AK 47 vs. 300 BLK vs. AR in 7.62 x 39

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Dewey 68

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Looking for a new rifle. I don't have that many rifles, a 10/22, a Mosin Nagant, a Hi-Point 9mm carbine, and a Ruger AR556. Primary purpose, fun. I was thinking it would be fun to own an AK 47, but the AR platform is so cheap right now and it seems many people bought AK's years ago when the imports were more plentiful and AR's were more expensive. That got me thinking about an AR in 300 BLK since it has similar ballistics. Since suppressors aren't legal in Illinois at this time, that got me thinking about an AR in 7.62 x 39 since ammo is cheaper than 300 BLK, but I do reload.

An AK 47 would probably be the most fun just because it would be a new to me platform, but I haven't read too many good reviews for the cheaper AK's and I wouldn't spend the money for an import.

Has anyone on here purchased a cheaper AK and been happy with it? Should I forget the AK and stick with an AR in one of the other calibers? Thoughts?
 
There are some less $$ Ak's which I think are worth the money. Have to research though as the market has changed a lot since I looked and is always changing with who is importing what. I don't understand the really $$ Aks as, to me, it sort of ruins what an Ak is.

I wouldn't do the -39 in a standard Ar as the Ar magwell creates an issue for that round, they don't run well when stacked almost straight like the magwell is on a std Ar.

300 to me is great subsonic, if that isn't an option for you I would get the Ak or an Ar in a caliber made for it.
 
C- Products Defense solved the magazine geometry years ago on the AR 7.62x39. I prefer their 20 rounders, and have never had any problems with them

I would rather have a AR in x39 over a domestic manufactured AK. Plus, the AR has a better safety and sights, and is much easier to add optics.
 
I would also go the 7.62x39 ar route. The magazines have been perfected by c products and asc. I prefer the 20 round magazines, as the 30 rounders are too long for my taste. the mags are relatively inexpensive and fairly common.

Ammo cost and availability is what sold me on 7.62x39 over 300 black out. I can plink/practice with dirt cheap ammo and still hunt with ammo less than $1/round.

The cost is what sold me on the ar platform. I shopped deals and ended up buying the lower from palmetto state armory, the upper from bear creek arsenal. Total with 3 mags and crappy optic is about $500
 
C- Products Defense solved the magazine geometry years ago on the AR 7.62x39. I prefer their 20 rounders, and have never had any problems with them

I would rather have a AR in x39 over a domestic manufactured AK. Plus, the AR has a better safety and sights, and is much easier to add optics.

I couldn't have said it better. My 7.62x39 AR (PSA) has been perfectly reliable with 20 and 10 round C products and ASC magazines. I have not tried the 30s
 
What about a 2nd AR in a different configuration. Like a varmint gun or maybe a AR pistol? You would have ammo and magazine compatibility with your Ruger and wouldn't need to purchase new reloading dies. You also wouldn't be adding another caliber which is nice if your on a budget.
 
Yup, I’ve ran brass, steel, HP, FMJ, SP and polymer tipped rounds through my AR47 with no problems. Like has been said many times one can get a reliable AR47 with today’s advancements. I’ve have no problems with C-Products and ASC magazines. I have 5, 10, 20, and 28 rounders and all work great. The 30 rounders I avoid just due to the curved body at the end make it not fit well into mag pouches.

It’s a great additional upper for the AR platform, cheap to shoot ($180/1000 rounds shipped sometimes, stack it deep) and reloading with CFE BLK gets some serious performance out of the round for hunting purposes. And don’t be afraid to try .308 bullets when reloading.

My recommendations are:

Carbine Gas
Enhanced x39 firing pin
Quality Bolt
Heavier buffer to help with dwell time
I lap all the faces of my upper receivers to aid in even bolt lug lockup
C-products or ASC magazines
Run it wet
 
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AK's just aren't as good a value in the US right now as AR's are.
And 7.63x39 is also a poor value, especially for a reloader.

I suggest an AR, but not in 300 BLK. Where 300 BLK shines is with subsonic and in AR pistols with short barrels. In a rifle, 300 Ham'r looks like the better choice for supersonic .308 caliber. But there are cartridges between .257 and .284 that might be better yet. 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC are two of them that stand out with ballistics that are clearly better than 5.56x45 and 7.62x39. The .25-45 Sharps is another that is both fun and has practical use. There are also chamberings larger than 30 cal. worthy of looking at, with 450 Bushmaster probably being the most popular. Some of the slightly more obscure alternatives do have their advantages. Considering the dearth of cheap import surplus 7.62x39 these days, none of these cartridges present the reloader with a meaningful disadvantage in affordability or availability.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three choices. They each have their strengths.

I put together An AR in 7.62x39 a while back. PSA upper with enhanced firing pin, and I'm using H3 buffer in my carbine lowers, sometimes use rifle lower. ASC 10 and 20 round mags. Primary Arms 3X prism, UTG Pro quad-rail handguards. Runs great.

I've found 3-4" accuracy at 100 yards with the Tula FMJ stuff. Sub 2" with the Hornady steel cased 123 SST.

I recently handloaded some 155gr Hornady ELD-M. They are also sub 2" at 100 yards.



