Any down sides to a 7.62x39 AR?

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I have two build in currently working on and I'm really thinking about doing one of them in 7.62. The ammo right now is easier to find and I thoroughly enjoy shooting 7.62.

I have never shot a AR in 7.62 so I don't know how reliable/accurate they are. Also, would the be any problem shooting steal cased mitary surplus ammo through it?

I'm basically just looking for opinions and things to look out for if I decide to do this.

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Mags are- or were, at least- harder to find.

Some folks say "US ammo for US gun; steel ammo for Commie guns", but with even quality US makers like Hornady producing steel-cased ammo now, that doesn't seem like a major issue.

John
 
Depending on your hammer/hammer spring, you may get light strikes with imported ammo. Probably want a GI hammer spring or Wolff extra power one.

I hear mags can be iffy for feeding? Anyone with comment on that?
 
Convential wisdom is the mags have reliability issues although some claim there are reliable ones out there. The best configuraiton i've seen is the Rock River AR lower that takes AK mags. Unfortunatley i don't think they're selling the lowers individually.
 
I have two build in currently working on and I'm really thinking about doing one of them in 7.62. The ammo right now is easier to find and I thoroughly enjoy shooting 7.62.

I have never shot a AR in 7.62 so I don't know how reliable/accurate they are. Also, would the be any problem shooting steal cased mitary surplus ammo through it?

I'm basically just looking for opinions and things to look out for if I decide to do this.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
7.62x39 is for AKs. Why put yourself through the drama of mag problems, ammo problems and reliability problems when you don't have to?
 
When 7.62 M43 AR first came out folks used standard unmodified magazines in them but only loaded to half capacity of 5.56 NATO though. Do the newer ones and conversions not work with half loaded standard mags, or have folks just assumed they won't?

kBob
 
7.62x39 is for AKs. Why put yourself through the drama of mag problems, ammo problems and reliability problems when you don't have to?

I am only even thinking about this because I can't find the .223 or .556 to shoot my current rifles. Why would I want another that I can't shoot? It could be over a year before the ammo starts coming back to the shelves.
 
I am only even thinking about this because I can't find the .223 or .556 to shoot my current rifles. Why would I want another that I can't shoot? It could be over a year before the ammo starts coming back to the shelves.
I was commenting to someone the other day while looking at the mostly bare ammo shelves that it's too bad they don't have AR uppers in .243.
 
ASC LLC 5, 10, 30 round mags work fine

I love my AR carbine. I can shoot anything through it, although I have committed to brass-cased ammo only now, since I have plenty and piles of IMI brass.:cool:

I usually get 1 MOA with the right loads...

M
 

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If you want a gun with 30-30 performance then get a Marlin or Winchester in 30-30. They are great brush guns and I kill deer with them regularly. If you want .308 performance in an AR then get an AR10 or variant. I kill deer with one of them too. ARs were originally made in .308 and .223. They didn't design then in 7.62x39 for a reason. But its your gun. Do what you want.
 
I say build it, I am. i dont care to load 30 rounds and go running through the desert shooting at targets. most of my shooting is don in a hunting blind at a little less than one hundred yards. and in my opinion 223 is just not big enough for some of the axis around here.
 
I am only even thinking about this because I can't find the .223 or .556 to shoot my current rifles. Why would I want another that I can't shoot? It could be over a year before the ammo starts coming back to the shelves.
OK. I'm not saying you're wrong. But the last time I looked, x39 ammo was harder to find and priced crazy too.
 
OK. I'm not saying you're wrong. But the last time I looked, x39 ammo was harder to find and priced crazy too.

Not around my way. I can walk into any shop and get Wolf or Tula for $7 a box. Maybe not a lot of AK/SKS owners in my area.
 
Rethinking this. If I do go this route, I will most likely go with 5.45x39. I've read very good things regarding uppers configured for this round. It also seems that normal AR mags work good with this round. Currently you can get 5.45x39 for .23 cents a round. Anyone else think this is still a bad idea?
 
I say build it, I am. i dont care to load 30 rounds and go running through the desert shooting at targets. most of my shooting is don in a hunting blind at a little less than one hundred yards. and in my opinion 223 is just not big enough for some of the axis around here.
64 gr Power points, 60 gr. Partition, and 55 gr. Barnes Vor Tx beg to differ.
 
Rethinking this. If I do go this route, I will most likely go with 5.45x39. I've read very good things regarding uppers configured for this round. It also seems that normal AR mags work good with this round. Currently you can get 5.45x39 for .23 cents a round. Anyone else think this is still a bad idea?

IMO, not a good idea if you're gonna shoot corrosive ammo. I would stick with commercial stuff.

M
 
I wouldn't want one because that curved mag is ugly as hell sticking out of an AR. Seriously, I love AK's and AR's and have a couple of each, I just can't warm up to that hybrid look.
 
ARs in 7.62x39 would be the hottest thing going if some one could figure out how to make magazines that were 100% as reliable the average 5.56 AR magazines are.

OTOH if a 10 round Federal magazine limit hits, ARs in 7.62x39 could be the hottest thing going as the 10 round mags are the only ones that seem to be really reliable.

I've a 16" and 11" SBR ARs in 7.62x39 and they my favorites at the range where the occasional feed failure is no big deal.


My 7.62x39 AR proves Wolf ammo is not as inaccurate as the AK makes it out to be:

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I have Olympic Arms AR in 7.62 x 39... it is a great rifle... I only shoot cheap Russian steel case stuff... decent accuracy... every pull of trigger makes gun go bang... you can find cheap mags... for maybe $15... I haven't shot it in a while... but not a bad way to go... makes bigger holes than .223 or 5.45 x 39...
 
Any other rounds I should be thinking about? I'm really interested in the 545x39. Anyone hear anything good or bad about AR's chambered in that round? They use the same mags, right?

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