I'm thinking of getting a Bushmaster in 7.62x39, does anyone have one. Are their any problems with this caliber and the AR style rifle. I've heard in the past of problems, but I don't remember what they were.

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OGCA Member.

1) The AR-15 bolthead must be hogged out to take the base of the 7.62x39 case. This leaves the bolt head weak.

2) There have been numerous attempts to make the 7.62x39 round feed in AR style mags. I don't think any of them are fully successful. What you need is an AR lower modified to take AK mags.

The CMMG mutant uses a modfied AR-10 upper with an AR-15 lower modded for AK mags, but it is pricey.

CMMG MK47 AKM Mutant 7.62x39mm Semi-Automatic Rifle

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Release the Kraken

If you want an AK, buy an AK. If you want an AR, buy an AR. If you must have an AK that looks like an AR, buy a Krebs tuned Arsenal for $2,100. As much as the world wants these two platforms to morph into one, the reality is that they both have their respective nuances and function well independent of each other.

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I'm with the banned ...

Well, I have a different take on that conversion; Mine is a Bushmaster Upper matched with a Colt Lower bought as a whole gun about 10 years ago. It has been reliable, accurate and a pleasure to shoot. I did have to buy some "C Products" mags for it to have more than 5 shots. I have put at least 5,000 shots thru it shooting 3 gun matches, Whitetail Deer, and steel targets at 300 yds just to hear them ring. I think that it is an excellent cartridge in an excellent semi-auto rifle. Did I say that it has been reliable? I haven't had a lick of problem with it since NIB. And it is dead easy to reload for. ++++++++++ ........... Big Cholla

I do have an AR in 6.8, but was thinking of getting one cheaper to shoot ( thus the idea of getting one in 7.62x39.) But did remember hearing of issues with the AR platform and the 7.62x39 cartridge. I guess more research will be I order. I'm not a big fan of AK's (great guns, but just don't like them.)

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OGCA Member.

I have one I built in 7.62x39. Works flawless. Lots of people naysay because they hear it won't work. I did it to prove a guy I work with wrong and because ammo was easy to find during the scare. I have well over 700rds through mine all steel case junk coated to non coated cases. I'd say go for it.

Any problem finding magazines?

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OGCA Member.

As I posted; But to state more strongly; The only magazine to buy is the ones made by C Products. All else except the 5 shot Colt are subject to many problems. Don't waste your money on anything else but "C Products". ................. Big Cholla

Thanks for the heads up..............

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OGCA Member.

I have one that I assembled about 6 years ago. I had ordered an upper from Delton...waited a long while, called them and they said they couldn`t build it because they didn`t have bolts; but at the same time I had ordered the upper from Delton I had ordered a bolt from LMT which came in. $170 and you can get one ;LMT does a limited run every now and then. Delton head-spaced the bolt and their upper and I was in action, except the upper didn`t have M4 ramps and I would get failure-to-feeds. Contacted Delton and asked if I bought one of their M4 uppers would they eat the labor. They did and they returned my new upper and the old one. This was when parts were scarce and I sold the old upper and I think the entire switch cost me like $17(rather be lucky than good). I used C-Product mags and I had some troubles with them but they switched them out and it has run well ever since. I have 30,20,and 10 rounders...some by the heir to C-Products which is ASC. The Bushmaster has a novel idea based on the M4 ramps. Instead of the ramps wallowed out at 5 and 7 o`clock the entire area is scalloped from 5 to 7. Bushmaster has their own bolt so you should be able to get one if you need it...I would call and ask them if they keep them in stock. By the way, I only shoot brass case ammo in mine. I reload 7.62x39 on my Dillon and also shoot Czech 67 ammo. It`s corrosive so whenever I shoot that it`s time to clean it. Good Luck,John

