adcoch1
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Ammoseek is my go to, but you always have to look at shipping. Seems like 5.56 is always a little more. But that link you sent is a good deal, best I've seen in a while.
5.56x45 or 7.62x39?
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mcb
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Me and my 556 ARs really like the PPU M193 clone. I have used it on Pepper Poppers out to 300 yards with good success in my 20-inch gun. I think I have one case left from pre-Covid era. At that price it might almost be time to restock my stash.
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BreechFace
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Yes, some companies like to have low costs / cartridge to get themselves high on the Ammoseek list, but then soak you in shipping. Essentially, some of their margin is coming from the shipping. Sentry Ammo could be one of those situations, not sure how much they are charging for shipping.
I haven't been buying x39 ammo recently due to the parity with brass cased 5.56, my money will go there until x39 comes back down to reality.
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WrongHanded
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Nothing is wrong with that at all. I'd quite happily ask exactly that question, if I wanted an answer to it. And if I wanted an answer to some other question, I'd ask that instead. Just like I did.
d2wing
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I already told you it really doesn't matter for your use. As we have seen on here, anyone can say anything and it's up to you to decide what to believe. If I had to make your choice, I would use an AR or bolt action rifle in 5.56 if I couldn't use 223. It doesn't hurt to have an AK type and a supply of 7.62x39. I found in Vietnam that it is better to be able to hit targets across a rice paddy when they couldn't hit me. Especially with a round that does more damage. It makes a big difference to me. Talk is cheap if you never were in a gunfight and are biased with no facts like many here.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I did my group test between the AR and my RAR. At 100 yards. The AR did terrible. I had some horizontal stringing with the RAR. I think it was me. The AR has 7lb trigger VS the RAR with a 3lb. I sure hope the AR improves as it breaks in.
d2wing
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There are AR's and AR's. My worst is 1.5 MOA on average. There are issues with bolts sticking that might get better with break-in. Hard to say. I posted a target of the Del-Ton I put together a while back that was sub-moa the first time I sighted it in. Could ammo or some issue with yours.
I just noticed yours is 7.62.
I just noticed yours is 7.62.
CoalCrackerAl
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Im going to play with other loads. I was using CFE Black in the AR. The RAR 10 grains of unique. That the load it likes. My AR 223/556 groups nice.
481
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I dug this one up. 16-inch barrel Colt with scope @100yards with 125 Sierra SPs:
I've always liked the appearance of the AR with a straight heavy barrel and a 'clean' muzzle--very businesslike!
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I checked the data. I have 2 other powders on hand. H335 and IMR 4198.
My favorite powder in 7.62x39 is Accurate 1680.
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CoalCrackerAl
Member
I slugged the bore with a 95 grain .312 coated cast bullet. It swagged it down to .306 on the flats. I couldn't measure the grooves. They were off set. So ill try .308.
Phaedrus/69
Member
I'm glad I don't have to pick just one! I have PWS carbines in 5.56, .300 Blackout and 7.62x39.
Bcwitt
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Remember, 556 performance depends on velocity. In a 20" barrel, it is far superior. In a 14" & less, not so much. The x39, on the other hand, is not penalized much for a shorter barrel. 762 has nearly all its energy from a 12" barrel. So in rifles, its 556, in carbines/sbr/pistol, 762 has a significant edge.
481
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Your point about 7.62x39 not suffering the velocity loss in shorter runways is very well taken. Even from barrels as short as 7 - 8 inches, muzzle velocity for the x39 is still about 2,000 fps which is not a terribly huge reduction since it typically runs at 2,330 fps from a full-length 16-inch barrel.
5.56x45, even from a 10-inch barrel, loses a greater percentage of its velocity than the 7.62x39 when both rounds are being run through barrels half of their maximum desired length.
the beauty is you can buy an AR in x39 or an AK in 5.56 now a days.
I'm glad I don't have to pick just one! I have PWS carbines in 5.56, .300 Blackout and 7.62x39.
But you still have to choose one... and at the last minute! What I mean is you can ideally only fire one rifle at a time.
adcoch1
Member
Dual welding is a thing ya know... JkBut you still have to choose one... and at the last minute! What I mean is you can ideally only fire one rifle at a time.
Phaedrus/69
Member
But you still have to choose one... and at the last minute! What I mean is you can ideally only fire one rifle at a time.
Yeah, you got me there!
I suppose it depends on what I'm choosing it for. If the implied use is home defense I'd grab the 5.56, not so much for the caliber as it's the one I've set up for that purpose (Mk114, pinned-and-welded 14.5" barrel is a bit shorter than my Mk116 guns, it wears a CompM5 on a Scalarworks mount, Cloud Defensive Rein and Scalarworks sights). Eventually when I get more time on it I might set the .300 Blackout up as primary HD, once I see how it likes 110gr Ballistic Tips. In my HD situation the distance will probably be inside of 30' with a plausible range of 50 yards. For HD I think the 5.56 & .300 Blackout have a better selection of available ammo with more appropriate bullets vs the 7.62x39. For another person or in another application a different carbine might be better. For HD of course any of them would probably work fine. And I'll note that the OP didn't necessarily say it would be an HD gun, just a "one gun" option.
JB111
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I'm not really biased towards either. I like both. At the distances that I normally shoot at, either is more than adequate to get the job done. If I'm planning to be doing shooting past a couple hundred yards, I am rolling with the .308 any how, so it does not matter to me rather 5.56 or 7.62x39 is better at longer range. For home defense, either is good to go. FMJ may not be ideal, but 30 shots of it would probably negate any disadvantage of using it over a decent hunting/defense ammo. I guarantee any would be home invader/thug/criminal/ whatever threat is in your space will not be taunting you for your ammo selection when you let loose.
Seems to me the choices come down to this, ballistically speaking. Inside of 200 yds - 7.62x39.
Past 200 yds- 5.56 I have, and admire both.
Other considerations: Optics freindly- advantage 5.56. Short range defense - 7.62x39. Hunting Deer size game - 7.62x39.
If we're to go strictly by the OP's criteria ( which I interpret as paper punching at 300 yds)- advantage 5.56.
I personally like the 7.62x39 better by a slim margin mainly because it would be the first carbine I would grab for homestead defense. 200 yds would be a long shot, and likely outside my defense perimeter.
As for a truck gun- my first mini 14 ( open sights ). I really like that 40 yrs. Old girl that I bought brand new. Like fine wine, it gets better with age.
Past 200 yds- 5.56 I have, and admire both.
Other considerations: Optics freindly- advantage 5.56. Short range defense - 7.62x39. Hunting Deer size game - 7.62x39.
If we're to go strictly by the OP's criteria ( which I interpret as paper punching at 300 yds)- advantage 5.56.
I personally like the 7.62x39 better by a slim margin mainly because it would be the first carbine I would grab for homestead defense. 200 yds would be a long shot, and likely outside my defense perimeter.
As for a truck gun- my first mini 14 ( open sights ). I really like that 40 yrs. Old girl that I bought brand new. Like fine wine, it gets better with age.
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