Their are so many different varieties of 7.62x39...Wolf, Wolf Military Classic, Monarch, Barnaul, Golden Tiger, Brown Bear, Fiocci, American Eagle, Winchester...it's out there, with plenty of it. And those aren't the only varieties available, there are others.
7.62x39mm may be dieing out globally.
- Thread starter Evil Monkey
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Lonestar.45
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I read a statistic somewhere that there are more SKS rifles in the U.S. now than 30-30's. How do they know that? Because apparently, there have been more SKS's have been imported into the U.S. according to the ATF numbers, than there have been 30-30 lever actions manufactured. The 30-30 will be dead long before 7.62x39, and the 30-30 is still going strong.
That's just SKs's, and doesn't include AK's, Saiga's, etc. And that's just the U.S.
I read an article today where China sent 3 million rounds of 7.62x39 to Zimbabwe, and thousands of AK's. Within the last year or two, Russia sent a huge shipment to Hugo Chavez of 7.62x39 ammo, and AK's. We just purchased an unGodly amount with our own tax dollars to give to the Afghan and Iraqi military.
No, we're not beginning to see its' extinction. Not even close.
That's just SKs's, and doesn't include AK's, Saiga's, etc. And that's just the U.S.
I read an article today where China sent 3 million rounds of 7.62x39 to Zimbabwe, and thousands of AK's. Within the last year or two, Russia sent a huge shipment to Hugo Chavez of 7.62x39 ammo, and AK's. We just purchased an unGodly amount with our own tax dollars to give to the Afghan and Iraqi military.
No, we're not beginning to see its' extinction. Not even close.
MaterDei
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No way is it dying out. It is one of the MOST POPULAR calibers in existence.
kcmarine
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7.62x39mm Soviet dying out?
Probably not for at least 75 years, and then, it will probably only drop off in a slight curve. The Soviets handed out way too many AK rifles in the Third World for that cartridge to go extinct. It'd be like finding a better material for building houses than wood... sure, it might be BETTER, but for half of the people in the world, wood is just fine for a home, and they aren't going to switch.
Sure, the 7.62 Soviet might not be a sexy, high velocity supermodel like the 5.56x45mm or the 6.5 Grendel, and it definitely lacks the longer range take down ability of those two cartridges, but for the tribesman in Africa, the coke smuggler in Colombia, and the man defending his family in the Middle East, the 7.62x39mm works perfectly.
Probably not for at least 75 years, and then, it will probably only drop off in a slight curve. The Soviets handed out way too many AK rifles in the Third World for that cartridge to go extinct. It'd be like finding a better material for building houses than wood... sure, it might be BETTER, but for half of the people in the world, wood is just fine for a home, and they aren't going to switch.
Sure, the 7.62 Soviet might not be a sexy, high velocity supermodel like the 5.56x45mm or the 6.5 Grendel, and it definitely lacks the longer range take down ability of those two cartridges, but for the tribesman in Africa, the coke smuggler in Colombia, and the man defending his family in the Middle East, the 7.62x39mm works perfectly.
Wolfgang2000
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Didn't Chavez just build an AK plant to build the AK103 IIRC. It's chambered for the 7.62x39.
I've taken several Deer with my SKS using cheap Russian HP ammo. 3 were DRT. The one time I used "expensive" Remington ammo SP I still haven't found the deer. Even after following a blood trail for 4 hours.
Needless to say I went back to the Cheap Russian HP.
It's will be here for a while.
I've taken several Deer with my SKS using cheap Russian HP ammo. 3 were DRT. The one time I used "expensive" Remington ammo SP I still haven't found the deer. Even after following a blood trail for 4 hours.
Needless to say I went back to the Cheap Russian HP.
It's will be here for a while.
MIL-DOT
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The x39 may be "waning" a tiny bit as other rounds are "waxing", but "dying out" is more than a bit of a stretch. Come back and we'll re-examine this in,say,a hundred years !
High Planes Drifter
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No , 7.62x39 is not dying out. It is in no danger of dying out.
esmith
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7.62 x 39 isnt going anywhere. It might get more expensive, which it is. But keep in mind chinese x39 isn't being imported anymore so that outlet is gone. The most you see anymore is wolf.
Evil Monkey
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I think india has its own 5.56mm INSAS rifle.
HorseSoldier
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I'd venture to guess it's popularity will depend a lot on how third world events play themselves out.
We should keep in mind that the AK is largely as popular as it is because it was given away by the truckload to those the Russians were aligned with or trying to woo into the Eastern Bloc.
Some near future scenario where, say, the Chinese, our own nation, or possibly some of the other notables out there (European Union or members of it, etc.), or even the Russians again, hand out some alternate weapon like its going out of style and (provided they're an improvement, I suppose) and the long term prospects of the AK may be much less rosy than if, say, all the above left Africa to just rot with the guns on the ground there.