I PERSONALLY DON'T GET THE ATTRACTION---BUT I'M AN OLD GEEZER AND LOTS OF STUFF GOES OVER MY HEAD. IF YOU WANT TO SHOOT AN AR CHEAPER, JUST BUY A .22 CALIBER CLONE. NEITHER THE AK NOR ITS CARTRIDGE APPEAL TO ME. I DON'T DENY THAT THEY ARE MORE RELIABLE IN A HARSH ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS VIETNAM WAS. I PREFER THE CIVILIAN BUSHMASTER ABOVE ALL OTHERS, BACK HERE IN THE WORLD. I CAN UNDERSTAND GUYS BUILDING A HYBRID AS A CHALLENGE, OR TO SHOW OFF SOMETHING DIFFERENT AT THE RANGE, BUT ITS JUST NOT ME. 9MM IS ARGUABLY THE CHEAPEST PISTOL CARTRIDGE ONE CAN SHOOT (RELOADS ARE CHEAPER THAN CCI MINI MAGS). I DON'T LIKE THE CARTRIDGE OR THE GUNS THAT SHOOT IT--OTHER THAN LUGERS, MAUSERS, AND A NICKEL MODEL 39 THAT A FRIEND OF MINE OWNED. I APPRECIATE THE INITIATIVE AND EXPERTISE OF GUYS LIKE BIG CHOLLA, AND OTHERS, THAT CAN MORPH THESE TWO PLATFORMS INTO A RELIABLE WEAPON, THAT IS THE ANSWER TO A PROBLEM THAT DIDN'T EXIST--JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN……..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I have an Olympic upper. I hadn't thought much about the ramps because I didn't have any feeding problems. I'll have to look. I haven't fired my gun a lot but I was satisfied it worked OK before I put it away. I have both 7.62x39 and 5.56 uppers for the same lower. I wanted something that would fire 7.62, just in case.

The mags are the weak link, as far as I am concerned, but apparently it is not a fatal one. I have the C Products mags and they work OK but they just seem a bit cheesy - a little flimsy, and maybe they could use some more spring power (particularly the 30-rounders). I'm glad to know someone has some real use on the C Products mags and has had good luck with them. Thanks for the info, Big Cholla. I've always wondered who supplies Bushmaster's magazines... ?

I am no fan of AKs so I am happy with the Olympic upper for my purposes. I don't anticipate the need to shoot it much and if I do I am satisfied it will work. Though I have seen the Bushmasters I have never owned/fired one, and don't have any friends who have either, so I can't comment on them.

I actually have two I put together. My coworker has one and I helped my BIL build his. ASC mags in all them. No issues. Get a good bolt and extended firing pin. Lots of fun. Very accurate, too

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

First two responses.
If you don't have one, don't respond by repeating old Internet stories from when it was a new idea. They work. And work well

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

I assembled one a couple years ago and am happy with it. I used a Model 1 upper and their enhanced bolt. Good mags are available. Shoots well.
Bob

If you have a copy of Quickload, take a look at powders for a .310" 123-grain projectile in the X39. I think you will be surprised... there are about six or eight that will get you 2500 fps out of that projectile, or right at it. That is nothing to sneeze at.

And as far as bolts go, they are available; mags, too. And an AR in the X39 is light years ahead of the same round in an AK, with the possible exception of the original "Automaton Kalishnikov" (as in Russian...).

I am inclined to agree with that - sort of. What you really need is an AR lower that is made specifically to take the AK mag. It is a shame there is not enough market interest in this for someone to do it (especially for use with the PMag AK magazines). If the Pmag AK mags work as well as their AR15 mags it would be a big help, IMO.

I'd like to see some pictures. The rifle doesn't really do anything for me at the moment, but if I saw one, maybe it would . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

+1. Why people get off by spreading misinformation has always mystified me, but it happens whenever someone asks the question about the 7.62 x 39 in an AR. I have two uppers, a 20" Colt I've had for almost 15 years, and another I built with a 16" Shaw barrel several years ago. Both work great. The Colt has standard feed ramps, while the 16" has extended cuts. I can't remember the last time I had a failure to feed with either one of them. No broken bolts. I bought a couple of extras years ago because of all the bad press, but haven't needed them. I started out using 20 and 30 round frankenmags (they worked) at the beginning when I got the Colt upper, and later on bought CProducts 30 round mags when they came out. Those mags were very hit or miss when they came out, but they fixed them. I also have a couple of the AR Stoner marked mags from Midway and a couple ASC mags. They work. The 10 round mags work as well, and I use those as much as I do the 30s since they are more compact. I see ASC has a 20 round mag out now, but I haven't tried it. I have gotten 3 or 4 mags I have had to return, but the ones that work just work.