Fun shooter. Banging steel at 80 yards with Tula 122gr FMJ,
ssbIbB4.jpg


100 yard accuracy with 155gr ELD-M,
ucjScSy.jpg
 
Most of the sub $900 AKs available today have flaws. Canted sights, poor wood, soft or improperly heat treated parts. Unless yoir are wedded to the idea of an AK, the reality will be dissapointing. Heck even a new JRA ak74 that laid back my son 10 bills was crap straight from the box. Took a trip back to the factory plus local gunsmithing to get it running. Just nothing good happening (look up Rob Ski). Anyway nothing but positive reviews on BCA ar47 uppers. Get a heavy barrel and mate to your lower of prefence and be happy. You will thank yourself many times over if you do.
 
For fun I would look to the AK given you already have an AR.

When you look at the AK, it just looks wrong with crude open sights, awkward mag release, not optics friendly, and charging handle on the right side.

But when you shoulder the gun it actually feels good. And it’s surprisingly accurate. It may not group nicely on paper but banging a gong off hand is almost easy, even with the open sights.

PSA has an AK with good reviews that goes for $600.
 
Ak's cost more than they are worth. The only allure for a AR in x 39 would be cheaper ammo. 300 BLK is pointless unless you are going suppressed due to ammo cost. Why not another AR project in 223?
 
Every thread like this, I have to shake my head and wonder why it is that people seem to think that 300 Blackout in supersonic form is somehow a terrible thing. That makes no sense to me, because I shoot nothing but supersonics with nothing but satisfaction.

I have hunted with (and shot extensively at the range) with milled and stamped AK-47s as well as AR15‘s chambered in 7.6 2x39, and all of them (well, most all - I’ve kept a few for the kids) have been sold in favor of AR15s chambered in 300 Blackout, shooting supersonic ammo. There’s not enough performance difference between the two chamberings (in supersonic form) to be worth arguing about in any practical sense, and the ergonomics of the AR platform and the parts commonality across rifles make the AR15 in 300 Blackout an easy choice for me.
 
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I have a stupid question. Can one load a 200-220 grainish .310 bullet to only 1050 fps or so and have it function a 7.62 x39 AR?

Just have not seen anything about such.

I have been considering getting a 7.62x39 upper to drop on an AR lower for the last two years and keep himming and hawing.

First saw a 7.62x39 AR in the late 1980s and the only mags available were 5.56 mags loaded way short like 7 or 8 in a 20 and 9-12 in a 30 and that turned me off greatly.

My inner prepper wants an M43 shooter (besides an SKS from back when they were cheap)for Justin, you know Justin Case!

-kBob
 
Every thread like this, I have to shake my head and wonder why it is that people seem to think that 300 Blackout in supersonic form is somehow a terrible thing. That makes no sense to me, because I shoot nothing but supersonics with nothing but satisfaction
I don't think anyone is saying it's a terrible thing, just that it really shines when fired out of a short, suppressed barrel. Ballistics aside, 7.62 x 39 ammo seems to be available cheaper from the research I've done. I appreciate your opinion though, I'll definitely consider it.
 
I have a stupid question. Can one load a 200-220 grainish .310 bullet to only 1050 fps or so and have it function a 7.62 x39 AR?

Just have not seen anything about such.

I have been considering getting a 7.62x39 upper to drop on an AR lower for the last two years and keep himming and hawing.

First saw a 7.62x39 AR in the late 1980s and the only mags available were 5.56 mags loaded way short like 7 or 8 in a 20 and 9-12 in a 30 and that turned me off greatly.

My inner prepper wants an M43 shooter (besides an SKS from back when they were cheap)for Justin, you know Justin Case!

-kBob

I don't know if they still have them but Green Mountain used to sell 1:8 twist 7.62x39 barrels. Also I want to note that most .310" barrels shoot .308" diameter bullets as good or better than .310" bullets.

This is a 100 yard 5 shot group I shot with mine with a 125 grain nolser handloaded in a fiochi case with CFE BLK to 2600 FPS.

3CD1B3FD-A0D2-4800-8B84-7E5AB2C6321F.jpg
 
I have a stupid question. Can one load a 200-220 grainish .310 bullet to only 1050 fps or so and have it function a 7.62 x39 AR?
It depends. I have loaded 174 grain round nose bullets, intended for 303 British, into 7.62x39 and attempted to make them subsonic. The primary issue is that, with the standard carbine length gas system, the rifle will not reliably cycle. You really need a pistol length gas system, and that is unusual to find for 7.62X39.

ETA : I could get the 174gr RN to stabilize in a 1:10" barrel, at least within the 200yd range at which I shot it. It was most accurate, interestingly, when shot at 1500fps or greater. Max velocity for that load was around 1850fps-1900fps.
 
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I couldn't have said it better. My 7.62x39 AR (PSA) has been perfectly reliable with 20 and 10 round C products and ASC magazines. I have not tried the 30s

I have a psa and it runs like a well oiled sewing machine.

Steve
 
An AK is a fun gun (says the guy who owns an SKS because there are such restrictive laws in CA re: AKs and ARs). If you want a fun gun get one of those two.

I can’t see a reason to get the 39 in any other platform than one of those two. At all.

I don’t own and have never shot a 300 BLk. If I could get a suppressed AR I would get one. Alas. That will likely never happen.

Having said that if it tickles you, of the three that is what I would do.

Greg
 
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