Steel cased 7.62x39: Whose do you like?

[Dunross]

I'm looking to buy some steel-cased 7.62x39 ammo shortly.

This will be for both an SKS and an AR.

There seem to be a number of brands at least theoretically available to be found.

Whose do you like and why?

 

[Megawatt maker]

Besides a small batch of brass cases, boxer primed Lapua 7.62×39 I came across at an auction once..which was really good stuff..

I dont see much, if any difference in any brand...Wolf, Tula..etc..any that comes from the former Soviet Block. Its all pretty much the same, by design.
Romanian Hotshot has a bad rap..but I didnt notice it being any different either.

Yugo, and if you can still find any, East German surplus, while corrosive (not an issue at all with a Soviet block import AK variant..they all chromed on all the important areas) was some very good stuff, and very very cheap..back in the day. (Like 80 bucks for a wooden crate with 1400 or so rounds...been a while)

Its an AK...or 7.62x39 chambered weapon. Those terms and accuracy do not go together.

 

[adcoch1]

I have had good luck with Wolf, both gold and military classic, and believe it or not Tulammo

 

[Telekinesis]

Wolf and Tula have both done well in my AK. I also recently got some “Red Army Standard” that looks pretty good, but I haven’t shot much of it.

I’m not sure about calling it inaccurate either. Wolf HP is consistently 2 MOA from my AK (Arsenal). It’s not amazing accuracy by any means, but it matches what my AR does with bulk FMJ, and right now a case of 7.62x39 is about half the price of .223 (note the AR is usually around 1 MOA with good ammo).

OP, if you’re looking for defensive ammo, look for 124gr 8M3 or 8V3 (similar bullet by different manufacturers, though 8V3 is supposed to be boattailed). These are designed to fragment and should have much better terminal performance. They’re occasionally difficult to find, but they don’t seem to be much more expensive when they’re available.

 

[HB]

The Wolf Military Classic HP is tops for x39.

.223, I haven’t found much difference.

You picked a bad time to stock up man

 

[teddybear1848]

thing is, Wolf and Tula are mostly the same thing. A lot of steel case ammo is made in the same factory and then sold by various brands/ distributors like Red army standard, Wolf, Hot shot, etc etc. So just because its in a wolf box doesnt mean its any different than something in an RAS or Tula box. Golden Tiger/ Vympel factory ammo is my favorite as it seems to be loaded the most consistently and has a sealed neck and primer base. If you plan on storing long term get some stuff with a sealed neck and primer, other than that its pretty much a horse a piece unless you get into the HP stuff.

 

[Chevelle SS]

I prefer the Wolf FMJs over anything else, not that the others have been bad, just had a bit more consistency in my guns with the Wolf.

 

[jmorris]

My favorite steel cased ammo for my AK’s are free and cheap, in that order.

 

[Mullo98]

Gold tiger is a great brand, very consistent and is good for long term storage. But any brand will work well with your rifle.

 

[dh1633pm]

I like what jmorris said. More than that, sometimes I just like what I can find. I don’t mean it in a joking way. Just seems each brand is never at the store long enough to stock up on any one type.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Golden Tiger,but for your 7.62x39 AR you will need enhanced firing pin and enhanced hammer spring. Only a few bucks each but makes it very reliable.
https://www.blackriflearms.com/view_cart.asp

https://www.sgammo.com/product/gold...39-fmj-bt-golden-tiger-124-grain-russian-ammo

 

[22250Rem]

Been shooting Wolf & Tula in a couple different SKS's since 1992. I can recall one dud in all those years. It was Sept. 20th, 2017, ( I have a shooting log book ). Except I forgot to note if it was Wolf or Tula. Even found that just about any of that 7.62x39 stuff all chronographs the same which leads me to believe that it's all loaded to the same pressure levels. Never noticed any accuracy advantage in one or the other. Don't know what the going price is these days but 7 -10 years ago when I was loading up on that stuff it was a darn good deal for the money.

 

[Double_J]

I have some brown bar I bought YEARS ago that shots well out of my SKS. I would buy it again if I found it for the right price again.

 

[WisBorn]

I shot only Tulammo in my Ak. Grouped well and always fired.

 

[X62503]

The Wolf Military Classic HP is tops for x39. You picked a bad time to stock up man

Agreed, regarding that particular Wolf round, but right now is the perfect time to stock up, if it’s available.

 

[Mullo98]

Sgammo still have plenty, mind you, you have to buy a half to a full case of it.

 

[brunowbe]

I’ve never had any issues with any of the steel case 7.62x39. Tula always seems a bit dirtier, though they all are pretty dirty. Buy what’s cheapest. I do know that I don’t like Silver Bear, but that’s for issues I had with their 5.45x39 ammo, bad primers.

 

[bannockburn]

I stocked up on Wolf Military Classic, Brown Bear, and Golden Tiger some years back. All are decent enough with no problems to report.

 

[troy fairweather]

I like it, in a gun with the proper chamber accuracy can be very good. My cz 527 will hold under moa with the sights will all the wulf and tula I've used, I'd bet with a scope it's better.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Wolf and Brown Bear work well for me.

 

[Bfh_auto]

What's the cheapest?
I run 3 MOA with my SKS. So I can't tell a difference.
Wolf makes a nice 154SP if you can find them cheap.

 

[Newtosavage]

Most accurate I've ever used, bar none, was Academy's "Monarch" brand of 123-grain hollow points. Unbelievable ammo for $6/box.

 

[teddybear1848]

Monarch was a Serbian manufactured ammo if memory serves correct

 

[Swampman]

I like Golden Tiger.
It has lacquer coated cases with sealed primers and case mouths, plus the bullets are boat tailed. Accuracy is as good or better than other steel case Russian 7.62x39 I've shot (all through AK's or SKS's, so not really saying much).

Monarch was a Serbian manufactured ammo if memory serves correct

Monarch is Academy's "house brand", they have it made wherever they can get it the cheapest. The steel case 7.62x39 is made by Barnaul in Russia. They used to have a lot of brass cased sporting ammo made by Prvi Partizan in Serbia.

 

[JDGray]

Ammo made by Barnaul seems to be pretty accurate, Wolf Mil-spec...