Ruger American 7.62X39 owners

Tagged for interest. I've been wanting a CZ 527 carbine in 7.62x39 for a long time, but I've heard some promising stuff from Ruger's American Ranch. I like the size, the weight, the price, and that it uses the same magazine as the Mini 30. A light LPVO on it would be my option, but interested in any other experience. Thanks for the question OP!

ROCK6

I can tell you from experience that for hunting it doesn't get any better than the Federal Fusion 123 grain. Hands down the best factory ammo available. The 123 SST by Hornady would be #2.

For a scope a 2-7x32 or a 3-9×40 would about all I'd want or need on one. Use the higher power to sight it in and keep it on 4x all the time to hunt.

If you ever plan to reload my friends Ruger didn't like .308 diameter bullets but with a .310 bullet pushed by CFE BLK powder it was a really good shooter.

I don't own a Ruger American but my friend does and he won't trade it for anything.

Love mine! The factory mounted rail on mine shot loose, so I would recommend taking that apart right away and loctite it. Its been a very accurate gun with anything I feed it. Look at linear compensaters if you plan on hunting without earplugs.

ROCK6 said:

Tagged for interest. I've been wanting a CZ 527 carbine in 7.62x39 for a long time, but I've heard some promising stuff from Ruger's American Ranch. I like the size, the weight, the price, and that it uses the same magazine as the Mini 30. A light LPVO on it would be my option, but interested in any other experience. Thanks for the question OP!

ROCK6

Click to expand...

No offense to the Ruger American, but I had one of their Ranch versions in 300 Blackout and traded it off as soon as CZ offered the same chambering for the 527. I guess I'm a controlled-feed and extractor snob -- the CZ action runs very positively once you've got the magazine broken in. I also have a 527 in 7.62x39 and, while pricey, it's both beautiful and it cooks!

In brief, if you're thinking economical knockabout, go Ruger. Otherwise, you're marriage to a CZ527 will be more likely to stay faithful .

I have both, and though I love the CZ, it is too nice for some of the things I do to it. I use cast, Hornady bullets with appropriately charged loads for the .311 123 grain, and FTX .308 sized 135 and 160 grain bullets. These loads are all exceptionally accurate. The buck was killed with 166 grain cast load at 175 yards. I was originally a 30-30 man. I mostly bow hunt for my bucks, so it’s not hard to get to close in rifle range for my does.

Buckeye63 said:

That is a nice looking carbine ...
Is that a 10 or 20 round mag ?
It seems to protrude quite a bit ..? ..

Click to expand...

That's what she said.

3x9 Nikon
122 gr wolf hollow points shoot good for cheap.

i like the ruger, but like my cz better worth the extra money, and hey it's CRF.

I am a CZ 527 owner as well, and love the 7.62x39 version. However, had the Ruger had been out when I bought, I may have gone with it. I wanted a mini-scout. The CZ mags are $40+ each, which I think is high, as a 5 round mag for the RAR is $29.

That's my only reason, but I like the iron sights on the CZ and the controlled round feed. It is also an accurate rifle and built well, sized to the cartridge and oozing quality.

One other rifle to look at in 7.62x39 is the Howa...I've heard good things about it.

Buckeye63 said:

That is a nice looking carbine ...
Is that a 10 or 20 round mag ?
It seems to protrude quite a bit ..? ..

Click to expand...

Yeah, it's just happy to see you. . .

It's the standard 5-shooter -- a 10-shot single column would probably be nick-named Third Leg or something.
Pity, but I don't think CZ can get 3 rounds of 7.62x39 into a near flush mag like their .223 alternative (seen here on my full stock model):

Dr. A said:

I have both, and though I love the CZ, it is too nice for some of the things I do to it. I use cast, Hornady bullets with appropriately charged loads for the .311 123 grain, and FTX .308 sized 135 and 160 grain bullets. These loads are all exceptionally accurate. The buck was killed with 166 grain cast load at 175 yards. I was originally a 30-30 man. I mostly bow hunt for my bucks, so it’s not hard to get to close in rifle range for my does.
View attachment 837669
View attachment 837670

Click to expand...

I know what you mean! I recently exchanged the factory synthetic stock from my .300 Blackout CZ527 for an aluminum chassis and kept the old plastic stock to use as a field beater on my fullstocked .223.

