Funky 7.62x39 round nose soft point

Bullet Bob · Sep 30, 2023

I recently saw these online while looking for something else. They may already be well known, I don't get out much.

PPU round nose soft point, it looks reminiscent of something from the early 1900's to me, maybe a Winchester SL form. It may be good for short-range hunting, but I don't hunt anymore. Bought a couple of boxes just for fun, I don't think feeding will be a problem for my Ruger No. 1 single shot in this caliber. I've used this manufacturers product in my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser with good results.

By the way, despite the downsides, what a wonderful world we live in that I can see these, and have them delivered to me in less than a week without leaving home.

Shown with a .45-70 for perspective:

rockquarry · Sep 30, 2023

Bullet Bob said:
I recently saw these online while looking for something else. They may already be well known, I don't get out much.

PPU round nose soft point, it looks reminiscent of something from the early 1900's to me, maybe a Winchester SL form. It may be good for short-range hunting, but I don't hunt anymore. Bought a couple of boxes just for fun, I don't think feeding will be a problem for my Ruger No. 1 single shot in this caliber. I've used this manufacturers product in my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser with good results.

By the way, despite the downsides, what a wonderful world we live in that I can see these, and have them delivered to me in less than a week without leaving home.

Shown with a .45-70 for perspective:

Whether you hunt or not, round nose bullets are fine for a cartridge with such limited range as the 7.62x39. I'd go with what's most accurate regardless of nose shape. This is as good a cast bullet cartridge as it is for use with jackteted bullets.

alwslate · Sep 30, 2023

Blunt RN bullet with a lot of lead exposed like a 30-30 or .35 Remington. Made to expand at low velocity. I'd be more concerned about feeding than accuracy. Some semi-auto military rifles designed for pointed FMJ ammo don't feed ammo like this very well.

Buick · Sep 30, 2023

Won't feed in my Norinco sks

VictorLouis · Sep 30, 2023

I have a few boxes left. I've had no trouble through several SkS and on AK pattern. Overall, I think PPU is quality fodder.

stansdds · Oct 1, 2023

Many years ago I tried soft point ammo in my SKS. It turned a very reliable weapon into a jam-o-matic. I'm sure it would not be a problem with a bolt action or single shot rifle and it should work well on deer.

gwpercle · Oct 1, 2023

Some of us still hunt with with the RN ... they expand fast on game .

I have a model 95 Mauser in 7X57 that is deadly on deer and hogs , in Louisiana thickets with 175 gr. RNSP ... when hit ... they drop like a sack of potatoes !
Gary

Glenn R. McMannly · Oct 1, 2023

I try and support my local gunshop instead of mail order the ammo.

rockquarry · Oct 1, 2023

Glenn R. McMannly said:
I try and support my local gunshop instead of mail order the ammo.

Good idea and good reminder - I think many more of us need to buy local but we get in the habit of mail ordering because it's convenient and usually a little cheaper.

I bought two Norinco SKSs more than thirty years ago when they were very cheap. I'd have to review old notes, but I remember trying many bullets, jacketed and cast. I don't recall feeding/ chambering problems.

I found these to be crude guns but probably worth the low prices. I quickly lost interest in them.

LVSteve · Oct 1, 2023

Bullet Bob said:
I recently saw these online while looking for something else. They may already be well known, I don't get out much.

PPU round nose soft point, it looks reminiscent of something from the early 1900's to me, maybe a Winchester SL form. It may be good for short-range hunting, but I don't hunt anymore. Bought a couple of boxes just for fun, I don't think feeding will be a problem for my Ruger No. 1 single shot in this caliber. I've used this manufacturers product in my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser with good results.

By the way, despite the downsides, what a wonderful world we live in that I can see these, and have them delivered to me in less than a week without leaving home.

Shown with a .45-70 for perspective:

Somebody (might have been PPU) made a 154 gr soft point in 7.62x39 some years ago. I don't hunt so I cannot speak to its efficacy, but it might reduce penetration in a home defense scenario.

As for SKS carbines not feeding soft points, that's not uncommon with military guns, although I have seen the issue reversed. I have a Winchester built Model P14 rifle that feeds Remington soft points slick as an SMLE, but it occasionally hangs with FMJ. Color me baffled, but the Winchester built guns were always treated as "special" by British armorers, and special wasn't necessarily a compliment.

Mike SC Hunter · Oct 1, 2023

I have some of the same made by WW. They are a deer donker out of my 7.62x39 AR and Mini 30.

30-30remchester · Oct 1, 2023

Studying bullet construction and results on game has been a hobby of mine since I recovered a bullet from my first deer at the age of 12. Having guided big game hunters for 9 years and hunting for decades, I have over 150 bullets recovered from game. The round nose is the most under rated hunting bullets around. They expand faster on lighter game and hit harder. I have used them almost exclusively for the last 10 years. Will be using 220 grain round nose in my 30-06 this year for antelope. I wish more rounds were so loaded.

rockquarry · Oct 1, 2023

30-30remchester said:
Studying bullet construction and results on game has been a hobby of mine since I recovered a bullet from my first deer at the age of 12. Having guided big game hunters for 9 years and hunting for decades, I have over 150 bullets recovered from game. The round nose is the most under rated hunting bullets around. They expand faster on lighter game and hit harder. I have used them almost exclusively for the last 10 years. Will be using 220 grain round nose in my 30-06 this year for antelope. I wish more rounds were so loaded.

You're right, but ballistic coefficient has become both a fad and a marketing success. However, there's often not a great deal of difference in drop between roundnose and spitzer until you get beyond 300 yards. Probably best to go with what's most accurate in a particular rifle, but there's certainly nothing wrong with roundnose bullets if they shoot well and the range isn't beyond what most people shoot game at anyway.

Funky 7.62x39 round nose soft point

Bullet Bob

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