"Performs" in testing and "Performs" in real world are two very different things. I have personally taken deer with this round and it has performed amazingly. I have also taken deer with S&B 123gr SP 7.62x39 and they work but not as well as this 154gr Tula round. It may not look great in the test but I promise you it is a very effective and devastating round on a live target. I prefer it to my 30-06.
Jacob Tyler I did not recover the bullet, and my shot placements have been heart/lung shots. No front quarter bone interference. The bullet did expand terrifically though judging by the entrance and exit wounds. The last deer I shot with this round last year had an exit wound roughly the size of my fist in its ribcage. The deer took half a step and keeled over. The deer I shot this year with a 123gr SP in the almost exact same location, double lung shot, the exit wound was not as pronounced as the 154gr. I'm a believer in it's effectiveness and it's hard to beat for a .25 cent round.
Jacob Tyler You're welcome. I'm the same as you. I have put a lot of credence in gel tests, but have learned they are not 100% representative of real world performance, especially when it comes to the steel case stuff. People love to bash it, that's fine, it will keep the prices down so I can buy more :)
John Hammer John, you make an excellent point that other viewers should be aware of. Gel tests vs. real world results can vary. Best I can do currently for vids though is gel tests which at least demonstrate that some rounds expand with greater ease than others, Zombie Max & Uly for example. Thanks for chiming in my friend.
The Ammo Channel You can always add few denim layers on, and a couple of bones into your gel in further tests. You can make one shot into clear gel and one shot after adding obstacles to see a difference, if there is one. Videos will only benefit from such approach!
I am 74 years old and been hunting all my life. I have killed more big game animals than I can remember. I have taken over 200 deer, 30 antelope, several elk, three black bears. and wild boar. I have used numerous calibers in numerous rifles from distances for 30 feet to over 600 yards I learned many years ago it is not what you hit them with as much as were you hit them. Dead is Dead. The 154 grain 7.62x39 kills as quick and dead as anything up to and including the 444 Marlin or the 45-70.
Grady Poteat very impressive record . I was worried 7.62 would give me the one shot I needed . Going to try to use soft point behind the shoulder with an AK
PERFECT statement, dead is dead. The main purpose of a 7.62 x39 bullet is to kill a man. It will kill anything less than Man too. In Africa poachers use AK's to kill elephants , rhinos , buffalo ....
@@filippocorti6760 Doesn't really matter as WHERE you hit them is what counts. If a person does not know his weapon and how to shoot it then whatever he uses means nothing.
The Herters brass case 7.62x39 123 grain "soft point" ammo with a Herters headstamp (sold in Cabelas) is also steel jacketed (confirmed with a weak magnet). Re those who have hunted with these kinds of projectiles; even an FMJ will fragment and kill when hitting a soft target. It just isn't near as effective as true expanding ammo.
I just watched your 303 ammo video. It was a good video. I wish suplus ammo was that easy to come by here in Australia. I am picking up my first 303 rifle in two weeks time. Also a BSA made no4 mk1
The herters mushroom (expand) reliably in deer sometimes with and sometimes without case separation in many field tests. As do the hollow points. Hollow points do tend to have more fragmentation.
I've watched all the 7.62 x39 shoot n tear down. but I've got a question that I can not find an answer for. I'm looking to load a sub-sonic 7.62×39 load. I can't find any heavy grain rounds. so I've heard you can use 174 grain 303 Brit with 12.9 grain powder in a wolf round n that with a suppressor it will cycle an ar15. do you think this is true? do you think this is safe?
I've tested this in water, using a yugo SKS with the gas turned off, and every time, the bullets pealed back, mushroomed, but the core and jacket would separate.
Watched almost all of your videos, i love this channel. Have any plans on gel testing your lead cast 7.62x39? I really liked the video where you made your own and those looked great. Would love to see those bullets tested in ballstic gel.
Steel jackets are great for FMJ military rounds or round nose hunting bullets where extreme penetration is needed. Everything else, not so much. Good video man, keep them coming.
I doubt it. They're made in the same factory likely to the same spec. Before and after Cabela's carried the steel case Herter's line they carried the same products in Tulammo packaging.
drasdwayne I think the difference in results was just incidental. I think if both channels had tested more than a single round they both would have seen expansion and failure within their tests.
I'm guessing your spot on. I bet if you check the Tul and Herters boxes you'd see the same factory marking on them. They should've tested at least 5 rounds to get more data.
