Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Who else likes the 7.62x39?

I like the economy, availability, and the nice thump it provides.

Here's how I'm doing it, A couple AR uppers, and a Palmetto State Armory PSAK-47 Gen5.

What's not to like about the cartridge or the platform?

Even with all the surplus ammo .... I still wish there was more available brass for reloading.

Those Gen 5 PSAKs are worth every penny. I like them better than my old Arsenal.

I have a couple thousand rounds to plink with.

just sold a minty Yugo SKS to a friend. I never fired it. I have my Arsenal SA93, and a nice Romanian RPK. I do have a Ruger American Ranch bolt rifle in 7.62x39 commie that I like an awful lot. I have 'enough' ammo, and have been playing with this stuff since the late eighties.

I like the round and like you decided to add it to my AR selection. I figured that the round provides better wallop than the 5.56 and it’s not like it’s an uncommon offering. 😁

I wanted my personal protection arsenal to mirror the most common small arms cartridges in worldwide use (within reason 😁). While 9mm, 45acp, 5.56 & 7.62 have their place in my cabinet so does the 7.62x39. I couldn’t bring myself to buy “the enemy’s weapon” like an AK despite having sold hundreds in years past so I settled on a 7.62x39 upper and I’ve been extremely pleased with how it’s performed….flawlessly. I have a case of 5.45x39 but no upper and I have hundreds of 7.62x54 but no rifle. I figure that if I need the enemy’s weapon then I’ll just go pick one up that’s lying around. 😁

Been thinking about an upper, yes

Yes I have liked the CZ 527 chambered in 7.62 x 39. Maybe not as I purchased 2 bolt action CZ 527's. Un-like me I have not fired either as the original 7.62 x 39, re-barreled one to 6.5 Grendel. Loved that rifle as such for 5 years though, re-barreled it again to 6mm ARC last summer. both Grendel & ARC have been favorite deer rifles.

Uhhmmm....."like"?
I'm just not an AK fan.
Let me clarify
My disdain for the AK47 has nothing to do with the cartridge and I don't know enough about the AK or SKS to make any relevant judgement on them.
I absolutely LOVE the AR platform and would have no nm problem with an AR chambered in 7.62×39.
Basically, it's a semi auto .30-30 Win

Fills the niche of the .30-30 in a semi auto platform
Can't believe Ruger dropped the 6.8mm Rem SPC Ranch for the 7.62×39 and the .300 ACC (Blackout).
Oh well, they didn't ask me! LOL!

I ordered an AR15 in 7.6x39 about 2.5 years ago now. I had a feeding problem just the opposite of most it fed steel, but not brass. It ended up being an extractor but I bought a new bolt as there were no extractors to be had at the time as a 5.56 extractor was not working for me. New bolt solved the issue and I have since fixed the extractor so I have a spare bolt.

The thing is just fun to shoot! Not the most accurate by any means, but it gets the job done with cheap Wolf and Tula ammo.

Like this caliber muchly.

Any of you load it to higher than SAAMI pressure? Max is only 42K. Wonder what it would do at 60K?

QuickLOAD indicates 51,488 lbs-psi max average pressure for 7.62x39.

I've loaded up to that using QuickLOAD as a guide. I won't lean on it in the AR platform, but a bolt action like a Ruger Ranch or Howa might be a safe bet to go a little warmer.

My handload was/is a 155gr Hornady ELD-M over 25.0 gr RL-7, loaded to OAL of 2.26". Thise is getting 2140 fps in a 16" barrel, and about 2 moa accurate from the 16" AR carbine.





50 yards,






100 yards,






From the 20" rifle at 100 yards. Velocity should be about 2200 fps from the 20" barrel...maybe a little more. I need to chrono test it.

Looking good. I've thought about buying an upper a time or 2, but slowly burn up the ammo I have with my SKS. That rifle is actually fun to shoot, but not near as accurate as your AR's, but plenty good enough. Handloads should improve it a little bit, I hope.



For factory ammo, my SKS like this reloadable brass cased stuff:



I plan on starting with these bullets and RL7, as soon as I can get my hands on some:

I had a Norinco SKS back in the 1990's. It got away from me. Kind of wish I had kept it.

The 123 VMax should be nice. I have a box of the Hornady steel case ammo loaded with the 123 VMax. It shoots pretty good. Don't have any pic handy.

I've seen that Belom ammo for sale. Haven't tried any, but it looks like a good source for reloading brass.

It seems to be pretty good so far. I've actually loaded some of it a couple times, but it was last year. I had a little RL7 and used it in my 375 Winchester, 6x45 and the 7.62x39. Seemed to be a great powder. Especially in my 6x45. I always look for it at the LGS, but it's never there. Eventually maybe?

I like the RL7 a lot. Great for the 45-70 and 7.62x39. I also use it in the 223 and 308 for light bullets or mid-range loads.

Here's a load with the 308, 155 Scenar, and 38.0gr RL7. 2680 fps and sub-.5 moa at 100 yards.

Good stuff man. I appreciate it. Yeah, I was pretty happy with RL7 in the other cartridges. Never tried it in the 308 though. Looks like it works well..

A couple 7.62x39s on hand. An AR I put together with a Green Mountain barrel and Rubber City bcg. And a Russian Mini (Howa). Both now wearing the same model PA 1-4X scopes.

Ammo pile includes a bunch of SP, HP, and lesser amounts of FMJ. Have 500 pieces of 1X brass coming from crod1972 I was pleased to grab. Thinking of trying 150gr .308 Speer Boatails but haven't yet. Keep getting distracted. I also intend to convert some of the LRP brass to 6ARC. Been on a doubles spree gathering an AR and a bolt action in each of 6ARC, 7.62x39, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 556 and still 'need' an AR308.

I've got something new in the hopper.

7.62x39 loaded with 180gr Rem PSP CorLokt.

I just loaded up three for a velocity check. If it's able to hit 2100 fps, it should expand out to 300 yards at 1633 fps remaining velocity.

Mostly just experimenting. I bought a box of 2000 180gr PSPCL from Midway about 20 years ago, on sale for $99.00. Curious how they might work in the x39.

Two is one, one is none.

I 'needed' a 300 BO recently myself. Ended up with a Ruger American Ranch, and an upper from PSA.