accurate 7.62X39?

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bamabluesman

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I'm looking to buy a semi auto 7.62X39 rifle. Price of ammo is the main reason for wanting this caliber. I have read so many people talk of it not being very accurate. This rifle is going to be used for fun more than anything else. I just want to be able to stretch the range out farther than I have been shooting my rimfires and still be on the cheap. But a rifle thats not accurate isn't very fun to me. I plan on using both a scope and iron sights. I like the price of the sks but am willing to spend a little more. I shoot some paper and like to plink at charcoal bricks, tylenol bottles and pop cans. I would also like the option of using hi cap mags. (because its fun) So my question is. What is the most accurate rifle with what i'm looking for. Keep in mind I can't afford to spend $1000 on it either. Can these rifles be tweaked by a good smith to be more accurate? I know choice of ammo has a lot to do with it, but I have .22's that will almost shoot as well with fed. bulk as they do with match ammo. I'm a newbie to centerfire so please help.
 
It's hard to say, really. But when I think of rifle accuracy, I think 1 MOA or less. If you think of it this way, then probably the SKS wouldn't be the best choice. CZ makes a bolt actioned rifle in 7.62x39 which is reputed to be quite accurate.

Perhaps when they get around to it, (IF they get around to it), the Magpul ACR with the conversion to 7.62x39 will provide good accuracy in a semi auto platform.

Perhaps if you took a step just a little higher up the chain to 308 or 7.62 NATO, you could find something that more readily meets your needs. The Saiga comes to mind.

Saiga do manufacture a x39 rifle, but I have no experience with it enough to comment on its accuracy.
 
Most non-shot out SKSs with a threaded on barrel are MOA capable out to 200 yards. The problem is that people shoot Wolf and other dirty comblock ammo out of them and then complain of having an inaccurate gun. Most shoot 2 MOA with commie stuff and MOA or less with handloads or Lapua. The Chinese with a pinned on barrel are usually a little less accurate than the threaded on barrels. Most problems are caused by a combination of crappy ammo and a reciever cover scope mount that has a wandering zero.
 
I think if you are looking at ammo prices you are looking at cheap 762x39 russian ammo. The accuracy with that ammo is only so so. My sks's will shoot groups of about an inch and a half at 50 yards with it. I also have a saiga and a keltec in .223. The russian 223 seems a little more accurate than the 762x39 and it's not to much more expensive. There are also better choices for accuracy if you are willing to spend more for 223 than with 762x39. Mark
 
You are barking up the wrong tree. The problem isn't the rifle, it is the ammo. In my experience the "accuracy" issues associated with AK's and SKS's has more today with the low quality ammo people like to use. Start handloading 7.62 X39 and you will see what I am talking about.
 
I'm starting my last (next?) AR build, which is in 7.62X39mm. There a couple of vendors (such as Model1sales.com) that sells the complete uppers, just add your lower to it and you've got an accurate semi-auto in X39 :)

Reliable hi cap mags just became available from CProducts, and for low capacity you can just use 5.56 AR mags. They'll feed fine as long as there are only 5 or so X39 rounds in them.
 
Cheap ammo usually doesn't do much accuracy wise. And it's not like they put match barrels on the average AK/SKS. There is a member with the handle Krochus on here that built a bolt rifle with a Shilen barrel, and he is getting amazing accuracy with 7.62x39 handloads.
 
I agree with the above comments on ammo. Cheap ammo in the 7.62x39 is generally low quality ammo. Good, acurate ammo in the 7.62x39 is pretty expensive or a handloading proposition.

If you aren't into handloading and want an accurate plinking rifle where hte ammo isn't extremely expensive, a .223 will be much better.*


*Unfortunately, .223 ammo prices keep going higher. Good Black Hills match ammo used to be $20-25/50 is now $35-45/50, I've had to resort to reloading for the .223 to afford to shoot it as well. :(
 
Whatever happened to the Lapua 7.62x39mm that used to be imported? I'd pay a premium for some more of that.
 
I'd re-think your caliber sellection.

I reload x39 and though you can load good accurate ammo for it and the bullet sellection is decent (though not great), you just can't find cheap (i.e. range pick up) brass for it.

If your basing your sellection on the price of Wolf ammo. I'd suggest you expand your thinking to consider other options.

My recommendation is to pick up an innexpensive Lee reloading kit, and buy a Saiga rifle in .223 or better yet build an AR from a kit (such as Del-Ton).

Bullet sellection for .223 is very large.

Brass is all over the place for free.

and accurate FMJ plinker bullets can be had in bulk for ~ $.08/ea.

Reloading is the key to economy and it's a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, because of all the Berdan primed steel cases out there, Boxer primed x39 brass is just plain hard to come by.

I now reload three rifle and two handgun calibers and only with the x39 have I been forced to buy new brass.
 
Been shooting and loading for the x39 for over 20 years, once hit a running game animal at over 450 yards measured - cartwheeled it. I do this in a Mini 30 and in my particular case it is an older .308 bore version, so I have great bullet selection.

Cheap ammo and inferior rifles have given this round a bad reputation. When I say inferior rifles, I refer to rifles made without accuracy as a goal. Think AK and others made to keep infantry stuck to the ground.

Reload for this round and it shines.

A CZ bolt will shoot this round like a laser, so take it FWIW.

Do your research and check out www.perfectunion.com for Mini info and accuracy tips. You might want to look at a few bolt offerings too.
 
Ok.

Saiga 7.62x39mm. 20" barrel. Converted myself (7.62x39 is EZ)

Gun- $290
Parts for Conversion -
$30 trigger group
$20 Stock
$20 Pistol Grip

$360 Bucks for a Pistol-Grip, 922r compliant, High-cap usable 7.62x39 WHICH WILL shoot 2-3MOA all day with steel-cased 200/1000rd x39 ammo.

Visit Saiga-12 dot Com and look around. SKS's have been reputed to be capable of better accuracy than AKs but Mine is just fine for me.


OH and btw, to do the conversion yourself, you'll need:

Drill

files (or a dremel)

Screwdriver

Hammer

And that's about it.
 
A bolt action is going to be more accurate than a semi-auto for the most part. Anything that keeps the cartridge locked into the breech during firing will be more accurate, and bolt action rifles do this the best. For the most part, semis are the least accurate of the different actions although they have made great strides in accuracy since the AR was invented. I've had good accuracy with my non converted Saiga in 7.62x39 - I get three inch groups open sighted, standing at 50yds. I bet I could do better bench rested with a scope. I love shooting the Saiga - it would be my recommendation to you. I paid $275 for mine about a year ago - worth every penny.
 
What do you define as accurate? If you want MOA accuracy, you'll be disappointed. Yes, you can do it, but in all likelihood it will require a bolt action and handloads. At that point you have neither the semi-auto action or the cheap bulk ammo you were looking for. If you are content with 3 MOA then you'll probably be OK with a Saiga or a good SKS. Most AK's will shoot at least 5 MOA, while an exceptional one might shoot 2 MOA or less. Typical accuracy is in the 3-4 MOA range.

AK sights take skill and reasonably decent eyes to use accurately.
 
If you want to use "cheap" and "accurate" in the same sentence, handloading is going to be just about your only option no matter which action you pick.

Maximum budget on the rifle is also going to be key to whether you can do it with a semi, especially with that cartridge. You are probably going to want to go to a bolt action.
 
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