Thanks for all the info...I ended up going with the Ruger American Ranch. It should be here on Thursday. I also picked up a Burris 3-9x40 Fullfiled II scope which is just waiting to be mounted. Looking forward to the weekend!
Oh, and if I remember right, that rifle is pretty handy. You sure you want to put that much glass on top of it. I mean, small rifle...big scope. On those sorts of rifles, there are many 1-4X, 1-6X or 2-7X compact scopes with smaller objectives that won't destroy the rifles personality. Some of the Vortex scopes come to mind, like one of the Vortex Strike Eagles. I don't know how you're built, nor do I have a clear memory of the profile of the rifle, but using a scope with a 40mm objective might have you putting that scope up higher off of the axis of the bore than it needs to be.
Considering the effective range of that round, you probably won't need that much scope. I know guys that shoot 600 yard, .308 steel matches with a 10X.
I have one of those, handy rifle. My Son got his first Deer with it. I was shooting it a couple of months ago and went through a lot of steel cased Russian ammunition. Good accuracy for a Military Surplus and built to last. I have no idea what they go for now. a Note: Not really a "Paratrooper" or "Cowboy" Carbine. Just a factory made SKS for the U.S. market.I vote for a quality SKS, preferably the carbine version if you can find one. One of the most fun guns I have.
Edit: I meant to say the paratrooper version. Unfortunately they cost lots of money if you can find one.
That Hornady steel case with the 123-grain SST is getting tough to find. If you find some in the 50ct boxes, buy all you can. They figured out it was pretty good stuff and packaged it as the "BLK" ammo, and doubled the price. Still the same ammo. Just smaller packages and more expensive. But that steel case Hornady shoots lights-out from every gun I have fired it through, and it kills scht dead. I quit reloading 7.62x39 because of it.I went Ruger Ranch. It is light and stupid accurate with Hornady steel cased ammo and that red plastic tip bullet they load. I get easy one inch groups at 100 yards. I run a Nikon Monarch 3 1-4 optic with German #4 reticle. I also installed a Surefire muzzle brake. Feels like a .22 cal. No recoil or muzzle rise. It is a favorite gun.
I would go with a Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39. Best bang for the buck. A buddy of mine has one in .308 and says it more than earns it's keep in terms of accuracy and reliability.
Having said that if money were no object (but we all know it is), I would still love to have a CZ 527
Don't overlook the Howa Mini in 7.62x39. I sure love mine.I did go with the RAR...but if I win the Lottery, the CZ 527 will come home with me!
When I got my Mini-30 home and read the manual, it distinctly said NOT to shoot steel cased ammo in the rifle. I thought, pffft. $100 for 1200 rounds, I'll get rid of the rifle for what U.S. 7.62X39 costs to shoot. I decided to call Ruger and actually got a nice guy on the phone. What he told me was that the warning wasn't due to the steel casings. It was due to the varying bullet diameters of the steel cased ammo and the danger of shooting over sized projectiles
I have a psa in 762x39, it is moa with wolf and now a bca 10.5 inch that is sweetMy AR47 loves that 125gr Wolf SP as well.
I absolutely LOVE the Vortex Strike Eagles I own 4 of the 1-6x24 scopes on different guns. My Ruger American oddly enough has a Leopold 2-7x32, but that's only because the gun came with it. The 3 lug bolt on the American lets you mount the scope as low as you want.Oh, and if I remember right, that rifle is pretty handy. You sure you want to put that much glass on top of it. I mean, small rifle...big scope. On those sorts of rifles, there are many 1-4X, 1-6X or 2-7X compact scopes with smaller objectives that won't destroy the rifles personality. Some of the Vortex scopes come to mind, like one of the Vortex Strike Eagles. I don't know how you're built, nor do I have a clear memory of the profile of the rifle, but using a scope with a 40mm objective might have you putting that scope up higher off of the axis of the bore than it needs to be.
Considering the effective range of that round, you probably won't need that much scope. I know guys that shoot 600 yard, .308 steel matches with a 10X.