The 7.62 x 39 is a great cartridge. I have been shooting cast bullets from the 16" as well. I won't say what kind of groups I am getting because no one would believe me (except for those who are already hip.)

Here you go, my garden variety KISS carbine -

I have been using this all Colt 7.62x39 for many trouble-free years. The Colt marked 7.62x39 mags seem to be ordinary 20 round .223 mags with a different follower. Because of the size and shape of the 7.62 round, these mags only hold 7 rounds. The mag in the picture is a AK mag welded to a standard 20 (.223) round mag. I don't know who made these mags but they work great. These mags hold 23 rounds of 7.62x39.
The 7.62x39 AR combines AR accuracy with AK power.

Mark

Here is mine. I've got about $1200 in it and 3 other ars in 223 556 that collect dust. I swear once you shoot a 7.62x39 ar you won't shoot a 223.

WHAT IS THE BIG ADVANTAGE OF SHOOTING AK AMMO OUT OF AN AR INSTEAD OF THE RIFLE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR ? ? ? I SHOT CAPTURED AKs IN VIETNAM. THEY WOULD RUN WHEN FILTHY DIRTY---THE ONLY ADVANTAGE OF THE AK DESIGN THAT I COULD IDENTIFY. THE HI-CAP MAGAZINES WERE USELESS FROM THE PRONE POSITION. SO AMMO FOR THE AK IS A BIT CHEAPER---BIG DEAL. RELOAD .223, IF THAT'S YOUR ISSUE. IMHO, BUILD YOURSELF A .308 ON THE AR PLATFORM, IF YOU WISH TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING WORTHWHILE……...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

This + 100000

The obvious answer is some of us prefer shooting AR's over AK's and the 7.62 is a nice little cartridge. The real question is why does it offend some people enough they have to yell about it or make unsupported dismissive remarks about it?

One could just as easily ask why anyone, particularly an American, would want to shoot a crudely-made, foreign-designed rifle traditionally used by our enemies (like the AK) - in any caliber? But that's not the point. As Aphelion said, if you like the AR and you'd like a compact .30-caliber cartridge such as the 7.62x39, why not? Pretty simple. That's all there is to it.

It really is a good cartridge. And cheap to shoot. And the AR is a good platform. The military should have stuck with a 30 caliber and this wouldn't be a problem today.

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

Had A Colt Sporter in x39 and it ran well, zero issues. Not very accurate thgough. I used FankenMags.... 30 Rd Steel AK mags, cut and welded to a steel AR upper. NO idea if anyone builds them anymore.

Back when I could buy x39 ammo for ten cents a rd it was fun. But frankly right now with x39 and 5.56 ammo fairly close in price...I can't see the attraction.

FN in MT

THE AKs THAT I SHOT IN 'NAM WEREN'T VERY ACCURATE. THEY HAD "BATTLEFIELD ACCURACY" THAT ALLOWED THEM TO MAKE HITS ON TORSO SIZED TARGETS BUT THEY WERE MORE A "SPRAY AND PRAY" WEAPON. THERE WAS NO DENYING THE SUPERIOR LEVEL OF RELIABILITY IN THE BATTLE ENVIRONMENT, OF THE CRUDE APPEARING AKs. THEY WOULD RUN, PULLED OUT OF THE MUCK OF A RICE PADDY. I THINK THAT I DEVELOPED A SUB CONSCIOUS RESENTMENT TOWARD THE AK, BECAUSE I HAD TO CLEAN MY COLT MANUFACTURED M16A1, AS OFTEN AS I COULD, TO KEEP IT RUNNING WELL. THESE "PIECES OF ****" WENT BANG EVERY TIME……

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING TO WHAT PURPOSE THESE HYBRIDS THAT ARE SO SKILLFULLY CONSTRUCTED BY OUR MEMBERS ARE PUT ? ? ? THE MORE I READ OF THIS THREAD, THE MORE I REALIZE THAT MY NEGATIVE ATTITUDE MAY BE IN GOOD PART DUE TO THE DISDAIN IN WHICH THE SOLDIER REGARDS THE WEAPONS OF HIS ENEMY, ALTHOUGH I HAVE TRIED TO GIVE HONEST CREDIT WHERE IT WAS EARNED. THE AKs THAT I HAD EXPERIENCE WITH WERE ALL CHICOM MADE. I HAVE NEVER HANDLED A RUSSIAN BUILT AK, A HIGH QUALITY AK FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, NOR AN AK IN MY CIVILIAN LIFE SINCE 1969. AND TO BE HONEST, I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH--OR KNOWLEDGE OF-- WHAT THE CARTRIDGE MAY BE USEFUL FOR OFF THE BATTLEFIELD. I WAS JUST NEVER INTERESTED IN IT. SO I THINK THAT I NEED TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND HERE………..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

