7.62 M43 AR-guement

Yup, just as easy as that. AR magazines built for the 7.62X39 cartridge are needed as they don't feed well from 5.56 magazines, I have one that I shoot with both jacketed and home cast bullets. It is definitely a step and a half up from from 5.56/.223 without the recoil of the 7.62X51 NATO. 125 grain bullets at 2200 FPS along with excellent accuracy. Only downside is the AR firing mechanism may not reliably fire el-cheapo steel-case imported ammo. No problem with US made, PPU or PriviPartisan. The ChiCom and Rusky stuff needs a heavier whack to fire.

You might be able to get away with an application-specific mag like Grendal mags rather than a lower.

Mike.

PS: I really regret selling a really nice SKS in the early 90s.

The C-products 7.62x39 mags work perfectly. I love my 7.62x39 AR15. I am using a standard Anderson lower, a Bear Creek side charging upper, a "famous no fail" 16" barrel from delta team tactical, and 10 round C products mags. I have never had a single malfunction or hickup of any kind.



Here is a 100 yard sub moa grouping with $4 a box Wolf hollow points



Here is the same lower with my 223 upper on it. Works just fine with that too.

Arizona_Mike said:

You might be able to get away with an application-specific mag like Grendal mags rather than a lower.

Mike.

PS: I really regret selling a really nice SKS in the early 90s.

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No need, they make specific mags for 7.62x39 in a standard AR lower.

someguy2800 said:

No need, they make specific mags for 7.62x39 in a standard AR lower.

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That's what I meant by application specific. Thanks, Mike

Arizona_Mike said:

That's what I meant by application specific. Thanks, Mike

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ah, I thought you meant to try using 7.62x39 in grendel mags.

I've seen grendal mags, never seen 7.63 in AR mags. I assume the same feed lips and more curve on the lower part?

Mike

6.5 Grendel magazines are the same as 7.62X39 magazines since the Grendel cartridge is just the 7.62X39 necked down to 6.5mm.

I'm using C products and ASC 20 round mags in mine. They have functioned flawlessly.
I haven't had any of the problems I keep hearing about.
I'm using an Anderson Arms upper without forward assist, Faxon mid length 1:8 barrel, Aim Surplus enhanced bolt and carrier, H buffer.
I changed the trigger out with a DPMS 2-stage match trigger. The trigger works good. I did have 2 ftf rounds with Golden Tiger but it was expected. Everything else is reliable.
I'm getting 1.5" groups with 150 Sierra bullets. i'm still work up loads for it.
I'm thinking about using a H2 buffer to help with the impulse recoil.
The round count is somewhere around 1000.

Just get some ASC 7.62x39 mags and go shooting. Any American made brass cased ammo will work just fine.

Your only concern will be if you are using imported ammo with the hard berdan primers. Your hammer spring and firing pin MAY need to be swapped out to a longer pin and/or stronger hammer spring. My personal 7.62x39 AR-15 hasn't had any problems with any imported ammo and I'm using the original pin and spring that came with the 5.56 rifle. So you'll just have to shoot it to be sure.

Curator said:

6.5 Grendel magazines are the same as 7.62X39 magazines since the Grendel cartridge is just the 7.62X39 necked down to 6.5mm.

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That’s not entirely true, the 6.5 Grendel also has much less taper. I can’t say wether or not a 7.62x39 would feed properly or not in a 6.5g mag but I suspect it will need a different follower to be reliable.

Kbob do whatever makes you happy. I like to stick to the rule Russian ammo in russian guns. The semi auto Kalasnikov fcg is well known to reliably set off those hard primers. Not for 700 rounds but for 10,000 rounds at least. One company was selling a US style hammer spring for the AK. So I took out my old commie piano wire spring and put in the new fangled AR style spring. You guessed it. Immediate light primer strikes. So I put the old commie piano wire spring back in.

Dirty powder= who cares.

Steel surplus and circle 10 mags built for the taper.
Chrome lined Barrels, chrome piston.
VERY robust extractor.
This all adds up to success with 7.62X39.

You run into stacking issues with longer mags, but I've never had a problem with the Grendel in 10rnders, and a buddy of mine does fine with the 10rn x39s. He has some larger x39 mags as well and they aren't as reliable but still good enough for range use.

mshootnit said:

Kbob do whatever makes you happy. I like to stick to the rule Russian ammo in russian guns. The semi auto Kalasnikov fcg is well known to reliably set off those hard primers. Not for 700 rounds but for 10,000 rounds at least. One company was selling a US style hammer spring for the AK. So I took out my old commie piano wire spring and put in the new fangled AR style spring. You guessed it. Immediate light primer strikes. So I put the old commie piano wire spring back in.

Dirty powder= who cares.

Steel surplus and circle 10 mags built for the taper.
Chrome lined Barrels, chrome piston.
VERY robust extractor.
This all adds up to success with 7.62X39.

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I was expecting that shooting steel case commie ammo in an AR would be just filthy but I have not found that to be true, it doesn't get any dirtier than my 223 upper. In fact I have never cleaned mine and do not intend to any time soon. I'm past the 700 round mark, I'll let you know at 10,000. Oh, and want to have an accuracy contest? I kid, I kid. I love the AK

I've seen both reliability and accuracy issues with that round in the AR. I would just stick to the SKS and put that $ elsewhere.

My AR in x39 has been great, AR uppers are cheap right now, one can pick up a complete upper from Palmetto for ~$280, try it for yourself and make your own decision. I’ve always said after one has a 5.56 upper the next one should be a x39 as both rounds are very affordable to shoot and shoot a lot. Mine has been problem free for now 1,000+ rounds and I know of 3 other people with them and all have had good luck. Like I’ve said before make sure you get:

1. A reputable bolt (9310, mpi’d)
2. Enhanced firing pin
3. C-products or ASC mags
4. A barrel that has tooled their feed ramps for the x39

I run my suppressed and Unsuppressed without fail. Even after 300 round suppressed in on outing no reliability problems, and this all with red army steel cases HP. Like I said before now is the time to try out anything AR related as prices are as cheap as they are ever going to get.

As far as accuracy I have no problem putting round after round on a 10” plate at 230 yards with my red dot and 3x magnifier. I get the occasional miss but I’m not taking my time between shots either. All this from the first AR47 upper I put together, I must have hit he jackpot with how people talk about them.

I always find it interesting that people think there are so many problems with them but the Grendel people seem to think it is perfectly fine, even through the Grendel uses the same bolt and has steel case ammo for it as well.

Now 10-15 years ago when people were trying to figure out th AR47 with their Frankenstein mags and lack of enhanced firing pin and poorly shaped feed ramps...yes there was lots of trouble. But welcome to 2018 the years of refinement on all things AR.

I love my AR in 7.62x39. Got a midlength 16" barrel years back that Midway doesn't seem to stock anymore.

Yes, dedicated mags and an extended firing pin is all it took. Then have fun. The gun has been surprisingly accurate with Tulammo.

The special lowers take AK mags and also need special uppers because they are usually a bit longer. Good concept if you have a stock of AK mags and don't mind lacking a last round hold open and paying the extra cost. I just haven't found that it's necessary.

The last round hold open is reason enough in my opinion to use a standard AR lower instead of the special AK mag lowers. I hate not having last round hold open.