OK, I'm getting a 7.62x39 AR

[DoctorOfLight]

I vote for brass. I've seen a lot of threads about steel case ammo and how it doesn't act right. It doesn't expand enough when fired, letting gas/powder blow back past it dirtying up your bolt. It's also hard on the extractor. Lastly, many report misfires galor with the harder primers of the steel cased stuff.

I'd do a search on steel cased ammo before putting any through your gun.

 

[frankge]

yeah, i have seen different reports. The upper I have uses a modified bolt to address the light primer strike issue. I will be trying wolf military and brown bear in it for function. If the mild corrosive stuff is pretty much a non issue I'd just assume to shoot that. Looks like the choice is beat up my bolt or rust up my barrel.

 

[desidog]

Princess AR needs more TLC

I've had the same question about brass and corrosive ammo; and came to the conclusion that with DI and all those little nooks and crannies it's better not to use anything remotely corrosive. I still have the windex in my range bag for my milsurps, but with a semi-auto and a DI gas system, better to play it safe....mainly since my investment in Princess AR is not as replacement-friendly as milsurps.

In my experience, aluminum is also more easily corroded than steel, so where a WW2 blued steel rifle will still be there in the morning, the AR might have turned into a pile of aluminum oxide dust, springs, pistol grip, and a barrel.

ETA: I do run the corrosive stuff through my 7.62x25 upper, and no issues to date; but the gas tube will need to be replaced at some point. That upper is only used for plinking, whereas the x39 i'm assembling right now will be used for hunting, and therefore will be treated with maximum-respect!

 

[DoctorOfLight]

I will have to have a look-see to be sure, but I thought both Fiocchi and S&B had brass case stuff with non-corrosive primers. I was so worried about the brass case that I never stooped to think about the primers!

Anybody know for sure?

 

[rbernie]

Commercial production steel-cased ammo does not use corrosive primers and is perfectly safe to use in your AR. I have shot many thousands of rounds of it through mine with zero issues.

 

[frankge]

yeah rbernie, I followed your comments on other posts. I'll see in about a week if its the same deal with steel case in mine... double-star barrel spikes bcg.

 

[frankge]

waiting for the lower

 

[frankge]

Finished

Upper - Spikes
Lower - Spikes with enchange trigger group & ambi safety
Barrel - DoubleStar 4140 1x10 7.62x39
BCG - Spikes modified for 7.62 ammo
Buffer - Spikes tungsten
MOE Handguard and shorty grip
Spikes stock
Primary Arms M2 Red Dot
Primary Arms 3X magnifier w/ removable mount
Primary Arms Light 360 lumens
BUIS - Troy
Magazines - C-Products (on the way)

 

[desidog]

that looks cool. How long is the barrel? and is that a real can on there?

 

[frankge]

nah, ninja mall tacticool. It was on the upper when I bought it so I kept it on. After our steel challenge match today me and my kid put 50 rounds though it. First firing and zeroing the red-dot so only at 50 yard line. Shot 10 rounfs in 1 - 1.5 inches. Its not long range but I'll take it to the 100 next. I was shooting my reloads 124g V-Max, 26.5 grains AA1680, Wolf LPP, brass case. Only shot a couple rounds of brown bear. Using a .223 mag, still waiting for my c-prodcts mags to arrive.

 

[Hammerhead6814]

Mods are on the ball this month. Haven't seen any real mud-slinging in this thread yet.

 

[Rifleman 173]

So how did it shoot? Did you have any problems with the 7.62 X 39 magazines double stacking in the center like I did? I like the M-4 clone I have in 7.62 X 39 because of the ergonomics, the ability to add devices on top of it and because the bullet is bigger and heavier than the .223 shooters. But no matter what I do, I end up with the magazines double stacking on me about half way down inside of them.

 

[Skribs]

After getting a 7.62 AR, you should get a 5.56 AK. Just to confuse people when you pull out the opposite rounds that they would expect. If you already have a 5.56 AK, then even better.

 

[frankge]

Final judgement will come when the c-products 7.62x39 mags come in. I borrowed a friends .223 amd all I cuold load was one or two rounds. Feels good to shoot it compared to my AK. I'll look into a 5.56 eventually I'm sure, thats the beauty of the platform. Too bad I dont have the mags have a 3-gun today and using my AK - since the ranges are CQB it's never been an issue. It's funny to watch guys f around with thier ARs jamming and such. Almost 4000 rounds through my AK and never a jam or ftf. If I can get this kind of reliability from my new build I'll be truly stoked.

 

[Rifleman 173]

You might want to just get another upper half for your lower. That way you have two uppers for the one lower. You can then switch back and forth whenever you like. Heck, you can get a number of upper halves for your lower and have one lower that uses a variety of different uppers. Maybe 1 lower to be used on 6 or more uppers. That is the nicest thing about the M-4 carbines: so many options.

 

[frankge]

So for a range report.

Gun handles great. Doesn't kick like an AK does because a lot less moving mass and the ergonomics are much better. The Cproducts mags are working with FMJ withou a hitch. Gun does not like HPs at all. I shot my own loads of VMAX, 147g Steel Core, and Winchester .308 bullets. Surprisingly the .308 bullets were accurate out at 100 yds.

I shot palm sized groups at 100 yds with my reloads and hand sized with the steel cased ammo. My reloads I am using AA1680 just under max becasue thats how the powder likes it I have found. The steel case was Wolf Military Classic (luv the thermonuclear fireball) and Brown Bear HP's. I found the Brown Bear a little more accurate when they were feeding well but all were dangerous at 100yds.

I'm sure I could hit point of man at 300 yds if I had to given todays results. Disappointing that it wou't feed HPs even with th M4 feed ramps but the VMAX ballastic tips or a soft point will be fine and probably more effective.

I'm bulding another AR for my kid but it will be a 5.56 becasue he want to get into competition and being 14 I dont want the recoil beating him up more - 5.56 really has no recoil IMHO. I'll also get a 5.56 upper (or just use his) too but I like this gun.

 

[frankge]

update:

Took the gun the the Hernando 3gun last weekend. With my reloads Brass/AA1680/VMAX I was able to bing small plates at 200yds. I have a primary arms M2 red dot and 3x magnifier.

Shooting Wolf MC I started getting hang ups. After closer inspection I observed that the DoubleStar barrel had rifle feedramps and the upper (AR Precision/Spikes) had M4 feedramps. The nose of the bullets were barely catching on the mis-aligned edges....

Cringe and flame time; took the Dremel out and carefully mated the surfaces to match. Then polished with white then red jewelers rouge to a mirror shine. I can now feed the Wolf MC's again and the Brown Bear HPs. Have not taken it to the range yet and have a 3gun at the WAC this weekend in Tampa - I'll bring my "real" AK as a backup.

 

[Col. Plink]

Apparently those c-products mags are the difference between projects like this working or not. Seems like all others are known for the problems with conical cases in the straight part of the mag (feeding).