EXPLAINING MY USE OF CAPS IS REALLY GETTING OLD, BUT I WILL DO IT ONCE MORE. aphelion, THE ULTIMATE QUESTION WOULD BE WHY ANYONE WOULD CARE WHAT CASE I TYPE IN, OR ASSUME THAT I AM YELLING--AS IF YOU CAN HEAR VOLUME WITH YOUR EYES. DO YOU SEE WITH YOUR EARS ALSO ? ? ?

IN ANY EVENT, I AM A 100% SERVICE CONNECTED, DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN. I AM BLIND IN ONE EYE AND HAVE AN INOPERABLE CATARACT, AND GLAUCOMA IN MY "GOOD" EYE. I TYPE IN CAPS, BECAUSE IT IS MUCH EASIER FOR ME TO SEE WHAT I AM TYPING. I INVARIABLY, IT SEEMS THAT I FIND MYSELF EXPLAINING THIS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD A FREE RIDE FOR THE FREEDOM THEY HAVE ENJOYED, WHILE VETERANS HAVE DONE THE HEAVY LIFTING. COINCIDENCE ? ? ? THE COST OF AMERICA'S FREEDOM CAN BE FOUND IN VA HOSPITALS AND MILITARY CEMETERIES HERE IN THE USA, AND AROUND THE WORLD….

FWIW, I AM NOT "OFFENDED" BY WHATEVER MIGHT INTEREST OTHER SHOOTERS. WHY WOULD I CARE--IT'S THEIR MONEY THEY ARE SPENDING, NOT MINE. MY REMARKS ARE SUPPORTED BY MY EXPERIENCE WITH BATTLEFIELD LIBERATED AK-47s THAT I HAVE HANDLED, AND ARE INQUIRIES INTO WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE TO BUILD THESE WEAPONS, WHILE VIABLE PLATFORMS FOR BOTH CARTRIDGES ALREADY EXIST--NOTHING MORE. THE SHOOTING SPORT HAS ROOM ENOUGH FOR WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF IT. IT WOULD BE QUITE BORING IF WE ALL SHOT OR LIKED THE SAME WEAPONS OR TYPES OF SHOOTING. "SMYTHONS" THE HYBRIDIZATION OF S&Ws AND COLT PYTHONS, ALSO PIQUE MY INTEREST. I HAVE OWNED BOTH FOR MANY YEARS, BUT NEVER HAD THE URGE TO SPLICE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER…..

IN CLOSING, LET ME SAY THAT IF MY POSTS IN CAPS OFFEND YOU IN ANY WAY, OR YOU FIND THAT THEY HURT YOUR EARS, OR ARE "HARD TO READ" (AS THE LAST "OFFENDED" FORUM MEMBER ILLOGICALLY COMPLAINED) PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SCROLL RIGHT ON BY MY POSTS. I WON'T MIND AT ALL, AS IT WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO ME…..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Type in whatever case works for you, of course. I appreciate your service for our country.

It always strikes me as odd when people bring up performance on the battlefield in these threads. How many of our rifles are going to be used in battle rolled around in the muck? It is really irrelevant. An AR chambered in the 7.62 can function as well as one in 5.56. This makes it useful for a range toy, hunting, self defense, plinking out in desert, or whatever. To ask what use is one is akin to asking what use is any firearm.

One thing for sure is an AR in any caliber is likely to be far more accurate and easy to shoot than an AK. An AK just doesn't fit a lot of people very well. I shoot my son's and to me they feel like they were designed for something other than the human species. But people like them and that is great.

I got one a few years ago made by P.S.A. and been enjoying it ever since, cheaper to shoot and something different from what everyone else is using. gun has been totally reliable from day one and I only paid $700.00 for it....

