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AR in 7.62 x 39
JasonV
Member Posts: 2,482 ✭✭✭
What do you guys think of the combination?
My boat anchor snagged on a couple AR lowers from somebody's boating accident where all their guns were lost and I was wondering what to do with them. I found out Bear Creek has left hand uppers so bought one in 7.62 x 39. It is a lot of fun to shoot and functions flawlessly.
I like the idea of having a bigger boolit than the 5.56. I have killed deer and antelope in SD with a 5.56 and it is legal but it is marginal for deer. Definitely requires pinpoint accuracy to use effectively.
Magazines are a bit hard to find. Bear Creek recommends ASC magazines and I was able to buy one 10 rounder and it works great. Higher capacity magazines from ASC are unobtanium.
formerly known as warpig883
Comments
I think it's a fine combination made mostly irrelevant by the 300 blackout.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Wonderful combination. Used one in a pistol version to shoot deer. Ammo is very cheap as you know than any other AR platform. Use good mags.
I love mine, abuse it with Wolf ammo mercilessly. Picked it up at gunshow somewhere, Anderson lower, mystery upper (mystery to me anywho). Every mag that I've picked up along the way has worked just fine. Never cleaned it, just keeps hammering away. I live very rural and have steel targets everywhere. It sees plenty of action.
If I was going to go with a caliber other than .223/5.56 in an AR it would be with the 6.5 Grendel. It shoots flatter, faster, and harder than the 7.62x39. Given, ammo won't be as readily available, but if you reload that's not a huge deal breaker.
300 blackout and 6.5 were on my list of possibilities but the cases of commie 7.62 x 39 I have tipped the scales.
My next one may be one of these two calibers.
The 7.62x39 makes an OK combination in an AR . The need for specialty mags knocks some of the goody off the 7.62 vs 300AAC. Using Hornady SST hunting ammo makes a decent 150-200 yard deer rifle. In a 10.5" barrel, the 7.62 is just as obnoxious as .223 plus a bit more recoil than 300.
I have both 10.5 and 16" 7.62 uppers that are surprisingly accurate.
I have the BCA side charging on an Anderson 80% but haven't fired it yet, my reasoning was to just have something other than the 5.56 in a caliber that I already had for my sks and I got a couple of the mags they suggested at the same time. I see nothing wrong with your idea.
IMO the SKS is one of the best semi auto 7.62x commie guns out there. I have not shot or used an AR in that chambering but I have seen them shot at 3 gun matches and they seem to do ok.
Does it function 100% with cheapo steel case
The commie ammo has hard primers and even my Ruger Bolt 7.62x39 will not fire sometimes with it. When hunting... Use brass Serbian or American..hornady or winchester ammo.
if you have a Bear Creek upper in 7.62x39 you already have the enhanced firing pin and spring for shooting the steel case stuff. its standard issue. i have 2 BCA uppers and both function flawlessly with dedicated AR 15 7.62x39 30 rd and also 10 rd mags purchased from a online supplier not to be named here.
"if you have a Bear Creek upper in 7.62x39 you already have the enhanced firing pin and spring for shooting the steel case stuff. its standard issue."
A bit of clarification here: The 'enhanced firing pin' IS part of the upper. An 'extra power hammer spring' would be a lower part.
I've not found the need for an extra power hammer spring if using the enhanced firing pin. I'd suggest care if/when swapping commercial domestic FL or reloaded ammo for steel case. The 'enhanced FP' may pierce primers.
Im shooting Wolf steel cased ammo with it and it has been fine. Only about 100 rounds so far but it has been flawless.
I have only tried the ASC magazine.
i shoot Belom ammo. brass case boxer primed FMJ. Belom is the military ammo side of Privy Partisan ammo company. good stuff, cleaner burning, more reliable. very satisfied with it. won't see the need to shoot steel ever again. oh Belom isn't that much more expensive than steel to mess with, sitting on a 5000+ rd supply
Agree, BELOM seems to be a cut above the average.