Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39 Number Two

[someguy2800]

I found my holy grail today, a 7.62x39 barrel for my AR15 that shoots moa with steel case ammo, so I am taking this ruger off my list of guns to buy.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...pressed-with-this-7-62x39-ar15-barrel.836508/

 

[midland man]

As far as I’m aware the only 30-30 bolt action savage ever made was the 340 which hasn’t been made in 33 years (1985).

The main appeal to the 7.62x39 at least for me is more punch than 223 and accurate $4 a box ammo.

What’s the difference between 7.62x39 and 30-30? 25 grains of bullet weight and $15 a box.

okay well I reload my 30-30 so it isn't quite that bad lucky for us reloaders so with that yeah if you reloaded 7.62x39 it would costs more than just buyin it right??

 

[someguy2800]

okay well I reload my 30-30 so it isn't quite that bad lucky for us reloaders so with that yeah if you reloaded 7.62x39 it would costs more than just buyin it right??

It is cheaper to buy 7.62x39 than to reload either it or 30-30, unless you cast your own bullets. You can buy 100 loaded rounds for $20-$30. I bought 1000 rounds for $4.20 a box shipped so $21 per 100. To load 100 rounds of either with jacketed bullets would cost me $25 for bullets, $10 for powder (mabey $14 for the 30-30) and $4 for primers. So $21 and no work, or $39 and 2 hours of work.

Now you can get cast bullets for around $10-$12 or so per hundred and cast your own for very little money, but it all adds work. It’s also a big plus for me with the AR15 that I can just let the steel cased fly in the weeds and don’t have to go hunting for them.

I will also say I would not take the wolf steel case ammo deer hunting. If I ever do take it deer hunting I will buy a box of federal fusion, but one box would last me a couple years even with sighting in.

I reload 20 different calibers, 7.62x39 and 7.62x54 are the only two calibers I own that I don’t reload for.

 

[TN Outlaw]

I actually am a big fan of the Savage 340. I worked on one for a guy and tried to buy it but it was a family heirloom. Hunting around for another led me to the knowledge of just how close 30-30/X39mm really are and is ultimately responsible for me owning the CZ 527 I have.

I think the 340's downfall is that most people dont handload and were going to pay full bore for shelf ammo for strictly a hunting rifle and there were plenty of other cartridges out there that gave you more for your money. Later on with Hornadys Spitzer bullets there was some advantage gained but still at higher cost and as hunting rounds.

The X39mm has plenty steel cased fmj's for little or nothing that opens the guns up to recreational shooting. Now, that opens up ownership by just the all around plinkers, then the guys that dig AK's or SKS's that think it's cool to have a bolt gun that runs on the same ammo they have stock piled already. Plus it still gives the hunters the same thing the 30-30 offered in a great little brush gun for hunting.

As just a hunting rifle with only full price hunting ammo the 7.62x39mm bolt guns
wouldn't have been very popular, the same way the Savage 340 wasn't but add in the dirt cheap plinking aspect and you have the reason for the popularity imho.

 

[VoodooMountain]

Nobody buys a 30-30 for the cartridge. They buy it for the platform. A handy little lever gun.

I dont understand why x39 is always compared to 30-30 I guess.

 

[TN Outlaw]

I disagree, although the lever carbine is very handy you can buy that same handy platform in more than just a 30-30, so why the 30-30?

I think most people buy 30-30 because it has a looooooong history of flat out working for woods hunters. A cartridge that will drop whitetail 150yds and in with minimal fuss and recoil and has for well over 100yrs AND comes in a handy platform to boot.

So these little x39's are also very handy platforms. They also shoot near identical projectiles at near identical velocitys so it's kinda sensible to compare them I think. The x39mm just does it cheaper. Cheap enough to not feel a bit bad for shooting paper and cans, rocks, bottle tops etc.

 

[mshootnit]

Next steps:
Ruger American Ranch 5.45X39

 

[Blkhrt13]

Nobody buys a 30-30 for the cartridge. They buy it for the platform. A handy little lever gun.

I dont understand why x39 is always compared to 30-30 I guess.

Because ballistics wise they are the closest well known popular American equivalent.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Ok im now on the bandwagon. Just picked up an american. My new favorite! I havent got to shoot it past 50 yards yet, but at 50 yards its putting cheap steel ammo through the same hole! Everyone should have one of these! Cheap attractive rifle and cheap ammo with readily available mags! I may build some iron sights for it though, just because...