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Great shot. At a human target. We're talking about kodiak bears. Huge difference. Some of those suckers get to be north of 1500 pounds. A .308 or a 7.62x39 isn't going to get it done. A .308 for black bear is fine. Then again, a well placed shot from a .243 on a blackie is better than a poorly placed shot from a .308. I know we'll agree on that, at a minimum.
An AK round is OK for deer or smaller game (or humans) but I would never hunt bear or big hogs with one. Bringing enough gun is the basic rule. Ask your hunting guide what is enough gun.
The 7.62 is about the same ballistics as a 3030. It will work for bear and deer, if you get the proper soft point not a FMJ. 3006 as some say is a very good round for any North American Animal, but for most black bear and deer the 30 cal 7.62 is fine. I know of some Indians who will hunt moose with a 22lr. Although I think that crazy the 7.62 is fine. I would prefer it to be used in a bolt action for better accuracy and if I was to buy a bolt I would not get it chambered in 7.62x39 I would go 308 or 3006. But the idea its not powerful enough is hogwash.
The 7.62 is about the same ballistics as a 3030. It will work for bear and deer, if you get the proper soft point not a FMJ. 3006 as some say is a very good round for any North American Animal, but for most black bear and deer the 30 cal 7.62 is fine. I know of some Indians who will hunt moose with a 22lr. Although I think that crazy the 7.62 is fine. I would prefer it to be used in a bolt action for better accuracy and if I was to buy a bolt I would not get it chambered in 7.62x39 I would go 308 or 3006. But the idea its not powerful enough is hogwash.
Not really. It'll take down a medium size bear and below. A well placed shot could take down an "above average" bear. But in Alaska even black bears can reach weights over 800 pounds (though 400-600 is more common), with inland brown bears anywhere from 750-1000 pounds and Kodiaks reaching weights of 1500 pounds, the 7.62x39 isn't the tool for the job. You shoot one of those with an AK round and you're bear scat. You're better off firing it into the air and hoping to scare the animal away.
A 7.62x39 has about the same power as a .30-30. Using premium hunting bullets, the 7.62 has slightly less power at the muzzle but slightly more at 100-yds because of the more efficient bullet shape. Plus the 7.62 has more shots that can be fired quicker. A .30-30 is commonly used to hunt black bear. Therefore, a 7.62x39 could also be used to hunt black bear. I probably would want something a little more powerful, but that's just me.
But the OP said "Alaska" and "defense". A Kodiak could kill and eat a black bear and still be hungry. And as already mentioned, frantic close-range defensive shooting is completely different than aimed shots from a distance.
Yes, I'm sure it is possible for you to defend yourself with a 7.62. Dumping 10 .30-cal rounds into an animal at short range would do a lot of damage. But personally I'd want something a little bigger than a 7.62x39 if there was the chance I'd be face-to-face with an angry Kodiak. If you want semi-auto I'd look at at least an M1A in .308 with a high-capacity magazine, or maybe a Remington 750 in .30-06 (you can get these in a short-barrel carbine configuration for up-close work). Or go with a traditional lever-action guide gun in something like .45-70.
But that's me.
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