We should keep in mind that the AK is largely as popular as it is because it was given away by the truckload to those the Russians were aligned with or trying to woo into the Eastern Bloc.
Some near future scenario where, say, the Chinese, our own nation, or possibly some of the other notables out there (European Union or members of it, etc.), or even the Russians again, hand out some alternate weapon like its going out of style and (provided they're an improvement, I suppose) and the long term prospects of the AK may be much less rosy than if, say, all the above left Africa to just rot with the guns on the ground there.
Joe the Redneck
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Remember I am an AK lover. This is not a knock.
But the ak platform and the 762 round is the perfect combonation to give to a compleatly untrained civillian and have him die for the cause. It requires no more skill than a spear or club.
The effective range is far more than adequate for spray and pray. Even if you do have the rear sight set to "full power".
HV rounds are only useful in the hands of someone who can hit something more than 100 meters away.
But the ak platform and the 762 round is the perfect combonation to give to a compleatly untrained civillian and have him die for the cause. It requires no more skill than a spear or club.
The effective range is far more than adequate for spray and pray. Even if you do have the rear sight set to "full power".
HV rounds are only useful in the hands of someone who can hit something more than 100 meters away.
According to wikipedia (take that for whatever value you like) there may be in excess of 100 MILLION AK weapons (plus their variants and knock offs) that have been manufactured.
If even half of those weapons are still in use/circulation, that is a huge potential market which I am sure no good business man would be willing to sneeze at (50 million potential customers....that is a pretty impressive customer base: and you are dealing with a disposable product. Ammo is RARELY a "one time buy" item. You buy some now, you buy some more next month, etc.. Like alkaline batteries, people are going to use what they have...and need to buy more.)
I don't see 7.62x39 going anywhere in our lifetimes......even if a major breakthrough is made and we are switching to some sort of phased plasma rifle (or whatever) that makes current firearms obsolete. There are way too many in poor, third world areas (as well as the hands of collectors) for the need to dry up. (The Colt 45 revolver is certainly an outdated weapon in the modern age....but there is an ample supply of .45LC in gun shops throughout this country.....and there were probably fewer .45LC weapons, with a much narrower distribution produced, than the AK.)
If even half of those weapons are still in use/circulation, that is a huge potential market which I am sure no good business man would be willing to sneeze at (50 million potential customers....that is a pretty impressive customer base: and you are dealing with a disposable product. Ammo is RARELY a "one time buy" item. You buy some now, you buy some more next month, etc.. Like alkaline batteries, people are going to use what they have...and need to buy more.)
I don't see 7.62x39 going anywhere in our lifetimes......even if a major breakthrough is made and we are switching to some sort of phased plasma rifle (or whatever) that makes current firearms obsolete. There are way too many in poor, third world areas (as well as the hands of collectors) for the need to dry up. (The Colt 45 revolver is certainly an outdated weapon in the modern age....but there is an ample supply of .45LC in gun shops throughout this country.....and there were probably fewer .45LC weapons, with a much narrower distribution produced, than the AK.)
sadlsor
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FWIW, I just bought my 1st AK variant a week ago. Before I had heard of this site / forum.
The reasons / excuses it was added to my safe are many, and varied, and I don't even know if it's relevant to the original question. Have I proved, or dis-proved the OP's premise?
'Cuz, as I think of it, there have been times in my life that my timing could not have been worse...
The reasons / excuses it was added to my safe are many, and varied, and I don't even know if it's relevant to the original question. Have I proved, or dis-proved the OP's premise?
'Cuz, as I think of it, there have been times in my life that my timing could not have been worse...
DMK
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Forget about the zombies. The real nightmare is post-apocalyptic armour plated cockroaches armed with AK47s!
researchdoc
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Good point...
Most other countries are now starting to go with smaller calibers for main battle rifle. However, the push in the US is to go up, eg. the 6.8 SPC. That being said, I don't think the 7.62x39 will be exiting the stage anytime soon. There are way too many in the hands of rebels and third world countries.
Most other countries are now starting to go with smaller calibers for main battle rifle. However, the push in the US is to go up, eg. the 6.8 SPC. That being said, I don't think the 7.62x39 will be exiting the stage anytime soon. There are way too many in the hands of rebels and third world countries.
ByAnyMeans
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hope not, I'm planning to purchase an AK "variant" as soon as I move, and then an sks when money and other purchases have been handled. I would hate to have no ammo to feed my baby's!
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mr.trooper
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You sound a lot like th guys who use 300 winchester magnum to hunt small whitetail deer.
7.62x39 kills deer just as dead as the new uber super short magnums...but apparently it isn't spectacular enough. Maybe your expecting the deer to explode into a sticky red mist, but for the real word dead is dead.
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