Herters just gets their hands on other people's ammo and rebrands it as their own. I've bought Herters from AIM in 7.62x39 and gotten wolf, Tulammo, and even Golden Tiger when I opened the box and checked the headstamp. What does the headstamp on these say? It looks a lot like Tulammo, other than the boat tailed projectile, however I've had great success in the field and laboratory testing Tulammo ball and hollow points, although the ball did outperform the HP by a decent margin.
great video (as always). i saw at the end of this that you had golden and brown bear ammo reviewed. i was wondering if you might be able to do silver bear. that would be great if you could! if not, no worries. once again, great video!
These results make a lot of sense. I had two deer run off last year after being shot with herters 243 ammunition. Wouldn't surprise me if they were 6mm pass throughs.
While it would be a lot of trouble, has anyone tried drilling out these Russian HP's at various diameters and depths to try to get them to actually work dependably?
Rifle bullets tumbling in media or flesh is ordinary, not unusual. "Spitzer' type bullets (with long, tapered 'nose') carry the center of gravity toward the rear. When the projectile hits resistance (like gel) the front slows down but the heavier rear end of the bullet does not as quickly. Hence the bullet tumbles. The longer and narrower the nose, the greater the tendency. One notes the carton containing the ammunition has the inscription "Made in Russia". One finds this is common among merchandising companies. I suggest users read the fine print to determine who actually made the ammunition. Made by company X is going to be pretty much the same whoever labels and sells it. Live and learn.
I found a box (100 rounds) of Tula Ammunition with the 154 grain SP load. Oddly, they came in mild steel cases with Berdan priming, The powder charge was 22..4 grains of a very small 'stick' powder, surprisingly similar to the brief glimpse of the powder shown in this video. (Same color as well.) From the rather confident gentleman at the gun shop (not big box store, but dedicated gun shop) I am given to understand Tula contracts out much of their ammunition products. I've got a nickel says the Herter's ammo is contracted out from the same source. Other than the head stamp, it all looks quite similar. From a CZ small bolt action carbine with a nominal 20" barrel, it clocks 2150 average over my CED chronograph. I have not yet tried it on gel, old phonebooks, plywood or game. But with that much penetration, it is probably useful for larger game as well as deer. Sort of like a .30 WCF but more portable and more precise.
Comparing this to the Zombie Max doesn't exactly seem like a fair comparison. IIRC the Zombie Max is just a differently-coloured sales gimmick variant of an otherwise excellent varmint bullet. You need to compare like with like, so perhaps a commercial 150gn .30-30 out of the shortest-barrelled carbine you can find?
Because this ammo expands so readily in water and in animals and in real calibrated ballistics gel (not clear gel) I think the fault is with your test media.
A steel jacket makes little sense, other than probably cost savings. I am a little surprised that ATF doesn't scream "AP!" The lead core probably prevents that. Too bad it doesn't expand. A heavy bullet at moderate velocity would have great potential
I hope you see this, I don't know how to contact you otherwise. I think you should take the full auto hammer out of your ak47 build. I know that little notch doesn't make it full auto but that's all it takes to be construed into (intent). You might not believe me but you can check it out. You may just have unwillingly committed a felony with 10 year sentence on UA-cam.
You are one of the rare channels where almost each video is well made and interesting. Thank you for you work!
Greenftor Thank you very much for the compliment. Very much.
"Performs" in testing and "Performs" in real world are two very different things. I have personally taken deer with this round and it has performed amazingly. I have also taken deer with S&B 123gr SP 7.62x39 and they work but not as well as this 154gr Tula round. It may not look great in the test but I promise you it is a very effective and devastating round on a live target. I prefer it to my 30-06.
Jacob Tyler I did not recover the bullet, and my shot placements have been heart/lung shots. No front quarter bone interference. The bullet did expand terrifically though judging by the entrance and exit wounds. The last deer I shot with this round last year had an exit wound roughly the size of my fist in its ribcage. The deer took half a step and keeled over. The deer I shot this year with a 123gr SP in the almost exact same location, double lung shot, the exit wound was not as pronounced as the 154gr. I'm a believer in it's effectiveness and it's hard to beat for a .25 cent round.
Jacob Tyler
You're welcome. I'm the same as you. I have put a lot of credence in gel tests, but have learned they are not 100% representative of real world performance, especially when it comes to the steel case stuff. People love to bash it, that's fine, it will keep the prices down so I can buy more :)
John Hammer John, you make an excellent point that other viewers should be aware of. Gel tests vs. real world results can vary. Best I can do currently for vids though is gel tests which at least demonstrate that some rounds expand with greater ease than others, Zombie Max & Uly for example. Thanks for chiming in my friend.
The Ammo Channel
Love your channel, you do a great job. Ballistics are a funny thing indeed.
