on it for self-defense.

Expanding vs. FMJ Bullets

When it comes to hunting ammo, you generally always want to use expanding bullets. These inflict more damage to the quarry, thus increasing the odds of an instant, ethical KO.

It’s true that the 7.62x39 is an effective round, and its full metal jacket b(FMJ) bullet is fairly accurate. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for hunting varmints or medium game.

For hunting, you want expanding bullets that maximize damage, increase blood loss, and limit the animal's pain and suffering. Most hunting rounds utilize a soft point or hollow point to deliver the terminal expansion which maximizes the odds of striking a vital organ.

FMJ bullets are great for target practice and plinking, but not home defense.

With so many different hunting ammo variants, you have plenty of opportunities to find the best hunting rounds for your rifle.

Save Money on 7.62x39 Ammo

One of the best aspects of this round is that bulk 7.62x39 ammo is extremely affordable. Buying a lot of ammo all at once helps keep your cost per round low. Although the upfront cost is a higher than buying one box at a time, buying in bulk ensures that you always have plenty of ammo for target practice or plinking.

If you are in a tight budget, no need to worry. You can still buy individual boxes at a regular price. Check out our PMC 7.62x39 ammo for more ammo options.

There are two very different types of bulk ammo that we want to talk about.

Surplus Soviet Ammo

If there’s one thing the Soviet Union was good at, it was producing ammunition. During the decades following WWII, the Soviets mass produced 7.62x39 for the AK-47, making it one of the most common cartridges across the globe.

The Russians hermetically sealed their ammo in spam cans so it would be combat-ready decades after it was manufactured, as well as stay fresh and ready-to-fire on soggy battlefields.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation looked to liquidate some of its surplus ammo stockpiles by selling it to us capitalist dogs at an extremely low price.

Surplus ammo sounds great, doesn’t it?!

Surplus ammo is excellent if you want something cheap to shoot, but it has a few problems you need to be aware of.

The biggest issue is that it’s corrosive.

To be more specific, the Berdan primers used by the Russians had hygroscopic salts in them. To learn more about corrosive ammo, check out this article: Corrosive Ammo Explained.

To summarize the article in a few words, you can safely fire corrosive ammo in any of your firearms so long as you follow the correct cleaning procedure. That's an extra step most shooters don’t want to deal with.

And this leads us into the second category of bulk ammo, which is…

Modern Bulk Ammo

Modern bulk steel-cased ammo comes from manufacturers like Wolf, Tula, Brown Bear, and Barnaul.

Generally, it is slightly more expensive than surplus military ammo, but it has some major benefits too.

First off, it is noncorrosive. That means no extensive cleaning sessions after a trip to range. Instead, you can crack open a cold one and spend more time dogging on your shooting buddy’s poor marksmanship.

Although it's still steel-cased and unsuitable for reloading, most shooters find modern bulk ammo to be more consistent and accurate than older surplus ammo. This is thanks to tighter modern manufacturing tolerances.

I'm not saying surplus ammunition is not accurate. Many shooters report great accuracy from spam can ammo. However, most shooters find that modern ammo is more consistent than older surplus ammo.

Tulammo and Wolf are particularly popular with the AK and SKS crowd, as they offer inexpensive ammunition that won’t break the bank and is often more consistent than old Soviet surplus ammo.

If you’re wondering what the best AK ammo is, check out this article: 4 Best AK-47 Ammo Picks.