As to *why ?* , there are a cpl answers :

1. Deer hunting with a serious dia bullet, not requiring the case forming and handloading of a Whisper aka Blackout, and more common on local shelves than 6.8 or 6.5.

2. Less dimutation of performance in a pistol/ SBR platform than .223/ 5.56 .

Ditto - thanks for your service to our country. I too did not understand your use of all caps. If it helps you, so be it!

Unlike a soldier who has to walk with his complete ammunition supply, I don't do that, so the added weight and bulk of the 7.62x39 ammo over 5.56 is not a factor for me. It is something different to shoot, and it "makes a bigger hole" (), so I enjoy the 7.62x39 and I shoot it in a couple different rifles, the AR being one, a Mini-30 being another, and the little CZ carbine being still another. From what I have seen of them, I've never wanted an AK or SKS but wouldn't quarrel with anyone who likes them.

Some years ago I shot a lot of cast bullets in a M70 Lightweight .308 set-up "Scout" rifle style. The point was to keep the expense and noise-level down a bit. After the usual case prep, I could crank the loads out pretty quickly on the Dillon 550. If I recall it was a 170-gr bullet at around 1600 f/s. The 7.62x39 should do the same thing more efficiently. I wish I could find a supply of cases with small-rifle primer pockets. I hear they are made, but I haven't had much luck with that. Ultimately, for me the 7.62x39 AR is just another gun to monkey around with.

THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATIONS. IT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THAT 7.62X39 MIGHT BE USEFUL AS A DEER HUNTING ROUND. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING OTHER THAN FMJ ROUNDS--NOT THAT I EVER LOOKED ON THE LGS SHELVES. UP HERE IN THE NORTHEAST WE USE SHOTGUNS WITH SLUGS OR #00 BUCKSHOT, BLACK POWDER RIFLES, OR CENTERFIRES LIKE 30-30, .35 REMINGTON, OR EVEN .44 MAGNUM--USUALLY OUT OF A LEVER ACTION RIFLE. .223 IS COMMONLY USED OUT OF ARs FOR COYOTE. I AM CERTAINLY NOT IN THE WOODS EVERY DAY, BUT I HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS ANYONE CARRYING AN AR OF ANY CALIBER DURING DEER SEASON. SOOOO, I HAVE BEEN ENLIGHTENED. ALSO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF US VETERANS…….…...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I'm an AK fan. Nothing against the AR, have that as well. Nice rifles. The AK is definitely more than just a spray and pray. That's up to the user. If I forgo the sights I can just as easily lob bullets down range without much success. And I'm not going to sit here ant tell you how accurate it is benched because we all know it's not as accurate as an AR. Having said that, I don't shoot off of a bench. It's pointless to me. An avg AR with a avg ammo is no more accurate than the AK it's just that all anyone sees are 3rd world untrained people just spraying lead everywhere and assumes that's how it is. For example, a lot of the African fighting we see ......many of those guys assume the rear sight graduations are power levels. The higher the number the harder the hit. It's not the rifle, it's the user.

Lapua ammo at 80 yards



Wolf ammo at 80 yards


200 yards Wolf ammo.



I had some pics of 400 yards but can't find them at the moment

NOW HERE'S AN AK THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SHOOT. THIS IS A RUSSIAN MADE SAIGA, WITH LOTS OF CUSTOM PARTS. IT'S FOR SALE ON OUR FORUM. THIS MIGHT CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT AK ACCURACY…….http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sa...s-goodies.html

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

After much reading up on the rifle over the last month, I ordered the Bushmaster 7.62x39 today, also ordered a dozen magazines. Looking forward to getting it and putting lead down range. Thanks for all your advice on the subject......

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OGCA Member.

Let us know how it goes in this thread. Will be interested to know. I expect your rifle will work just fine.

What is the going cost of surplus 7.62x39 ammo these days? And how does it compare to the cost of bulk 5.56mm?

I have never owned a rifle chambered in the AK round, but I find it interesting.

I do have an AR chambered in .300 AAC Blackout. That is a great round and has many interesting configurations from heavy subsonic spitzers to the lightweight zingers. I found this round so interesting that I also bought a Remington 700 SPS Tactical chambered for the Blackout.

I wish bulk ammo would be available for the Blackout at the same cost as 7.62x39.

