Okay, I Elk hunt every year here in NM and tag out most of the time. I use my PTR91 SC carbine for Elk and Deer. If I draw out this year I was thinking about using a 7.62x39 11.5" upper on my SBR lower for the Elk hunt. Longest shot Ive ever had here was maybe 200 yards if that and most shots are 50-100yards. From what Ive seen my 7.62x51 do to Elk and Deer Im way more than sure a AK round will kill fast. This will also be a walking hunt with iron sifghts only…
I would say depends on the distance. Keep in mind that the AK round is very similar to the .30-30. While it should do the job within 200 yards, I’d be looking for something bigger if the distance increased, something in the full power range (30-06, 303 British, 7.62x54R, etc.)
Hmmmm,althought it would be a nice acomplishment to get a Elk with your 7.62x39 rifle,ya mite be pushing it,LOL!! It is a good round,but,what if you see that Monster Bull and he is just a tad out of range,
I lived in Montana for sevral years and shot a Bull with a 22-250,:eek:we were looking for coyotes,but we just happen to run into a nice Bull,a couple shots in the head and it was a done deal !! I would of much rather had my 270,but I made due with what I had. When its all said and done,its up to you,know the limits of your gun and you should be ok. If you use quality ammo that would help also,just remember “what if” & if I had only,etc !!! That Big Bull is waiting,good luck and let us know how you make out if you do use it ! 
I would keep my range in check for sure. I will have to run some numbers and check out some different rounds but I think it would work great. The last two cow elk I shot the 7.62x51 completetly destroyed the meat. Im really am looking for something a bit slower in .30 caliber and I just want to use an SBR while Im at it…
Edit: I was with a friend on a Oryx hunt several years ago and he killed one with a .270 at about 220 yards…
Also keep in mind that 7.62x39 velocities are typically rated for 20" barrels (if you go by what Federal used to quote their test barrel lengths at.) In an 11.5" SBR, you’re losing even more velocity than you would with a standard 16.25" AK. Even if you use softpoint ammo (which I would recommend), the softpoint may not expand due to the lost velocity.
I would seriously think about using a longer barrel or a bigger caliber for elk.
Can it be done? Sure.
Is it ethical? Not to me.
If there was some hellacious penalty for wounding and not recovering the elk, would you still try the 7.62x39 SBR?
That being said, there are plenty of “hunters” who have no business chasing game with their 30-06 or Ultramags or whatever. I lost a whitetail once due to overconfidence, stubbornness, and stupidity. I’m not saying I’ll never lose a game animal again, shit happens, but I’ll never put myself in that type of situation again.
It’s too light. .30-30 is about the minimum for Elk. 7.62x39 is not a .30-30, an 11.5 inch 7.62x39 isn’t even in the same ballpark.
Respectfully, it would be more of a stunt than anything else. I would say no. Use stouter caliber than that on elk.
Use one of those Gamo Whisper Air Rifles instead, they kill those big hogs with them.
First off–I think it’s really cool that you’re seeking the advise of others on this matter. There will ALWAYS be someone who says “a well-placed .22 will kill a grizzly…” and while true, what we most want to consider is likelihood of putting the animal down securely and swiftly.
That said, there are many that consider .308 to be around the lower limit for a good elk kill. Obviously shot placement and distance are major factors. There were many many elk taken with 30-30s, but that was also back when elk were more plentiful and presented easier, shorter-distance targets.
Run a ballistics calculator (JBM on line for free) and what you want to look for is the distance at which around 1500 ft-lbs of energy or more can be attained. This number is generally considered the rule of thumb for minimum consistent humane elk kill. Yes, people have humanely killed elk with less, and many have not humanely killed with much more energy.
That’s how I ended up getting my SKS. My dad got it for me when I was 14 to hunt deer. I’m not sure about taking down an elk with a 7.62X39 round though.
