7.62x39 AR

[high country]

I haven't had an AR in my collection for quite a while, but had been considering building another one, this time in 7.26x39. I really like that round, and it seems like it would be a good match with an iron sight AR. With the most recent sales at BCA, I just couldn't resist and I pulled the trigger on an 16" upper.

I really wanted one with a pinned A2 sight base because I plan to use it with a carry handle rear sight, but those have been out of stock forever. I will just use a basic rail mount front sight, and if it bugs me I can just sell the M-lok forend and put an A2 sight on it at some point down the road.

I will pick up a lower at the LGS sometime over the next few days, and should have most of the other bits and pieces in the spare parts bin to put the lower together other than the buffer and buttstock. I'll call around to see if one of the local shops has something kicking around they will part with for cheap.

I need to pick up a couple of 10 round and 20 round magazines. I am guessing that the magazine can make or break proper feeding for the alternate cartridge in an AR. Any recommendations of magazines that work well, or ones to avoid?

 

[JeeperCreeper]

But the same, but similar...

For my Grendel, I use ASC and duramags with good success. The cool stamped D+H mags are also awesome. Fair luck with E-lander.

Never ever use promag

 

[someguy2800]

Duramag, formerly known as C products.

 

[Riomouse911]

I use C products mags in mine.
If foreign steel case ammo is on the menu I also recommend an enhanced firing pin from Black Rifle Arms. My AR has been 100 pct reliable with these two items.

https://www.blackriflearms.com/AR-15-762x39-545x39-Enhanced-Firing-Pin_p_9.html

Good luck!

Stay safe.

 

[high country]

Thanks all, I ordered a couple of duramags to get me started.

The product description for the upper I decided on (https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ca...wist-carbine-12-handguard-rc-nrail-upper.html) claims to have the BCA enhanced firing pin. Hopefully that proves to be true and I get reliable ignition with steel case ammo.

Looking forward to having another AR to mess around with. Should make a nice companion to my Howa Mini Action in the same cartridge too. I would be interested in hearing how others have like those BCA 7.62x39 rifles/uppers.

 

[Buzznrose]

I didn’t build, I opted to buy mine, but not a true AR. The PSA KS-47

mine has been 100% reliable. Aonly issue is making sure the AK mags seat properly. I use PMAGS and fit them to the gun, just a bit of polishing with a Drummer. Have not used metal mags.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...39-1-10-nitride-13-5-m-lok-moe-ept-rifle.html

 

[NapalmMan67]

I haven't had my BCA commie upper out in a long long time and don't recall which brand, but I had to dremel the lips of the mags to make them feed reliably. If I remember, I'll look to see which mags those were... might be a few days before I get to look.

 

[high country]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I am mulling over my sight/optic options for this, and thought I would float it out to the vast collective knowledge here about these rifles.

This upper has a low profile gas block with a m-lok forend with pic rail along the top. I had originally planned to get an upper with an A2 sight/gas block and use a carry handle with a rear sight that I have. Due to the deep sale on these uppers, and the fact that the basic version has been out of stock for a long time so I am not sure when/whether they plan to produce more of those, I decided to grab one of these and make do. This rifle will be a basic truck carbine for plinking, pest control around the property, and generally just tucking away with some ammo so I have an AR in the collection for when the mood strikes/rainy day. It isn't intended to be anything fancy.

I have had both rifle and carbine length ARs with iron sights and with scopes, but never with a forend rail mounted front BUIS type. I'm worried that is not an ideal setup. I don't plan to mistreat the rifle, but I am going for simple/reliable/durable.

I am torn between:
- putting a compact 2.5x scope that I have on it (barksa, nothing fancy, but it is actually a pretty decent little scope, but durability unknown), maybe with some foldable backup sights,
- using a a fixed front iron sight, either forend mounted or barrel mounted out in front of the forend, with the carry handle rear, or
- pulling the m-lok forend off, selling it, and putting an A2 sight/gas block with a conventional forend (or magpul).

All of those options are in the same general price range if done with reasonably priced pieces. I would have to buy a mount for that scope, so adding that and BUIS is probably the priciest option. Still looking around at options, but thought I would float it out to hear if other have had particular things that they liked/disliked.

 

[Ignition Override]

high country:

I hope you already have a chunk of whichever brand of 7.62x39 ammo. Current events (mostly Ukraine etc: other factors began last August) will indirectly influence US-made ammo prices in the future, if not already.

 

[JDGray]

Look into prism scopes, no buis needed.

 

[rdnktrkr]

My AR carbine has a red dot with back up sights that flip up, with this arrangement I can aquire a target quickly but 1moa is hard for me to shoot

 

[FL-NC]

high country:

I hope you already have a chunk of whichever brand of 7.62x39 ammo. Current events (mostly Ukraine etc: other factors began last August) will indirectly influence US-made ammo prices in the future, if not already.

Not to mention the availability.

 

[high country]

high country:

I hope you already have a chunk of whichever brand of 7.62x39 ammo. Current events (mostly Ukraine etc: other factors began last August) will indirectly influence US-made ammo prices in the future, if not already.

I have a bit of steel case FMJ stuff sitting around. Likely a drop in the ocean compared to some, but enough to tide me over for a bit. I also have a Howa Mini Action in 7.62x39, I just never had an AR in that chambering and have always thought it would be a good combo. It looks like both .223 and 7.62x39 steel case stuff are available around $0.40 per round right now. If that changes going forward, I can reload it for around that price(if you ignore my time). I have read that the BCA barrels are closer to 0.308" than 0.310", although there are conflicting reports. That would make bullets even easier to source. I didn't buy it based on that, but will definitely measure it once I have it in hand.

