Model 1 Sales 7.62x39

[broham]

A good friend of mine at work is looking for a upper for plinking and just general fun range use. The upper in question is an A3 carbine 16" complete with BCG and charge handle. The price is right around $500. The ammo is cheap and that's the reason for this caliber as he doesn't reload. What are your thoughts or experiences with this brand and upper? Thanks much for any input

 

[yzguy87]

My .02¢ is about ammo selection. The x39 may or may not do the steel or lacquered stuff well. No personal experience with m1s' products but from plenty of reading some hate em n some love em.

 

[Hardtarget]

I bought a rifle from Model1. Mine is a standard AR 15, 20" barrel, 1:9 twist. I only have experience with that gun. I've only put about 200 rounds through it. Not enough to tell much. It shoots fine...feeds...ejects...puts the empties in the same area. I did put a shim under the port (left) side of the rear sight to correct an adjustment problem

I'll be able to better judge the gun as time goes by and range trips are made. I hope he gets a good one!

Mark

 

[M1key]

I built one in 7.62x39 using Model 1 parts. A 20 inch that had cycling problems. Only ammo that would work reliably was Golden Tiger. Model 1 customer service was little help. I ended up opening the gas port until I got it to work right.

That said, the carbine with stronger gas action should be fine and Model 1 should be more willing to help (than they were with me) since they built the upper.

Also, you will get better accuracy/service life out of that barrel if you only shoot reloadable brass cased ammo instead of steel...but nobody wants to do that. I would prefer at least a chrome-lined barrel, but they don't offer one in that caliber.

Good luck

M

 

[highpower]

I built a AR15-A2 from a Model1 parts set in 1989. Back then they got their parts from US military contractor overruns. The only change I did was to add a Wilson match barrel and a set of National Match sights. I still have that rifle and it is as reliable as any AR type rifle. It still shoots sub MOA, so I would say it has been a pretty good rifle.

I built another back in 2010 using one of their 5.56 upper assemblies and lower parts kits. It is accurate and reliable. I have no idea where they get their parts from, but they seem to be of good quality.

My personal opinion is that if you want a 7.62X39 rifle in order to shoot cheap ammo, get an AK or SKS. They are designed to shoot steel cased ammo and generally seem to cost as much as an AR upper. I have three Russian SKS rifles and the most I paid was $480 for a pristine unfired Tula. I bought another for less than $400, there are many others out there that are less than that if you look around. The last AK I bought (two months ago) was just under six bills and has the advantage of there being cheap military surplus magazines available. While they are not tack drivers, they are a hoot to plink with and I have found that either a AK or an SKS goes to the range with me more than any other gun I own.

 

[loose noose]

What High Power said, I built one with a 20" SS Bull Barrel about two years ago in 5.56/.223 using Model 1 parts for the upper, it is superbly accurate and reliable, I don't remember what the upper cost me, but I know if I was only interested in shooting cheap ammo and I had wanted a 7.62X39 I would have got an AK47 or a converted SKS, which are designed to shoot the cheap Russian steel cased ammo.

 

[Casefull]

I have built 3 model 1 kits in 7.62 39. One is a pistol with 10.5 barrel and the other 2 rifles with 16in barrels. They all shoot 1moa with handloads and function with steel ammo. I usually run brass as it is lots better for the barrel. Get mags from midway for reliable feeding.

 

[dook]

I can't comment on the caliber, but I once bought a 16" heavy barrel free float upper from Model 1 Sales and could not get it to group better than 2 1/2". Also dissappointed in a couple other parts purchases from them. Might have been coincidence, but I don't order from them anymore.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I am VERY happy with my Model One kit. I got a 16 inch heavy fluted barrel (made by ER Shaw) in 5.56. I ordered mine back at the start of the panic and it took months to get it, but my last order just took a week or so.

 

[wally]

I'm also very happy with my M1S 7.62x39 16" AR. A friend put together one of their 11" 7.62x39 pistol kits and his stamp finally came, in the mean time it functioned very well as a pistol.

I've also got one of their 16" fluted bull barrel uppers in 5.56 and its one of my most accurate ARs.