Ethical? I guess not penatrating far enough, letting the animal run for several hundred yards and then bleeding out slowly over a long period of time wouldnt be ethical. Oh wait, thats called bow hunting…:rolleyes:
I never said “hey guys Im taking my low velocity, underpowered pee shooter to kill a giant B&C trophy bull”. Im talking a 300 pound cow elk in the unit I like where the shots are more like 60 yards with a round thats been know to penatrate thin armor. I would of course do lots of testing and run the numbers before I ever moved on with it but Im pretty sure from what Ive done and seen the 7.62x39 round (carbine or 20 incher) would take an elk just fine…
11.5" barrrel out to maybe 200 yards. That barrel to too short to hunt with and is moe likely to cripple, than kill at any distance.
Full length barrel inside 100 yds., different story.
For sure, this is what I was thinking. And shit, it may not work out or may be cutting it to close, if that is the case Ill just use my trustin .308 carbine which has proven many times to more than enough for elk (cow and bull)…
Again, as I said the range Im shooting for is 50-75 yards. Any more than that and I dont shoot, its that simple. Ive passed many shot before cause I was not 100% sure I would drop her so its my loss if I miss a shot cause I took an under powered rifle. Put it this way, would the 11.5" barrel and a 7.62x39 round work within bow ranges?
“Ethical? I guess not penatrating far enough, letting the animal run for several hundred yards and then bleeding out slowly over a long period of time wouldnt be ethical. Oh wait, thats called bow hunting…”
I hunt with a longbow and cedar arrows…I get complete penetration and don’t have “several hundred yard blood trails”…why? Because I wait for the perfect, “slam dunk” shot. I have passed up MANY big bucks because of my weapon choice. If you are willing to approach your light caliber hunt in that manner, you will do fine.
I originally posted that it would be a “stunt”. Let me re-phrase that, because it’s no more of a stunt than me hunting with a longbow or handgun. You just need to accept the limitations of your gear.
And I want to know how in the h— you draw out every dam year? you have to know someone.
As you well know, the ‘ethical’ thing is always a touchy subject.
That said, for bow ranges: that commie round should be fine! Even an AK should put the bullets exactly where you need em at those ranges (minute-of-vitals).
Also check with DOW guidelines–some states do have minimum ft-lbs energy requirements for big game hunting.
We’re not mind readers…
In your original post you said elk with a 11.5" 7.62x39 SBR and mentioned ranges of up to 200 yards. You never mentioned animal size or limiting your shot to 60 yards. Now you are talking about a 16" or 20" barrel. I would bet there is a fair velocity difference between the 11.5" and 16" barrels.
If you pull off the stunt and bag your elk with the SBR with anything other than a head shot I would say you did a good job of waiting for the perfect situation and then executed a very good shot, because there is not much room for error with that combo. If you wound it and lose it I would say you made a foolish choice and should have known better.
Good luck either way.
I put in where I know and I also put in for cow only in very high tag areas. Works ecery year. Well for the last 4 draws anyway. Plus theres so much elk here theres been plenty over the counter tags…
I wont take a shot I dont think will kill the animal fast, Ive passed shots before and Im sure Ill pass more. I want a fast kill and I dont want the damn thing running up or down some big ass valley that will take my 2 days to pack out. Ive matured a lot about hunitng. I never said this was what I was gonna do, just an idea. If the nubers dont jive, this idea is trashed.
Im thinking 75 yards max with this combo. Still wanting a 11.5" barrel, Ill have to crunch the numbers and even see if its at all close to what I think Ill need for a clean kill. If I do pull it off its not because its a stunt but rather I did my homework and used what I already know. I dont think I would need a head shot but its not out of the question. Heart is more of the intended target, I highly doubt the AK round would take out the shoulders and lungs but Im sure it would reach the heart. And your right, theres not much room for error but if bow hunters can do it I bet this round could too. Im not going to take a risk and loose the animal, as I said if theres any red flags (to me not some other guys) Ill scrap the whole idea and go with what I know brings them down for me…