What are your thoughts? I like the idea but I know they have reliability issues, there are some that don't but they are expensive. So what I'm asking is ate there any of them that are decently reliable but also fairly inexpensive, like less than $600?
7.62x39 ar15
- Thread starter samort457
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HisStigness
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I feel like you can only make a flawed design work so well. When you take a very tapered cartridge and try to feed it through a straight magazine welled gun, it's going to have feeding issues. Add the weakened bolt (which I'm sure works fine by now) and it's just not worth it. For the money, I would suggest you consider something like 300blk or 6.8 spc, because those are proven and reliable chamberings for the ar-15 rifle.
The original point was to be able to shoot cheap ammo.
Will that continue to be available in the future? I will go out on a limb and say yes, but it looks like the playing field is getting thinned out.
There is a more fundamental issue, too. What's the target, and how far is it? In other words, does 7.62x39 have the ballistics needed to do the job? Considering the typical load is similar to the .30-30, is that curve flat enough and have long enough range to do the job?
For plinking cans or on a competitive range, likely, hunting elk, not so much. Goes to, what is the point of the rifle and why that cartridge? If it was a matter of hunting, other cartridges would shoot flatter and deliver better results, even with a shorter barrel, like 6.8SPC. Or, shoot further, like 6.5G. Or, be the currently cool cartridge of the month, like .300BO.
I wouldn't worry too much about the bolt or barrel with x39, the magazines are available and the makers will get you one that will work, which is a real triumph over "just because you can doesn't mean you should." A lot of owners get them to shoot. If anything, shop for one that uses AK mags. Works better, and a lot more rare.
Will that continue to be available in the future? I will go out on a limb and say yes, but it looks like the playing field is getting thinned out.
There is a more fundamental issue, too. What's the target, and how far is it? In other words, does 7.62x39 have the ballistics needed to do the job? Considering the typical load is similar to the .30-30, is that curve flat enough and have long enough range to do the job?
For plinking cans or on a competitive range, likely, hunting elk, not so much. Goes to, what is the point of the rifle and why that cartridge? If it was a matter of hunting, other cartridges would shoot flatter and deliver better results, even with a shorter barrel, like 6.8SPC. Or, shoot further, like 6.5G. Or, be the currently cool cartridge of the month, like .300BO.
I wouldn't worry too much about the bolt or barrel with x39, the magazines are available and the makers will get you one that will work, which is a real triumph over "just because you can doesn't mean you should." A lot of owners get them to shoot. If anything, shop for one that uses AK mags. Works better, and a lot more rare.
i am afraid that good and cheap don't quite go together ,just buying a cheap gun to shoot cheap ammo ,you might as well get a sks .i know rockriver make's one in 7.62x39 but it aint cheap $1270.00-1545.00 http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=558
Field Tester
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Check out SOTA Arms. I was looking around for a friend a year ago and their prices were decent then, I'm not to sure about now. Reviews seem good. Not match quality but good for plinking.
I love the cartridge as well. I reload it, and use those reloads in my best rifles for the caliber. However, if you want a cheap plinker, grab an AK or at least a Saiga while you can. Just Saturday, my boy and I were plinking with the Saiga at 200 yard 4 inch steel plates, and rarely missed. This gun is topped off by a cheap mount and 4.5 power Bushnell scope that can be quickly and easily removed. The gun itself needed a trigger job. They can be converted, but surely is not necessary. It's a solid gun, and perfectly designed for the cartridge. Never a jam, and it will easily shoot 2 inches with good hand loads. 3 inches for wolf ammo.
Field Tester
Member
https://sotaarms.com/component/jshopping/complete-ar-15-upper-units?Itemid=0
Here's the company I mentioned. Again, I've never personally used them so I'd recommend reading some reviews. All complete uppers for the 7.62x39 were under $500 and it seems they had a bit of selection.
It should also be revisited that you may run into issues with feeding due to the design of the AR's Mag Well. I understand the low cost factor in deciding, but this isn't something that should be so easily over looked.
Good luck with your decision.
wally
Member
Not "cheap" but reasonably priced, both I and a friend have 7.62x39 AR uppers from Model 1 Sales. Both shoot very well and are reliable with FMJ bullets. Both will easily shoot 2 MOA with cheap Wolf FMJ -- better than any SKS I have ever shot.
Only real issue is many of my magazines have needed real AK mag springs (or Wolf extra power) installed to be reliable. My most recently purchased mags seem better. His being newer also have been fine.
For JHP and JSP you'll likely need to stick with the 10 round mags unless you can live with some feed failures -- usually when the 30 round mag is about half empty.
Lennyjoe
Member
I built an AR in this caliber using an ESS Solutions 7.62x39 barrel and it shot most of the common steel cased ammo just fine (Wolf, Brown Bear, Barnaul). Gotta keep the bolt clean though as the primer sealer they use will dirty it up quick.
dprice3844444
member
Check out http://www.ar-47.com/ ar 15 uses ak mags
Thanks for all the responses. I have think I"ll either go with the Model 1 Sales or the SOTA Arms both look pretty decent. I have also looked at the AKs and Sagias but I like the AR platform better. I have also looked at the different AR calibers, and they seem pretty good, but I don't reload, and I can't really start at the moment, so ammo price is a MAJOR factor. The primary usages would be plinkng and hog hunting.
.338-06
Member
I was able to pick up a 7.62x39 upper at a gun show for $600 and was able to find mags locally. It is just flat out fun to shoot! The 7.62x39 is more powerful than the .300 Blackout and brass cased ammo isn't hard to find. I haven't had any feeding issues-yet. (crosses fingers)
The Beowulf uses a 7.62x39 bolt face and the more I shoot it the more reliable it becomes. I still have a problem occasionally where it wont pick up a round from the mag but recently I just started loading 30 round .223 mags and it feeds great. Did it by accident, forgot my Beowulf mag at home but had a standard ar mag with me. worked fine.
Field Tester
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Glad I could be of some help. Good luck with your purchase.
Lennyjoe
Member
Put about 3k through mine without issue. Like I said, the ESS Solutions barrel seems to work fine with the steel case ammo.
C-Products 7.62x39 mags feed fine for me too. I have a couple extra if anyone needs some, for a small fee of course......
Three thousand rounds? I hope you have a chrome lined bore. Steel jacketed bullet down a steel barrel? 3000 is about halfway through the service life of that one. Reloading brass cases is probably cheaper in the long run and lead core/copper jacketed bullets easier on your barrel.
Oh well.
M
Oh well.
M
Lennyjoe
Member
Probably. But, for a $100 barrel, its pretty accurate still.
Field Tester
Member
I thought a few people did a price cost analysis of using steel and the savings of the round compared to the timeframe of a barrel being worn down and found that the savings per round came out ahead. Meaning by the time you wore down the barrel you would have saved more than enough to buy a new one.
I could be wrong though.
HisStigness
Member
1943. It's the M43 ball ammo that they tried in the sks before using it for the AK-47.
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