Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 7.62x39 in the AR-15

That's impressive.

Thanks for posting that. Interesting to see the Tula is faster (and by that much!) than the Hornady; my impression of Tula in other calibers the few times I've tried it has been that it was somewhat underpowered.

Just as an interesting comparison (not a "mine is better than yours" thing at all), that Hornady 123gr load is running almost exactly the same speed as the 123gr ELD-M handload in my 12.5" 6.5 Grendel. That's with re-formed 7.62x39 brass too, lots of similarities in those loads except for the barrel length.

I was surprised about the Tula velocity as well. From my internet readings I was expecting 2300-ish fps. Shootng the two ammos side-by-side, the Tula does feel like it has a little more gas though.

I'll bet the 123 in the Grendel has a heck of lot higher BC than the 7.62x39 also. I believe the 7.62 123gr SST has a BC around .290 or so.

I'm enjoying the 7.62x39 journey so far, and if there was a left-hand bolt action rifle, I'd probably have one. Who knows, might try a Ruger American 7.62x39 boltgun down the road, even if it is RH.

Per data on Midway specs:

.264 123gr SST BC .510

.310 123gr SST BC .260

That's a LOT more BC on the 6.5mm!

Yeah that high BC makes all the difference at longer range, it's a fun setup to plink with out around 600+ yards. The Grendel is a relatively slow cartridge IMO so that high BC is it's saving grace. Within "red dot sight distance" though it doesn't have any real advantage over the old AK round IMO. It's basically an improved and necked down x39 case so it does use a little more powder, and that short 12.5" barrel on mine is LOUD. Definitely some advantages to both cartridges still I think; I just found it interesting to note the similarities.

As a side note, I've heard but haven't confirmed (since I don't pay much attention to AK stuff any more) that some of the Russian/com-bloc people have taken up the Grendel as well and are chambering it in AK rifles. Kind of makes sense as a continuation on the old design I guess.

I've considered that American Ranch rifle in 7.62x39 as well; seems like a handy little setup.

I see Ruger has the Ranch in x39 and 6.5 Grendel. I suppose since they use the same boltface it was pretty easy to produce both

I'll bet you could push the x39 a lot harder in a bolt action.

I'd imagine so, probably get a 150 gr bullet to 2400 fps in a 20" barrel without any trouble.

Mr. Mannlicher seems to think so, too.

Honestly I'm not sure you really could. The AR action isn't the weak link with one of these, it's the case itself.

Oh yeah? What have you found about it? Stretch a lot? Weak primer pockets? ?????

I would think brass from Starline or Lapua would be fairly stout?

Hodgdon's s shows pressures over 43,000 CUP with Midway brass.

I'd feel pretty comfortable with Starline or Lapua brass in a bolt gun.

If I was really concerned, I'd cut a case vertically and see how much meat was on it's bones.

Neighbor has a Ruger 77 Mark II, in the x39. He is a deer killing machine with this little gun!

Never discharged a 7.62X39, not even once. Have shot a bunch of them though. They can't hit me.

In my experience, it'll tend to loosen primer pockets before exceeding pressure capability of the AR platform, and with a properly gassed rifle (so it doesn't unlock early) you can run right up to the limits of the brass. Of course you can break a bolt too, but with modern bolts that's more an issue of an out of square barrel extension in the upper. To be fair, my experience with this is in the Grendel cartridge, but I'm using the same 7.62x39 brass just fireformed to the Grendel case. I don't know if stretching would be any more of an issue in the 7.62.

Did some velocity comparison today between the Tula 122gr FMJ vs Tula 124gr FMJ.

16" barrel. Chrony F1. 10 yards.



122 grain:

2376
2347
2372
2369
2402
avg: 2373
…………………….

124 grain:

2393
2421
2433
2422
2397
avg: 2413

Fired same gun, same day (today). Temp about 50F.

Interesting that the 124gr is 40 fps faster on average.

I was doing some internet searching to try to learn the differences between the 122gr fmj, and 124gr fmj.

One shooter wrote that he had pulled down about five rounds of each weight. The bullets were all the same weight, but the 124gr labeled had a heavier powder charge by a grain or so.


Here's a new pic of the 7.62x39 carbine. Made a couple changes. Put on a carbine stock wit an H3 buffer, UTG handguards, and a Magpul vertical grip.



I just like this thing. Put a couple hundred rounds through it today shooting close. Mostly 25-50 yards quick fire, working on some muscle memory. Did a little 100-150 yard rock busting, offhand.

Did some further shooting with the 14.7" 5.56. Went out to 650 yards using thePrimary Arms 5X with their reticle.

MM,

Who’s upper is that? I want one.

I’m a heavy 5.56 guy, but have friends with loads of 7.62x39 and swear by it.

Palmetto State Armory.

In stock now. $279, free shipping.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...lassic-upper-with-bcg-ch-5165449462.html


The PSA upper has the enhanced firing pin for soviet ammo. I've only been running Tula and some Hornady steel case ammo. I bought ASC magazines. 10-round and 20-round. This rig has never bobbled so far.

I bought magazines here:

https://gunmagwarehouse.com/asc-7-62x39-ar-15-20-round-stainless-steel-magazine.html