7.62x39 bolt action finally getting some legs

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Been thinking about a CZ in 7.62x39 for quite a while. Now I'm drooling over the Ruger. I'd love to have either one. Was fondling the RAR at a gun show last week and I had to force myself to walk away without buying it on the spot. Got lots of steel case ammo for the SKS's that I could use and also have 7.62x39 dies, brass and bullets also. Next time I see one I may not be able to resist.
 
My perspective has really started to shift on shooting and reloading recently. It all started with buying a Mosin Nagant. I wasn't going to spend the money getting dies and reload able brass and .311 bullets for that so I just bought some steel case ammo to shoot, which was the first box of factory ammo I've bought in a long time. I really really love shooting that Mosin and just being able to pick up $12 a box ammo that is very accurate is great. I really like throwing the brass in the weeds and not having to worry about picking it up or spending 20 minutes to hand load to spend 10 minutes shooting. After that I picked up a box of hornady steel match for my AR which shot great, was comparably priced to handloading, and I didn't have to do anything. I used to shoot so I could reload but now I reload so I can shoot so having an accurate rifle to shoot $5 a box ammo is really apealing right now.

After finding that Academy Monarch steel case ammo for $5.99/box that shoots sub-MOA in my Savage, my Lapua 7.62x39 brass has just pretty much sat there on the reloading bench. LOL I cannot load more accurate rounds, or cheaper rounds. It's a really good problem to have.
 
After finding that Academy Monarch steel case ammo for $5.99/box that shoots sub-MOA in my Savage, my Lapua 7.62x39 brass has just pretty much sat there on the reloading bench. LOL I cannot load more accurate rounds, or cheaper rounds. It's a really good problem to have.
i just bought 308 wolf russkies 140 grain soft points for saiga for 33 cent a round on line and they expand good in gel to the video is silver bear ammo but similar results
start video time 2:00 17/18 inch penetration only
 
Some of us who have owned bolt-action 7.62x39's have known for years what a capable, fun, accurate and inexpensive combination this is.

I'm glad to see others will get to share the love as the acceptance for this caliber in a bolt action becomes more common.

Ruger's decison to chamber their American Ranch in 7.62x39 - especially using mini-mags - was very timely. Howa's mini-action 7.62x39 rifle is another that I'm sure will make it's owner grin every day at the range, or in the woods.

Every time I take a group of friends to the gun range, my Savage 10 in 7.62x39 is without a doubt the most passed-around, enjoyed rifle we all shoot. With sub-MOA, $5.99/box ammo, nobody feels bad about emptying a magazine or two (or three). And with downrange energy that equals or surpasses the (dare I say) venerable 30-30, nobody should feel undergunned in the deer woods with a 7.62x39 anymore.

These are good days for gun owners.

I sorry but downrange energy of a 7.62x39 is much less than a 30-30. A 30-30 bullet is about 170 grains, a 7.62x39 is about 123 grains at close to the same velocity.
 
I sorry but downrange energy of a 7.62x39 is much less than a 30-30. A 30-30 bullet is about 170 grains, a 7.62x39 is about 123 grains at close to the same velocity.

I bet you tell children there is no Santa Claus too!
 
I sorry but downrange energy of a 7.62x39 is much less than a 30-30. A 30-30 bullet is about 170 grains, a 7.62x39 is about 123 grains at close to the same velocity.
From a bolt gun with correct handloads the 7.62x39 is as capable, if not more so than the .30-30 from a lever gun. Which is why i actually have an interest in a bolt gun x39, but none in a semi.
Id also like to have a STRONG bolt action .30-30, but locally all i can find are the single lug savages.

I played with QLs a bit using the stock setting, and 20" barrels, for both the x39, and 30-30. With 170s the x39 was less than 50fps behind the 30-30 with 748, with 150s it actually beats it. Again this is just quickloads predictions. Usually they are pretty close tho.

This isnt to say that there isnt a place for the .30-30 (its a fantastic lever gun cartridge), or that i think the x39 is better. I look at it as a similar cartridge, but it has the advantage of being a more common bolt gun chambering now, with the advantages that entails.
 
I’ve done extensive testing with both cartridges in bolt guns. The x39 will launch a 154 grain bullet at pretty much the exact same velocity as 30/30 will a 170 but with a higher BC. It’s also been my experience that 7.62 meets or even exceeds its factory load published velocities. 30/30 always falls well short.

That 15 grains of bullet weight is meaningless

The overall performance differential is less than 308 vs 30/06 that everyone universally acknowledges are interchangeable as far as game goes.

Based on my testing with two very similar Savage 10’s chambered for both the x39 has faf far more accuracy potential. If you want to search the archives about 10 years ago I started debunking the acceptance that 7.62x39 was an inaccurate cartridge with a shillen barreled Savage 9A1A63EF-8BB0-410D-BF49-BB10ECCADCAD.jpeg
 
more stats X39 russkie steel the most consistent for velocity is brown bear worse red army standard in 124 size category crap i got to shoot up a 1000 rounds of red army packed away in the closet now:uhoh:
video time 6:25 mark
video time 18:25 red army sucks
 
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Does anyone know groove dia of the RAR? I'm looking at getting one this year and was hoping it'd shoot .308 dia bullets with some accuracy.
 
Ive read on in a few places that its supposed to be .311, nothing concrete tho. Im actually surprised it hasnt become common knowledge at this point, ive seen and heard people ask the same question a few time.
 
I've heard and read on the 'net in several places that Ruger's using a standard spec 7.62x39 bore compatible with .310 bullets because they knew what folks were gonna be putting in those things, ammo wise.
 
I've heard and read on the 'net in several places that Ruger's using a standard spec 7.62x39 bore compatible with .310 bullets because they knew what folks were gonna be putting in those things, ammo wise.

What if you want to reload for it? Wouldn't you have to use .310 bullets. Those can't be cheap. Hornady only lists one .310 bullet. Hornady says the most accurate bullet for .311 bore is .310. I have no personal experience, just reading their 9th edition.
 
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I have tested 308 vs 311 bullets in a cz527 with the same bore measurements and found no measurable difference in accuracy
+1. I did it the other way. 125 gr 308 Speer TNT and 123 gr .310 Nosler both shoot well in my .308 bore 7.62x39 Mauser I put together and my 7.62x39 AR (I don't know the bore size). .002" difference is not significant, bullet quality is more important. When comes to bolt gun, I like blind mag and top open action that allows top loading and single feed, still waiting a 7.62x39 bolt gun with such features at reasonable price but I'm happy with my home built 7.62x39 large ring mauser! Zastava Mini Mauser is blind mag and top loading open action, but it has a weak extractor, had one (Rem 799), sold it for the darn extractor that chipped after 50 rnds steel case ammo.
 
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