The Ammo Channel
You can always add few denim layers on, and a couple of bones into your gel in further tests. You can make one shot into clear gel and one shot after adding obstacles to see a difference, if there is one. Videos will only benefit from such approach!
I am 74 years old and been hunting all my life. I have killed more big game animals than I can remember. I have taken over 200 deer, 30 antelope, several elk, three black bears. and wild boar. I have used numerous calibers in numerous rifles from distances for 30 feet to over 600 yards I learned many years ago it is not what you hit them with as much as were you hit them. Dead is Dead. The 154 grain 7.62x39 kills as quick and dead as anything up to and including the 444 Marlin or the 45-70.
Grady Poteat very impressive record . I was worried 7.62 would give me the one shot I needed . Going to try to use soft point behind the shoulder with an AK
Up to what kinda distance?
Qualifier: out of a 10in barrel?
PERFECT statement, dead is dead. The main purpose of a 7.62 x39 bullet is to kill a man. It will kill anything less than Man too.
In Africa poachers use AK's to kill elephants , rhinos , buffalo ....
Maybe the 154gr bullet changed by the manufacturer between when this test was done and when you used it.
@@filippocorti6760 Doesn't really matter as WHERE you hit them is what counts. If a person does not know his weapon and how to shoot it then whatever he uses means nothing.
Potting and the whole nine yards. As an old tool & die maker I'm impressed.
The Herters brass case 7.62x39 123 grain "soft point" ammo with a Herters headstamp (sold in Cabelas) is also steel jacketed (confirmed with a weak magnet).
Re those who have hunted with these kinds of projectiles; even an FMJ will fragment and kill when hitting a soft target. It just isn't near as effective as true expanding ammo.
I absolutely love your channel. You always put out great content. Thumbs up my friend
I just watched your 303 ammo video. It was a good video. I wish suplus ammo was that easy to come by here in Australia. I am picking up my first 303 rifle in two weeks time. Also a BSA made no4 mk1
The herters mushroom (expand) reliably in deer sometimes with and sometimes without case separation in many field tests. As do the hollow points. Hollow points do tend to have more fragmentation.
Excellent break down as always. I found some Herters brass case 7.62x39 non magnetic 123 grain soft points. I'm hoping they actually work.
I've watched all the 7.62 x39 shoot n tear down. but I've got a question that I can not find an answer for. I'm looking to load a sub-sonic 7.62×39 load. I can't find any heavy grain rounds. so I've heard you can use 174 grain 303 Brit with 12.9 grain powder in a wolf round n that with a suppressor it will cycle an ar15. do you think this is true? do you think this is safe?
What would happen if you shot a reloaded bullet after emptying most or all of the lead out of it? I would like to see that.
The "score marks" have everything to do with assisting the forming of the jacket and nothing to do with ballistics.
I've tested this in water, using a yugo SKS with the gas turned off, and every time, the bullets pealed back, mushroomed, but the core and jacket would separate.
Same for me out of 16" barrel too. Huge expansion in water and jacket comes off near the end of the path.
NYET! Ammo is fine!
Is intended to shoot man behind engine blok!
Blok will expand projectile!
great video, but none of the links work at the end of the video...
Great video Mr.
Keep doing these! So awesome! I don't know of another source with this much info.
Watched almost all of your videos, i love this channel. Have any plans on gel testing your lead cast 7.62x39? I really liked the video where you made your own and those looked great. Would love to see those bullets tested in ballstic gel.
Steel jackets are great for FMJ military rounds or round nose hunting bullets where extreme penetration is needed. Everything else, not so much. Good video man, keep them coming.
I wonder if the tula 154 grain soft point would behave differently? Also, love your channel. Straight to the point and no opinionated lip-flapping.
When The Chopping Block did his test on Tul 154 gr. SP it hit the gel at 2177 FPS and expanded pretty well.
I doubt it. They're made in the same factory likely to the same spec. Before and after Cabela's carried the steel case Herter's line they carried the same products in Tulammo packaging.
drasdwayne I think the difference in results was just incidental. I think if both channels had tested more than a single round they both would have seen expansion and failure within their tests.
I'm guessing your spot on. I bet if you check the Tul and Herters boxes you'd see the same factory marking on them.
They should've tested at least 5 rounds to get more data.
drasdwayne I saw that test. TCB does good work.
How about some cheap 7.62x39mm non bi-metal soft point like Sellier & Bellot, or Priv Partizan??
Such a good channel
It did NOT curve up. The block flexed.
