Steel cased ammo in a 7.62x39 AR.

[Dunross]

So, in reading around the net it seems that whether or not steel cased 7.62x39 will feed and function well in an AR15 chambered for it is a complete crapshoot.

Should I end up with an AR that chokes on steel are there any tricks or tips to persuading my rifle to like it?

Polish the chamber? Tune the extractor/ejector, what?

Brass cased 7.62x39 is expensive and hard to come by relative to steel cased (it's ALL expensive and hard to find just at the moment). I would really like to feed it the same ammo as my SKS.

What can I do to entice it to like the cheaper stuff if it's a finicky eater?

I don't think the underhanded tricks I used with my kids are going to work here...

 

[BreechFace]

AR barrel extension feed ramps shapes correctly and good C-product magazines. I like carbine gas to run through dirty ammo.

Mines eats like a fat kid in an ice cream shop.

 

[brasscollector]

I didn't see any trick to it either. Find some decent metal mags made for 7.62x39 and you should be GTG. I don't think I've ever run brass through mine to be honest, never had a hiccup.

 

[Riomouse911]

All I did to ensure reliability is add an extended length firing pin and extra power hammer spring from black rifle arms and use C-products magazines as was previously mentioned.

100 pct reliable so far with a variety of steel and brass-cased ammo.

https://www.blackriflearms.com/AR-15-762x39-Enhanced-Firing-Pin_p_9.html

https://www.blackriflearms.com/-WOLFF-Extra-Power-Hammer-Spring_p_217.html

Stay safe.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I have only shot about 100 rounds through one and it was 100%. However, if there are uppers or parts out there that are unreliable with steel cased 7.62x39 ammo, they should be chucked in the trash.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

My 7.62x39 MSR is dead reliable with any ammo I've fed it. Steel case, reloads, brass cased ammo, steel case ammo that I've put my own bullet on top of etc. 400-500 rounds and never a problem. Metal C-Product mags made for x39 and no problem here. I even accidentally ran the rifle over with my truck and it still has been 100% reliable.

 

[Ks5shooter]

What Rio said to the letter and you will be set.Both spring and pin are cheap I bought 3 of each shipping was the same as they are small and inexpensive.Pay attention to your chamber for laquer build up if your steel case is coated ,clean accordingly.

 

[rbernie]

All I did to ensure reliability is add an extended length firing pin and extra power hammer spring from black rifle arms and use C-products magazines as was previously mentioned.

This is the basic answer. Some folk have had issue with the round stack binding in the C Products mags, and to prevent this I use a stiffer mag spring to help keep things moving.

 

[Riomouse911]

This is the basic answer. Some folk have had issue with the round stack binding in the C Products mags, and to prevent this I use a stiffer mag spring to help keep things moving.

The Mag springs are another good place to look if your semi auto is getting cranky.

I resprung all of my Glock and AR mags with Wolff springs and put Magpul followers in the AR mags as well. Sometimes it’s like you have a whole new gun after a few those easy fixes.

Stay safe.

 

[semperdog]

Will the extended length firing pin and extra power hammer spring from black rifle arms work for both brass and steel?

 

[JDGray]

My ARs loved steel cased ammo! Shot it very accurate too. C-Product mags, extra power hammer spring.

 

[Robbins290]

I have 2 windhams in 762x39. They run flawless. With what ever cheap steel cased i run thru them. Only thing is that you have to clean it more then a standard ar15. Tula, wolf and herters is pretty dirty.

 

[spazzy]

Mine runs great with tula, wolf and monarch (I think its academy branded barnaul)

Accuracy isn't great 2-3 inches at 100 yards

It likes pmc bronze, groups them into 1.25-1.5 at 100 yards

I tried some asc magazines and they run fantastic

Before the current shortage I was going to stock up on the copper jacketed steel case branded as more range friendly. I'll grab a case when things settle down

 

[H&R Glock]

ARStoner upper from Midway USA=260 rounds no problem
Palmetto upper 400 rounds= no problem
All steel case 7.62x39 Golden Tiger and 1966 dated commie Vietnam surplus.

 

[M1key]

Buy an extra bolt or two while you can still find them.

M

 

[rbernie]

Will the extended length firing pin and extra power hammer spring from black rifle arms work for both brass and steel?

Yes.

 

[kBob]

I just went on PSA's site and note that the 7.62x39 upper I bought currently is listed as having an AR47 extended length firing pin.

Whether it was last year or not is a good question.

"looks" good but have not measured it.

-kBob

 

[BreechFace]

I don't think many AR47's are being sold without the extended length firing pin, if someone is then they have been stuck in a hole for years as this is an old revelation.

 

[kBob]

my concern is the chamber, because I used Wolf Steel case .223/5.56 both a Mini -14 and a AR-180 with no issues but my first round in an AR15 that I had been shooting brass case .223/5.56 in in the same session produced a failure to extract that required a cleaning rod to clear.

Has anyone had such an experience with a 7.62x39 upper?

-kBob

 

[kBob]

...and my last for this lunch....

In surfing to find info on this subject I cam across a post that "some guy" claimed that the standard PSA lower kit springs are as heavy as the Wolff heavy spring or slightly heavier.

Anyone care to comment on that one?

( ya know if I was PSA I would have someone do a search on THR and such a couple of times a week for 'PSA' or 'Palmetto' within the past week. to see what folks are complaining, praising or curious about my products)

-kBob

 

[BreechFace]

my concern is the chamber, because I used Wolf Steel case .223/5.56 both a Mini -14 and a AR-180 with no issues but my first round in an AR15 that I had been shooting brass case .223/5.56 in in the same session produced a failure to extract that required a cleaning rod to clear.

Has anyone had such an experience with a 7.62x39 upper?

-kBob

The above is a big reason I stick to carbine gas on an AR47 and run my BCG and upper wet, I want it ripping those cases out of there, I've never had a failure to extract in 1,200 rounds of various steel case in my recent build. Paying attention to good extractor parts is a good idea as well, some sprinco springs helps. I went with a stainless barrel and don't seem to have a lacquer build-up problem but I clean my guns pretty regularly, so maybe in an extended cleaning cycle I might get into some issues, but for my uses I have had no problems.