7.62 Ar?

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22_Shooter

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Been lurking for awhile, finally decided to post. I'm in the market for an AR in 7.62 (in case you wanna know why not 5.56, a buddy of mine has an AK and always has tons of ammo, and he's pretty much the only person I shoot with, so free ammo is good ammo. Plus, from what I've seen 7.62 is a little cheaper anyway). OK, back to it........Everyone recommends building one yourself to save money and learn about your gun, so how easy is it exactly to build one? I've only been shooting for a year or so and my only current firearm is a .22. So do I lack the experience or will common sense and being able to follow directions get me through it? Also, what are some good brands as far as 7.62 AR's are concerned? If it matters, it will be a fun-gun/plinker/home defense if need be. Thanks in advance and sorry for the LOOOONG post and many questions.:D
 
"Building" an AR platform is really just assembling the different parts. Very easy!

You will purchase the upper receiver, with the barrel intalled, and the bolt and carrier head spaced and ready to go. The rest is just putting the right parts in the right places. I highly suggest that you get the AGI AR15 video and that will give you enough info to put it all together. You will need basic hand tools, punches, hammer, screw drivers, needle nose plyers and such. pretty easy, really.

There are also a bunch of guys here that have done it, many times, perhaps one is close to you to help if needed.

I must say, that I would be more inclined to go AK or SKS platform for the 7.62x39, but that is personal pref. Think about mags ;)
 
7.62x39mm, sorry I didn't include that:rolleyes:. I hear ya on the AK/SKS suggestion, but I LOVE the look of an AR over an AK or SKS.
 
I had one a few years ago, a Colt Lightweight Sporter in 7.62x39. It was ok, certainly felt different than shooting a .223. Maybe its just me but the 7.62 just didn't feel natural in a Lightweight Sporter, maybe in a fullsize AR it would have felt better. In any case I'm happy with my new AR in .223:D

Oh BTW welcome to THR:)
 
The AR's that shoot 7.62x39... don't really look like AR's.
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They don't? :uhoh:

762x39_AR.jpg

7.62x39 AR with a Colt Sporter Barrel and Colt bolt/carrier on a standard .223/5.56 RRA upper. The magazine is a USA 20 round Franken Mag. Everything else is standard .223/5.56. The lower is regularly swapped between this upper, a 22LR upper and various .223/5.56 uppers.
 
Zak Smith said:
"Home built" describes one of the most-failing classes of rifles at training classes. Just something to keep in mind.
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I'm not doubting at all that's true, but it doesn't have to be true. That statement seems to indicate that a quality AR can't be built at home. I disagree. There's no black magic to building a quality AR. If one uses the proper tools, quality parts and follows the proper specs and procedures, one can build a very reliable rifle. Military M16s are torn apart all the time, the guns are reassembled with mixed parts from others and put right back in service to shoot buku rounds full auto. The difference? Military ordinance technicians follow proper procedure and use quality parts (Mostly Colt, but some made by various contractors from FN to General Motors).

The problem is, most homebuilt ARs are made because the builder wants to save money, not build a good rifle. They are often built with the cheapest parts possible, with improper tools and by just putting the parts together without following proper torque or assembly specifications.

Zak, how many of your rifles are completely original, just as they rolled off the Colt, Bushmaster, etc assembly line? Just trying to prove the point that most ARs end up with many non-factory parts anyway.
 
DMK : Ok, the ones which are not 'home built' that I have seen (With 'Frankin Mags...' good luck with that)

Do not resemble a AR lower...;)
 
DMK : Ok, the ones which are not 'home built' that I have seen (With 'Frankin Mags...' good luck with that)

Do not resemble a AR lower..
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Ah, yes. You are probably referring to the AR-47 lower or that AR-47 made by Knights for the military. It's a specially made lower to take AK mags. It's a neat idea, but I haven't had any experience with it. It certainly does look a little odd with that AK type magwell.

