7.62x39 bolt action finally getting some legs

[LoonWulf]

Maybe a Remington 722 chambered for the 300 Savage would be a better comparison. I don't know of any bolt guns in 30-30.

To my way of thinking this isn't as much about the cartridge as it is the cheap imported ammo. In reality 300 Savage is about the same cost (0.20/rd) as steel cased 7.62 x 39 these days with the added benefit of brass cases for the hand loader. A 150 gr bullet (300 Savage) can be loaded to 2500 fps.

Why no 300 Savage bolt guns?

The old Remington 788 was available in .30-30, and while rear locking, is stronger than any of the other .30-30s im aware of. The other more common ones are the savage/steven 3/8** series of guns, front locking single lug. All of them are generally considered quite accurate, but since ive never seen a 788 in 30-30 here i havent gotten to play with one yet.

I would love to have a .300 savage AI to compliment my .250AI, but the cost of loading for it isnt worth the cool factor. The .308 does everything the 300 can and is cheaper to shoot. Even the modernized .30TC failed due to the .308 hogging the short action .30 cal market share.

The x39 doesnt do everything the other two (or more depending) do, but its close enough and cheaper still.
The .30-30 is only available in lever guns now, which are generally more expensive, and is also at least twice the price for basic ammo.

Couple all that with a good, low cost rifle like the RAR, give it some good publicity, and now you got alot of folks willing to try something newish, where as when x39s were only available in 5-700 dollar guns they would just buy the 300-350 dollar .308.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I wasn't looking at the ammo cost correctly. 300 Savage is more than twice the cost of brass 7.62 x 39.

So ammo cost is a factor because of the popularity of the cartridge.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I’ve owned and still own several of the Savage/Springfield 30/30’s. They are adequately accurate but generally not exceptional. They tend to throw fliers if you attempt to run higher pressure loads. Mag length is very limited.

The 788 30/30 I had was not what I hoped it would be. It was clunky thanks to the 2 piece bolt and mag length was even more limited than with the Savage. So much so even a 110 grain v-max was too long to feed.

Neither are comparable to a truly modern bolt action in terms of strength and accuracy.

 

[LoonWulf]

I’ve owned and still own several of the Savage/Springfield 30/30’s. They are adequately accurate but generally not exceptional. They tend to throw fliers if you attempt to run higher pressure loads. Mag length is very limited.

The 788 30/30 I had was not what I hoped it would be. It was clunky thanks to the 2 piece bolt and mag length was even more limited than with the Savage. So much so even a 110 grain v-max was too long to feed.

Neither are comparable to a truly modern bolt action in terms of strength and accuracy.

Id heard the same thing about the savages/stevens.
Didnt know the 788s mag was short, so perhaps im better off sticking with an x39 bolt gun lol.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Id heard the same thing about the savages/stevens.
Didnt know the 788s mag was short, so perhaps im better off sticking with an x39 bolt gun lol.

 

[Newtosavage]

Couple all that with a good, low cost rifle like the RAR, give it some good publicity, and now you got alot of folks willing to try something newish, where as when x39s were only available in 5-700 dollar guns they would just buy the 300-350 dollar .308.

That's such a great point, and something I never really considered. I paid a premium for my Savage Scout 7.62x39 (and would do it again) but had the option been available, I would have bought the much more affordable RAR. I had looked at the RAR in .300 BO before buying my 7.62x39, but that cartridge just doesn't do it for me.

 

[LoonWulf]

View attachment 775853

Wow, that amazingly short....yeah not gonna get one. Thanks for the picture.

That's such a great point, and something I never really considered. I paid a premium for my Savage Scout 7.62x39 (and would do it again) but had the option been available, I would have bought the much more affordable RAR. I had looked at the RAR in .300 BO before buying my 7.62x39, but that cartridge just doesn't do it for me.

I kept waffling on getting a 527 price was realy the only reason i dont own one. I actually bought a 300AAC RAR, because it seemed like a great compromise.
loved the rifle didnt like the cartridge, so here i am again lol.

 

[Newtosavage]

Wow, that amazingly short....yeah not gonna get one. Thanks for the picture.


I kept waffling on getting a 527 price was realy the only reason i dont own one. I actually bought a 300AAC RAR, because it seemed like a great compromise.
loved the rifle didnt like the cartridge, so here i am again lol.