FWIW, you can get a spare synthetic 527 stock from CZ USA for $125 -- it is so ugly you never worry about scratches!

http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/19920_Stock-527-American-M1-Polymer-Stock

i happen to think $40 is a good deal for there mags, they are very well made and all steel.

Dave DeLaurant said:

Yeah, it's just happy to see you. . .

It's the standard 5-shooter -- a 10-shot single column would probably be nick-named Third Leg or something.
Pity, but I don't think CZ can get 3 rounds of 7.62x39 into a near flush mag like their .223 alternative (seen here on my full stock model):

Click to expand...

I would give my left arm for a flush-fit mag in x39.

I have an American in x39. I have a Redfield 3-9x on it, and it took a 183 pound hog with 1 shot with a 154 grain soft point Tula round at about 50 yards back in Feb.

Good Timing...I was going to post an update on my Rugers anyways so here it goes. My son and I have had ours for a while now and they are pretty much our favorite desert exploring/shooting rifles. We just had them out this weekend and shot about 150 rounds through them. We are currently shooting Golden Tiger with great results. I tried the CZ a couple of times, but the backwards safety (yes I know, not a big deal to some), scope mounting issues, and cost of magazines always prompted me to send them down the road. They are wonderful rifles, they just don't work for me. The Ruger is the same if not more accurate, uses better magazines, easy to mount a scope low to the bore, and has a more traditional safety. We have found them to be 100% reliable over the course of many 100's of rounds. I would highly recommend them!

My buddy has a tan one very similar to a couple of the photos posted in this thread. Shoots very well out to 150yds with minimal recoil.

Nice gun no question. Can't speak to the CZ's as I have no experience.

Dave DeLaurant said:

I don't think CZ can get 3 rounds of 7.62x39 into a near flush mag like their .223 alternativ

Click to expand...

i think it can be done, i need to get a used mag to cut up. i think cutting it at a angel will give the x39 the room needed. and still be flush, some follower work to get every little bit of room needed.

Mosin Bubba said:

I would give my left arm for a flush-fit mag in x39.

Click to expand...

These guys offer a CZ527 custom conversion, but you're down to only 2-rounds with their flush-fit mag:

http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/cz-527-rifle-magazine-conversion.html

Buckeye63 said:

Just ordered one online .. Being I have two SKS carbines and 2K + of ammo ..
This will be a plinking and possible Hawg carbine ..
Wondering if any Ruger American owners have any tid bits of info.that they want to share , about scope setups .. ammo that have had luck with for taget shooting and hunting ammo they have used with success ?
Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

ruger american in 7.62x 39 post here. Mine has low mount rings and yes... do lock tight the included pick rail. It will come loose as new in the box.

Mine wears a 2x7 leupold and does well out to 300 yards but I wouldn't use it on game past 200 yards. Trajectory is the modern day equivalent of a rainbow. Regardless, you're looking at a 2" group at 100 yards with boring regularity.

Recoil is mild but I did add a birdcage muzzle break like armoured farmer... muzzle flash is a B. Plus, 10 round mags seem to be hard to come by. A full 20 rounder will wear you out but is lots of fun. I us 5 round mags from the bench usually.

The rougher you treat it the better it will behave. The bolt is just not as smooth as my 223 compact. Accuracy is very good to acceptable with both rifles but I've only ever shot bulk steel ammo in the x39. That said, I'm sure there is easily sourced hunting ammo available. I would likely start with hornady steel cased if you dont reload for hunting but I think most anything will do for pigs.

I we have 1.5x5 and a 2x7 on ours. We put the birdcages on as well. These are our truck rifles, so the birdcage help protect the crown.

I have the Ruger American Ranch and the CZ527 in 7.62X39. Where I hunt in central Texas, my longest shot is 150 yards. I have killed several hogs and one doe with PPU 124 grain round nose soft point. Both rifles are accurate with steel case Tula, Wolf and Red Army Standard ammo. They are my favorite rifles to shoot at the moment.

The CZ has a Leupold VI3 2x5 scope on CZ high rings. The Ruger has a Leupold 2X7 Freedom scope on Talley rings. Both rifles will make great hunting guns for my grandkids.

Tula 124 SP shot one hole for three shots @50 with a 1-3X Weaver with a front bag only. No more ammo. Can't download targets right now.

Here is a 100yd 3-shot with handloads (.312 Sierra) and a 10X scope from bench with front/rear bag:



M