7.62x39 AR-15

[CYANIDEGENOCIDE]

I have a couple of stripped AR-15 lowers that I am ready to build. Looking at the relatively high cost of .223 (and the fact I don't like .223) I am thinking of building both in 7.62x39. Has anyone built one of these animals before? are there any special pieces I need short of the barrel? Is there a different caliber you might recommend BESIDES .223 AND .22 LR? Both are registered as pistols right now, so a build with a 7" barrel could be feasible although my state does not permit NFA so no SBR for me.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

5.45x39 supposedly works in AR magazines with a simple change of followers. It's a bit cheaper than 7.62x39, too.

S&W sells an upper in 5.45. However, I don't know when it's out.

 

[Bartkowski]

I know one member on here has one in 7.62x39. He always shows his with a hog.

Other than .223, .22lr, 7.62x39, and 5.45x39 I don't know of any "cheap" chamberings for an AR. 6.8SPC is expensive and hard to come by .50 beuwolf is very expensive and hard to come by. And other calibers just seem like novelty.

 

[Tarvis]

And other calibers just seem like novelty.

6.5 grendel, 458 socom, 9mm, 300 whisper/fireball... need more?

If you don't reload, the only cheap ammo is surplus and 22lr.

 

[rbernie]

I know one member on here has one in 7.62x39. He always shows his with a hog.

That would probably be me.

I have hunted quite a bit with 7.62x39 AR-15s, and they have taken many deer and a handful of hog (from 125lb to 500lb). The carbine in the picture is a 16" Shaw barrel with a M1S bolt, with DPMS receivers and a M1S rifle-length float tube over a lo-profile gas block. I use MGW 10rd magazines with excellent success. The round works well for most thin-skinned game needs under 400lbs. The only drawback with 7.62x39 in an AR is that the straight magwell of the AR doesn't work well with the heavily tapered 7.62x39 case chape, and you're limited to 5rd or 10rd magazines as a result.

I have switched over to a 6.8SPC upper that I built for most of my hunting, if only because hi-cap magazines are available.

Frankly, 223/5.56NATO is still one of the cheapest rounds around. I handload, and I can buy 1000 55gr bullets for $70 all day long. You cannot say that for any other caliber.

If you want cheap factory ammo, a 7.62x39 may be a decent idea so long as you don't expect hi-cap magazines. But handloading a 223 is probably the lowest-cost option.

 

[strat81]

If you want cheap, get a Spike's Tactical .22LR.

If you're just punching paper but don't want rimfire, I'd stick with .223. If you're hunting... 6.8SPC or something like .450 Bushmaster.

 

[Evil Monkey]

cproducts had some 7.62x39mm ar style mags. Sold out right now but here's how they look.

http://www.ar15.com/lite/topic.html?b=2&f=216&t=160938

 

[Leif Runenritzer]

Someone makes lower receivers that take AK mags, but the price was rather high last time i checked. Over $500.

 

[rbernie]

cproducts had some 7.62x39mm ar style mags. Sold out right now but here's how they look.

The new ones looks interesting - the old ones didn't work for most buyers. They discontinued the old style, and have been 'in redesign' for eighteen months now.

C Products are nice folk, but they keep trying to solve via follower shape redesign a problem (7.62x39 case taper incompatibility with the straight AR magwell) that can only be solved by allowing the follower to tilt in the body. Maybe the banana shape on the bottom will help, but I'm a bit skeptical because they're still trying to use an anti-tilt follower that will likely bind in the magwell section of the magazine.

MGWs work for me, but only because they allow the follower to tilt in the body.

 

[UltraFudd]

Got one of the Colt Sporters in 7.62x39 with a 3x Beeman scope and an aluminium collapsible stock. A very accurate carbine, my son uses it for whitetail deer hunting.

We use the 5 round Colt mags for hunting and I've got a bunch of USA 30 round mags for everything else - except for the 75 round drum "party pack".

Stuck an Accu-wedge in it and get about 1.5" at 100 yards with handloads.