Herters just gets their hands on other people's ammo and rebrands it as their own. I've bought Herters from AIM in 7.62x39 and gotten wolf, Tulammo, and even Golden Tiger when I opened the box and checked the headstamp. What does the headstamp on these say? It looks a lot like Tulammo, other than the boat tailed projectile, however I've had great success in the field and laboratory testing Tulammo ball and hollow points, although the ball did outperform the HP by a decent margin.
I'd like to see that same test with a chicken or a piece of meat with bone in front of the gel.
Awesome facts brotha how about testing some ppu and sellier and bellot soft point?
This is awesome! Will you please do this with the silver bear 308 softpoint?
great video (as always). i saw at the end of this that you had golden and brown bear ammo reviewed. i was wondering if you might be able to do silver bear. that would be great if you could! if not, no worries. once again, great video!
Found this video by trying to decide on some ammo. Great video! I sub'd ya
These results make a lot of sense. I had two deer run off last year after being shot with herters 243 ammunition. Wouldn't surprise me if they were 6mm pass throughs.
Great video!!
Great video. I won't waste my money on Herters.
I agree with Greenftor. Thank you
As usual, very informative! Thanks! :o)
ammo master after all your testing of 30 commie ammo what is your recommendation for the best ammo for soft targets and hardened targets?
Is the recoil more or less compared to the lighter 122-124g 7.62x39 rounds?
It's got a little more kick. Still nothing compared to a 'real' rifle.
While it would be a lot of trouble, has anyone tried drilling out these Russian HP's at various diameters and depths to try to get them to actually work dependably?
Rifle bullets tumbling in media or flesh is ordinary, not unusual. "Spitzer' type bullets (with long, tapered 'nose') carry the center of gravity toward the rear. When the projectile hits resistance (like gel) the front slows down but the heavier rear end of the bullet does not as quickly. Hence the bullet tumbles. The longer and narrower the nose, the greater the tendency.
One notes the carton containing the ammunition has the inscription "Made in Russia". One finds this is common among merchandising companies. I suggest users read the fine print to determine who actually made the ammunition. Made by company X is going to be pretty much the same whoever labels and sells it. Live and learn.
Do a test on Herters 150g .303 British
GARYisweet Funny you should say 303 brit......
Why do you say that?
Tula 154gr?
I found a box (100 rounds) of Tula Ammunition with the 154 grain SP load. Oddly, they came in mild steel cases with Berdan priming, The powder charge was 22..4 grains of a very small 'stick' powder, surprisingly similar to the brief glimpse of the powder shown in this video. (Same color as well.) From the rather confident gentleman at the gun shop (not big box store, but dedicated gun shop) I am given to understand Tula contracts out much of their ammunition products.
I've got a nickel says the Herter's ammo is contracted out from the same source. Other than the head stamp, it all looks quite similar.
From a CZ small bolt action carbine with a nominal 20" barrel, it clocks 2150 average over my CED chronograph. I have not yet tried it on gel, old phonebooks, plywood or game. But with that much penetration, it is probably useful for larger game as well as deer. Sort of like a .30 WCF but more portable and more precise.
Could they just produce a fmj and market it as a barricade mout round. That will sell wildly.
Very good video. Subbed.
Comparing this to the Zombie Max doesn't exactly seem like a fair comparison. IIRC the Zombie Max is just a differently-coloured sales gimmick variant of an otherwise excellent varmint bullet. You need to compare like with like, so perhaps a commercial 150gn .30-30 out of the shortest-barrelled carbine you can find?
Because this ammo expands so readily in water and in animals and in real calibrated ballistics gel (not clear gel) I think the fault is with your test media.
Prob illegal but notch a cross in em with a hacksaw....huge difference
With that jacket, it might as well be an FMJ round.
A steel jacket makes little sense, other than probably cost savings. I am a little surprised that ATF doesn't scream "AP!" The lead core probably prevents that. Too bad it doesn't expand. A heavy bullet at moderate velocity would have great potential
Ive never seen an ammo review like this... Don’t you go ok spoiling us like that
if thats the problem just dremmal the sides of the copper jacket lightly to weaken the jacket that should make the round deform
Looks like it means, it's no better than a FMJ, except likely cost more.
I hope you see this, I don't know how to contact you otherwise. I think you should take the full auto hammer out of your ak47 build. I know that little notch doesn't make it full auto but that's all it takes to be construed into (intent). You might not believe me but you can check it out. You may just have unwillingly committed a felony with 10 year sentence on UA-cam.
Wow, unfortunately audio recorded with a potato. Great info.
Yea herters I consider just plinking stuff
This ammo will shoot 1moa from Ruger ranch.
Sounds like most 7.62 x 39 ammo eat a barrel alive.