If buying/reloading it ultimately becomes prohibitive for whatever reason, the beauty of the AR is that I will have already scratched the 7.62x39 AR itch and I can change cartridges easily with a different barrel, bolt, and magazine.


The red-dot and prism scopes definitely seem to be a popular option. I am not seeking MOA accuracy with this thing, 2-3 MOA would be acceptable for the application.

I like the AR iron sights, I guess I am just not sure that having the front sight mounted to an M-lok rail rather than the barrel as part of the gas block is a sufficient primary sight arrangement. I want to avoid tucking it behind the seat in the side by side, needing/wanting to use it, and finding out that the front sight had gotten knocked out of wack. If the rail mounted fronts like this one from Daniel Defense: https://danieldefense.com/rail-mounted-fixed-front-sight.html are a decent option for primary, I will probably go that route with the carry handle rear. If that is likely to be trouble, then I will be deciding between an optic (low power or red dot, probably with foldable backups at some point) or swapping out the gas block and forend to get the A2 sight.

Anyone really like/really dislike the forend mounted front sight as a primary?

 

[weeniewawa]

I use C products mags in mine.
If foreign steel case ammo is on the menu I also recommend an enhanced firing pin from Black Rifle Arms. My AR has been 100 pct reliable with these two items.

https://www.blackriflearms.com/AR-15-762x39-545x39-Enhanced-Firing-Pin_p_9.html

Good luck!

Stay safe.

it is the exact same firing pin as with 5.56/.223 except they take a little bit of metal off under the part that keeps the pin from going in too deep as the military primers need a bit more umph than standard primers.

The same can be done with a drill and a file. I have done a few and they are very reliable after it is done.

 

[Riomouse911]

Yup, one can work on the firing pin if they choose and will achieve the same result.

Since they’re parts that wear or break, and are rather inexpensive, buying an extra pin or two is never a bad idea. Since one of my seven ARs is exclusively dedicated to the 7.62x39, getting an extra bolt and BRA pin for that gun/caliber is cheap insurance kept in the range box in case of a bolt lug or pin breakage.

Stay safe.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Anyone really like/really dislike the forend mounted front sight as a primary

I have my primary front sight mounted to the handguard on 5.56 and 50 Beowulf uppers. Both are sturdy free float handguards. No issues or qualms

 

[Styx]

I built mine. I prefer to build mine vs buying factory. I also wanted to keep all the parts and components as close to standard AR parts as possible. The only nonstandard parts are the barrel, muzzle break (DeadAir flash hider), bolt, firing pin, and C products mags.

@high country What buffer and buffer tube combo are you planning on going with?

I basically wanted to build a 300blk alternative PDW rifle/pistol that can be suppressed. X39 has good ballistics out of shorter barrels. I went with an 8" barrel. Fits easily in most duffle and book bags, and is short enough to be able to be maneuverable in small spaces like a regular sedan. I just need to get a smaller optic.

I have several spare BRA enhanced firing pins, Aims Surplus x39 bolts, and C Product mags.

 

[high country]

@high country What buffer and buffer tube combo are you planning on going with?

Nice build, I agree with you I prefer to build as well. I bought this upper because there was no way I could put those parts together individually at that price. I will pull it apart and reassemble it to make sure everything checks out and all the screws are tight and properly staked before I use it.

I am as torn on the buffer and stock as I am on the sights. Its fun picking parts, but I guess I need to make a decision at some point. My original vision for this build was a simple compact carbine with A2 FSB, a carbine length buffer and fixed magpul carbine stock, magpul handguard, and removable carry handle/rear sight.

The cheap price of the DCA upper with the floating m-lok guard and low profile gas block sort of derailed that original vision a little since it is more of an optic based setup. I am currently thinking that I may just go with a basic Anderson/PSA/etc. carbine length buffer assembly and cheap 6 position stock, and a basic fixed front rail mounted sight to go with the carry handle I have. Then I can just put it together and shoot it some, and let it tell me what it wants to be when it grows up.

 

[Styx]

Nice build, I agree with you I prefer to build as well. I bought this upper because there was no way I could put those parts together individually at that price. I will pull it apart and reassemble it to make sure everything checks out and all the screws are tight and properly staked before I use it.

I am as torn on the buffer and stock as I am on the sights. Its fun picking parts, but I guess I need to make a decision at some point. My original vision for this build was a simple compact carbine with A2 FSB, a carbine length buffer and fixed magpul carbine stock, magpul handguard, and removable carry handle/rear sight.

The cheap price of the DCA upper with the floating m-lok guard and low profile gas block sort of derailed that original vision a little since it is more of an optic based setup. I am currently thinking that I may just go with a basic Anderson/PSA/etc. carbine length buffer assembly and cheap 6 position stock, and a basic fixed front rail mounted sight to go with the carry handle I have. Then I can just put it together and shoot it some, and let it tell me what it wants to be when it grows up.

I might get one myself. I just looked it up, and $250 for a complete upper with charging handle and bcg is a very good price. I just wonder what the catch is and what corners

I doubt the gas block is pinned or dimpled, but I don't know. Either way still a great deal. I will take mine apart too. I might follow your lead with the A2 sight and carry handle, but I might just go with the cheap standard AR stock and handguard for the retro look. Plus I already have though parts laying around, so I won't have to spend any more money on a budget build. $250 for the upper, and I already have an Anderson LPK and stripped lower on hand that was $60.