Curl

7.62x39 can still be found cheap and in bulk compared to most ammo. I have plenty stocked up, so no problem on ammo. What will be interesting is how it handles steel cased ammo, I've both read and have been told sticking to brass cased it the way to go.....

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OGCA Member.

Just make sure it haS a long firing pin and steel cased ammo will be fine

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

Steel cased ammo will certainly work. The coating of the steel might prove to be a buildup and subsequent cleaning problem down the road. IMHO, steel will be less accurate than the brass cased because of the better 'obturation' obtained by using brass. The sealing of the chamber and keeping the cartridge in place by obturation is a little known physical phenomena, but has proved to be a significant factor in accuracy and reliability. Why limit yourself in any way while using the 7.62x39 when brass cased ammo is readily available? ...... Big Cholla

I plan to use both steel and brass cased, mostly brass, but I'm curious to see how it handles the steel case stuff............

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OGCA Member.

Mine are more accurate than you would believe with steel cased ammo.

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

My old man loves the one i built for him... he calls It the "zombie killer". He can shoot nice little groups, an inch or two big, all day, from a hundred yards out. it shoots the brass cased Stuff 100% reliably but does not care for the steel cased stuff... we are working on that now...
I was not an AK fan until i bought a cheap WASR for $400 and have been a fan ever since. Now I'm under folding and rpk'n and unlike my ar builds the ak's haven't had any issues.

Update
All my local gunshops had no luck finding a Bushmaster in 7.62x39 from the distributers they use, so I ended up getting a Bushmaster upper, new old stock on Gunbroker, and the Bushmaster lower from Wholesale Hunter. In doing so, I saved between $200.00 and $300.00. Both are on the way, and will be in next week. Also have a Trijicon ACOG 3x30 Scope to top it off, bought used from Amazon to complete the package.

Magazines are no problem as they are available from many sources.

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OGCA Member.

I never been interested in any AR style rifle.

To me the best rifle ever made in 7,62x39 Russian is the SKS. There accurate in the norinco brand. I never liked the AK47 because of some of the poor workmanship when it was converted from select fire FA to semi auto. The fit was terrible on the ones I seen. I probably waited too long to get a good one. Then the brand new Russian izmash saiga was imported. It's a brand new Russian made ak/akm. Not someone's butchers rework.
For just $289 when they were first offered in 308win it's an awesome rifle.
I still would prefer the sks in 7,62x39. But the saiga in 223 is nice too. These rifles never jam. There long battle field proven history says it's a rock solid dependable reliable design. I purchased the saiga sporting rifles for hunting. I'm not interested in hunting with a military rifle.

Are you guys ashamed to go to the range or your gun club with a sks, ak or saiga to shoot? Is it peer pressure that keeps you from owning one? I know the look when I rode into a Harley bike show with my Japanese bike.

When some AR guys at the range see the accuracy of a $59 Chinese sks they leave upset. It's sad I like all guns to a point. If there over priced and the reliability is finicky I pass.

For a rifle in 7,62x39 the Chinese norinco sks is tops. Using the correct diameter bullets is the key to accuracy. Using the original norinco ammo the sks shoots 1 1/2" groups at 100yards with its original sights, no scope.
We all had fun with the 22 semi auto rifles when we were kids. Now we're adults it time for some plinking fun with a bigger bang. The sks is a fun plinker.

Time to stock up on the 7,62x39 imported ammo was after it became available again after the first shortage it was only $59/1,000rds. It was Russian made by barnaul ammo. It's one of the most accurate of the Russian ammo brands. When sportsmansguide ran out at the time they replaced it with wolf ammo. Talk about plinking cheap.

I only shoot the steel cased ammo out of the semi auto barrels with chrome lined bores and chambers.

They were NEVER EVER converted from select fire FA to semi auto. Not unless you were in a different country or dealing in illigal activities. By ATF standards once the receiver is FA it is always a FA no matter what you do. No one can legally convert a FA anything into a semi auto. If you were to do so and make it permanent the ATF still considers it a FA and illegal.

And another thing. Workmanship has nothing to do with conversion. All it requires is the removal of the FA sear and a hammer swap. You're basically just changing out the hammer, sear and disconector. Kinda like swapping triggers on a AR