I actually went into a gun shop, cash in hand, to buy a CZ 527 a few years ago, only to find out the gun I drove 60 miles to buy, was already on lawaway.

That evening, I found my Savage Scout in the Cabelas Gun Library, and never looked back.

 

[wbbh]

I found Howa 7.62x39 Youth Model 12.5" LOP at Whitaker Guns for $350 and free shipping. I'd drop it in a Boyd stock.

https://shop.whittakerguns.com/product/38252

 

[Newtosavage]

That's a very good price for a Howa that is already in a stock. And those Hogue stocks are better than most factory synthetic stocks these days.

Brownell's sells Howa Barreled actions alone for $407

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...n-standard-blue-6-5-grendel-22-prod84751.aspx

 

[CoalTrain49]

Here's a pretty good write up on a 7.62 x 39 Howa Mini with the heavy barrel.
https://www.americanrifleman.org/ar...wa-1500-mini-bolt-highlander-762x39-mm-rifle/

I have the same rifle in .223. It's a no frills 1 moa rifle. They can be found for 3-400 if you watch the gun deals. I found mine at a Cabelas close-out.

 

[armoredman]

Steel shot at approximately 146 yards, standing with 527M/CSR, iron sights, cast bullet handload.



Rifle looking at target.



Fat old guy with rifle.

 

[Newtosavage]

Very cool.

Oh, and prisons are full of criminals - to answer your question.

 

[armoredman]

Newtosavage, I think you missed the point, and I know what the inside of prisons look like - been working there for over 15 years.

 

[<*(((><]

@armoredman: what are the chances of getting your contact who made your stock with the extra magazine compartment and pistol grip to make another?

 

[adcoch1]

@armoredman: what are the chances of getting your contact who made your stock with the extra magazine compartment and pistol grip to make another?

+1 on this!

 

[Newtosavage]

Newtosavage, I think you missed the point, and I know what the inside of prisons look like - been working there for over 15 years.

Oh, okay. LOL

+1 on the stock. Looks pretty clever.

 

[bullseyebob47]

about the ruger american rifle in 7.62x39 mm, about how many rounds of cheap steel case ammo would the barrel last? how much for a replacement barrel you think?

 

[adcoch1]

about the ruger american rifle in 7.62x39 mm, about how many rounds of cheap steel case ammo would the barrel last? how much for a replacement barrel you think?

Before you saw accuracy degradation noticeable with blaster grade steel ammo, I bet it would be in the neighborhood of 10k-12k rounds. Maybe a lot more. And probably a barrel would be around $200. Just guesses, but the whole gun is only 400, so even a whole new gun wouldn't break the bank.

 

[LoonWulf]

about the ruger american rifle in 7.62x39 mm, about how many rounds of cheap steel case ammo would the barrel last? how much for a replacement barrel you think?

Considering the intensity of the round and powder burned....alot.
The barrels are easy to change, as they have a barrel nut, so your pretty much just in for the cost of the barrel if you build your own barrel nut wrench....im actually mildly surprised there arnt more prefit barrels offered for them already.

 

[armoredman]

@armoredman: what are the chances of getting your contact who made your stock with the extra magazine compartment and pistol grip to make another?

That particular gunsmith MIGHT be able to do it again, but it wouldn't be cheap. Now the interesting thing is my CZ 527M is at CZ-USA right now for unrelated work, and I left that stock on there deliberately, in case they wanted to copy it. I think it would be equally awesome for a backpacking rifle with that style stock in polymer and folding. You might drop them a line about that...Quite frankly I wasn't really turned on about a pistol grip on a bolt action rifle, but it's so natural feeling that it's unreal.
So they have the original in hand...
Loonwolf, sounds like it would be insanely easy to change it over to 6.5 Grendel, too.

 

[LoonWulf]

Loonwolf, sounds like it would be insanely easy to change it over to 6.5 Grendel, too

Yeah, it would be as easy as a barrel swap, tho i dont know if the longer mini-30 mags will feed the Gren.
i expect a factory option before too long tho.

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

I love mine, an FR7.62x39 from a converted 1916 Spanish Mauser.

 

[Newtosavage]

Loonwolf, sounds like it would be insanely easy to change it over to 6.5 Grendel, too.

My ears just perked up...

 

[adcoch1]

Cz makes the 527 in the Grendel, and its the same gun as the carbine, maybe a very minor profile difference in the barrel.