Actually (surprisingly, I'll agree), these USA mags I have work flawlessly. I've put a lot of rounds through this AR (all steel cased BTW), and it has never bobbled once. Now, I'm definitely not going to recommend USA mags to anyone, but magazine availability is limited for 7.62x39 in the AR platform so you take what you can get. That's the one major drawback to this caliber in this rifle.
 
DMK,

We both know the truth of the matter. We're just expressing it differently.

I agree with everything you wrote except for this statement:
That statement seems to indicate that a quality AR can't be built at home.
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It does not indicate that. Home-built rifles fail more often than the average rifle in classes-- a survey of class AARs will reveal this fact. This says nothing statistically or causally about the modified rifles in those classes that didn't fail.

On the other hand, you are 100% correct that it is not black magic (though there are several things that need to be right that the average person cannot check without special tools), and 100% correct that many people do it for economy reasons, with improper tools, etc. Yes, none of my AR's are factory.
 
Fair enough Zak. It just sounded that way to me in the context of the thread.

I know you know what you're talking about and have respect for your knowledge, but someone searching the forum might read statements like that and get put off building their own rifle. That would be a shame IMO. There's a lot of good AR setups that you just can't buy complete "off the shelf".
 
My intention is exactly to encourage people to think twice about it because data shows that gun-plumbed AR-15's fail more often than average.

In this thread we have someone new to the AR platform considering building a rifle, not someone who has been trained how to do it properly.

Like I said, it is something to think about.
 
The cost of building a 7.62x39mm AR or buying an exisiting one (for example, Colt Sporter), would be more than buying a SKS, Saiga, AK clone or Ruger Mini-30.




boobap said:
What does IMHO and IMO stand for? Not up with my e-translations...
Click to expand...
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion
IMO = In My Opinion
 
Zak Smith said:
In this thread we have someone new to the AR platform considering building a rifle, not someone who has been trained how to do it properly.

Like I said, it is something to think about.
Click to expand...
I'd rather help someone learn to do something right, rather than encouraging abstinence, but I see your point.


Quiet said:
The cost of building a 7.62x39mm AR or buying an exisiting one (for example, Colt Sporter), would be more than buying a SKS, Saiga, AK clone or Ruger Mini-30.
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Most definitely. IMO, the reasons for building your own rifle or owning something unique like a 7.62x39 AR have more to do with doing things your own way instead of buying something off the shelf because all the big boys have one or because that's what some company proposes is the best setup for you in their marketing. For me, It's about freedom to do what you want to, to express the pictures in your imagination as a working machine. Cost is a low priority part of the equation. If you can't afford it now, you buy the parts you can, save up and buy more parts later, until you finally have what you need - for as long as that takes depending on your monthly budget. Of course, I've always been a gearhead. ;)

If cost is what matters most, buy a good quality SKS or AK. They are cheap and they work well.
 
Why not just get a nice Arsenal in 7.62x39? They have side rails you can mount optics on.

sam7sf550x350.jpg
 
DMK hit it on the nose.

It's about doing what you want to.

Were it not for the dearth of decent 7.62x39 mags for the AR, I'd have done it myself.

BTW, Nomad conveniently forgot that Colt themselves sold lots of their Sporter AR rifles in 7.62x39. "Home-built", indeed.

Ruger Mini-30
Click to expand...

Another reason for a 7.62x39 AR. Most of the bullets will impact where the sights are aimed. Can't say that for the Mini-14/Mini-30. (Been there, done that, sold 'em both, my SKS rifles are more accurate)
 
if you want an ar in 7.62x39 then do it. back to the original question. if you have a well stocked tool box then you can build an ar on your kitchen table. i did. go to ar15.com and get instructions, tool list, etc. and get to ordering parts. only thing you can't get thru the mail is the lower receiver. but you can even get them complete thru your ffl. (gun dealer) try rock river or model 1. that will give you some ideas on what you might want on yours!
 
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