Soft point vs Hollow point?

[LawDog]

I did try to look around but not much luck. I am starting my stock pile of def. ammo for my AK. I see there is hollow point and soft point. I really have not heard of soft point unless it was in a game hunting role. What about def. role? Am I better off with say wolf 154 sp or 125 hp? I was thinking of using the Barnaul 123 gr FMJ for practice and using the 125 gr sp for def ammo. Any thoughts?

[markm]

Most Hollow Point AK ammo is simply Open Top. It's an easier way of making mass quantities of bullets (as it was explained to me). The purpose isn't bullet expansion.

As far as soft points and such, I've never seen or shot them with an AK. There's a couple of AK nuts here who probably can tell you more about ammo selection. ;)

[LawDog]

A thread no one has the answer to? Or will any 7.62x39mm get the job done?

[Face_N_The_Crowd]

Lawdog - it isn't the answer you are looking for but I remember a discussion elsewhere - maybe TF or 10-8.....soft point rigns a bell but don't quote me.

[LOKNLOD]

Lawdog,
It's not specifically HP vs. SP, but I had a 7.62x39 ballistics thread a while back and there was some good info on the different loadings, might be some helpful info in there:

LINK (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=15329)

[skyugo]

if you do decide to go with hollowpoints make sure they feed in your rifle.
i believe you can chamfer your feed ramp a little if they seem to be getting hung up.

i have basically stuck to FMJ in my AK.
my SKS feeds hollopoints flawlessly though.

[czydj]

This post from DocGKR:

http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bin/tacticalubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=78;t=001359

Quote:

When one moves to a expanding/fragmenting design in 7.62 x 39 mm, terminal performance is significantly enhanced. The best 7.62 x 39 mm loads we have tested to date are the Winchester 123 gr JSP (X76239) and the Lapua 125 gr JSP. Out of a 16” barrel they perform somewhat like lightweight .30-30 loads:

Lap 125 gr JSP
Bare Gelatin: vel=2316 f/s, pen=17.3”, RD=.62”, RL=.43”, RW=122.6 gr
Car Windshield: vel=2323 f/s, pen=14.8”, RD=.60”, RL=.40”, RW=110.6 gr

Win 123 gr JSP
Bare Gel: vel=2253 f/s, pen=14.4”, rd=0.56”, rw=90.1gr
Pretty much the same results when going through car windshields.


led me to this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=244739


hth!

[LawDog]

Hey thanks for the links fellas. I gots me some readn to do.

[Fail-Safe]

Wolf Military Classic 124gr JHP works quite well. It expands, fragments, yet still manages 16 inches of penetration. This round uses the Ulyanovsk 8M3 JHP which was designed by UMP to do the three things previously mentioned.

czydj, you might want to check the updated link at Tactical Forums which also includes the data on the 124gr 8M3 JHP


When one moves to a expanding/fragmenting design in 7.62 x 39 mm, terminal performance is significantly enhanced. The best 7.62 x 39 mm loads we have tested to date are the Winchester 123 gr JSP (X76239) and the Lapua 125 gr JSP. Out of a 16” barrel they perform somewhat like lightweight .30-30 loads:

Lap 125 gr JSP
Bare Gelatin: vel=2316 f/s, pen=17.3”, RD=.62”, RL=.43”, RW=122.6 gr
Car Windshield: vel=2323 f/s, pen=14.8”, RD=.60”, RL=.40”, RW=110.6 gr

Win 123 gr JSP
Bare Gel: vel=2253 f/s, pen=14.4”, rd=0.56”, rw=90.1gr
Pretty much the same results when going through car windshields.

Of note, most of the “cheap” Russian JHP/JSP ammunition offers poor terminal performance. The one that seems to work is the 7.62x39mm Saspan 124 gr JHP (Ulyanovsk Machinery Plant; 8M3 bullet); from a 16” AKMS the data is:

BG: vel=2297 f/s, pen=15.0”, Max TC=10cm@18cm, RD=0.63”, RW=100.5gr"

Because of the larger permanent cavity and greater bullet mass, the 7.62 x 39 mm JSP’s offer somewhat better performance than the .223 bonded JSP’s, like the Trophy Bonded Bearclaw use in the Federal Tactical loads. These 7.62 x 39 mm JSP loads are a good choice for use against car windows and should also be outstanding for hunting deer and other similar size game.

[czydj]

czydj, you might want to check the updated link at Tactical Forums which also includes the data on the 124gr 8M3 JHP

I looked and didn't find it... Do you have it?

[Fail-Safe]

Its the same link, the data has been updated. The stuff in quotes were added.


Of note, most of the “cheap” Russian JHP/JSP ammunition offers poor terminal performance. The one that seems to work is the 7.62x39mm Saspan 124 gr JHP (Ulyanovsk Machinery Plant; 8M3 bullet); from a 16” AKMS the data is:

BG: vel=2297 f/s, pen=15.0”, Max TC=10cm@18cm, RD=0.63”, RW=100.5gr"

Because of the larger permanent cavity and greater bullet mass, the 7.62 x 39 mm JSP’s offer somewhat better performance than the .223 bonded JSP’s, like the Trophy Bonded Bearclaw use in the Federal Tactical loads. These 7.62 x 39 mm JSP loads are a good choice for use against car windows and should also be outstanding for hunting deer and other similar size game.