You hear the sudden THUD of someone kicking down your front door! Hurried footsteps race toward your bedroom. You have only seconds to react. You instinctively reach for your trusty AK-47 and prepare to defend your home.
Seconds count in a home defense situation like this. It is NOT the time to wonder what the best 7.62x39 ammo for self defense is.
Fortunately for you, you’ve found this article. We are about to tell you exactly what to load into your AK mags (or SKS stripper clips) for any self-defense situation. If you cannot wait, the best 7.62x39 self-defense ammo is Winchester Defender 120 grain JHP.
If you’re new to the 7.62x39 and aren’t sure what to look for in a defense round, check out this Buyer’s Guide HERE.
The Best 7.62x39 Self-Defense Rounds on the Market
- Hornady Black 123 grain SST
- Winchester Deer Season XP 123 grain Extreme Point
- Federal Power-Shok 123 grain JSP
- Prvi Partizan 123 grain JSP
Hornady Black 123 Grain SST
Specs
- Casing: Brass
- Bullet Type: Super Shock Tip (SST)
- Bullet Weight: 123 grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,350 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 1,508 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Polymer tip for smooth semi-automatic feeding | More expensive than steel-cased FMJ ammo |
| Bullet designed for rapid expansion and weight retention | |
| Easier to find and less expensive than Winchester Defender |
Why I Chose It
When you need excellent terminal ballistics, deep penetration, and field-tested reliability, you should reach for Hornady Black 123 grain SST ammo. Perfect for deer hunting and home defense, the Hornady SST is a true jack-of-all-trades bullet that fills multiple shooting roles.
Initially developed for hunting ammo, the Super Shock Tip bullet utilizes a polymer tip to ensure smooth semi-automatic feeding, streamline its frontal profile, and protect its hollow point on impact. When it encounters soft tissue, the polymer tip plunges into the underlying nose cavity where it acts like a wedge to initiate expansion.
The SST was developed with accuracy in mind, and sports a secant ogive, boat tail profile which minimizes drag, flattens trajectory, and amplifies downrange striking energy.
In terms of ammo availability, the SST load is somewhat easier to find (and is slightly less expensive) than Winchester Defender, but still more expensive than steel-cased FMJ ammo.
Winchester Deer Season XP 123 Grain Extreme Point
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Extreme Point
- Bullet Weight: 123 grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,380 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 1,547 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Expanding bullet reduces risk of over-penetration | More expensive than steel-cased FMJ ammo |
| Reloadable cases | |
| Manufacturer reputed for producing quality self-defense ammo | Not designed for self-defense |
| Accurate |
Why I Chose It
Winchester ammunition is trusted by countless shooting enthusiasts, myself included. “The American Legend” is known for making high-quality ammo that always performs.
While Winchester Deer Season XP isn’t designed for self-defense, it’s a viable option because it’s designed for deer hunting. It has plenty of stopping power to handle a two-legged threat, and the Extreme Point bullet lowers the risk of over-penetration (but does not eliminate it). The Extreme Point is polymer-tipped, making it more aerodynamic and accurate than soft point (SP) bullets.
This ammo’s brass cases are reloadable. You can save a little money by reloading them – an option steel-cased ammo doesn’t afford.
Winchester Deer Season XP is more expensive than steel-cased FMJ ammo, too. It features higher-quality components and is manufactured according to higher standards, which you really want when you’re talking about ammo you’d entrust your life to.
Winchester Deer Season XP 123 grain Extreme Point is a good option if you’re a hunter and looking for a decent home defense round. Winchester’s high-quality ammo is reloadable, accurate, and has a lower risk of endangering innocent bystanders.
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