Bolt-action 7.62 x 39mm pros and cons

[cluttonfred]

Does anyone have any experience with the bolt-action guns in this caliber such as the CZ 527 carbine, the Ruger Hawkeye or others? With a case of surplus ammo, it sounds like a great way to plink and hunt cheaply for a long time, but the rifles aren't cheap. Thanks.

 

[Big_E]

Well, I don't have any experience with one. But, I do want one.

Pros: With a barrel change, you can turn it into a 6.5 Grendel or 6mm PPC, very accurate rounds. 7.62x39 is somewhat inexpensive right now.

Cons: Umm.... not .50 BMG or some really awesome round.

I would say go with the CZ for sure. I looked at the Ruger and I didn't care for it, or any of their bolt actions for that matter. Shoot the crud out of that .30 cal barrel then turn it into a tackdriving carbine.

 

[mongo4567]

I have a custom Mauser in 7.62x39, it is great. Very accurate and fun to shoot; my son is going to use it to take a hog this year. I would always give the CZ a nod over anything else in the price range. I have a CZ 527 in .223 and it is awesome. I will add that for hunting you need to go with a soft point bullet; imported hollow point bullets just break up. They are effective on the game, but do not stay together (pieces of bullets in the meat). Remington is making a model 799 in 7.62x39 that had really been tempting me.

 

[chauncey]

custom Mauser in 7.62x39

what kind of accuracy do you get at 100 yards? I've never gotten anything better than 4" groups out of my 7.62x39 AK's while at the same time getting as small as 2" groups from 5.56 and 5.45 rifles of the same design. I've always blamed the 7.62x39 for this.

 

[Ditch-Tiger]

I've got the 527 Carbine in 7.62x39 and it is great!
the only drawback is a lack of options of hunting ammo for it. If you reload however, then it is no big deal.
Hornady makes the v-max loaded rounds but they are designed for varmints and aren't ideal for deer sized game. I diid manage to take a bobcat with this combo though.
You are correct about the fun factor, with a bunch of cheep wolf ammo you can spend the whole day at the range and of course CZ triggers are top notch too!

 

[rbernie]

I have a Ruger 77MkII (the old canoe paddle synthetic stock version) in 7.62x39. It's a fine rifle, and I am very fond of it. Nothing says 'serious use' like a CRF in a do-it-all chambering like 7.62x39.

It's a solid MOA-to-MOA-and-a-half kinda rifle.

 

[Ditch-Tiger]

chauncey, It's not the cartridge, it's the gun.
My CZ gets 1.25" groups @ 100yrds with the wolf and .75" groups @ 100yrds with the Hornadys.

 

[R.W.Dale]

what kind of accuracy do you get at 100 yards? I've never gotten anything better than 4" groups out of my 7.62x39 AK's while at the same time getting as small as 2" groups from 5.56 and 5.45 rifles of the same design. I've always blamed the 7.62x39 for this.

I can assure you it's not the chambering. Ammo to some extent mabye, but totally the rifle.

I had the cz carbine and it's accuracy was much like my current ar15 in x39 around 1 to 1.5 moa depending on ammo used. Now I have a custom benchrest rifle in 7.62x39 improved that'll go deep into sub moa territory even with steel cased ammo.

See the sig links for more

 

[chauncey]

interesting. the 7.62x39 I was using was Winchester, not Wolf or something similar. the 5.45 was Wolf steel-cased, and was outshooting the 7.62x39.

the 7.62x39 rifle was a brand-new Saiga. the 5.56 was a Norinco. the 5.45 was a WASR, which I consider pretty much bottom of the barrel for AK build quality. 2 of these rifles are now sold. I'll let you guess which 2...

I guess the real apples-to-apples quesion would be what kind of accuracy would you get out of the same rifle (CZ or Mauser) in 5.56 or 5.45.

I don't doubt your groups, that is pretty good. are you shooting scope or open sights?

this is probably also a testament to the quality of the rifles and the barrels you are using. far above and beyond military spec.

it does peak my interest in getting a "plinker" 7.62x39 bolt rifle. lots of cheap practice.

 

[R.W.Dale]

interesting. the 7.62x39 I was using was Winchester, not Wolf or something similar. the 5.45 was Wolf steel-cased, and was outshooting the 7.62x39.

That's actually part of the problem, In my experience American loaded 7.62x39 ammo is underloaded, inconsistent, inaccurate and overpriced garbage. I don't doubt a bit that steel cased Wolf-Barnual out shot Remchester on a pure ammo to ammo basis

 

[Ditch-Tiger]

Chauncey,
I think i can actually answer that too.
I also have a C-Z Varmint in .223.
It shoots much tighter groups, but i have tried many, many types of ammo until i found something it loved and it has much bigger scope.
(leupold Vari-X3 6.5-20x40ao VS Leupold compact 2.5x20mm)

 

[M1key]

My experience is with the Ruger MKII/4x scope, using reloaded brass-cased ammo. Mine shot well under MOA ~.75 inch five-shot groups. Never tried it with Russian steel cased, but heard it wouldn't shoot that well so I never bothered. I have since sold it since it didn't really offer anything over my Marlin 30-30 which shoots one inch groups.

 

[chauncey]

odd, because my Winchester 7.62x39 almost always outshoots my Wolf. usually 1/2 the group size. in my experience, Wolf seems to vary in powder charge, etc. One round will eject 5 ft, the next dribbles out of the port. hits all over the place (and I'm a pretty acceptable shot). none of these problems with the Winchester. I actually keep a few (expensive) boxes of Winchester around for sighting in, then switch to Wolf to plink. there's no greater waste of ammo than trying to sight in while chasing groups around the paper...

5.45 Wolf seemed more consistent, but I had nothing to compare it to (I don't shoot corrosive, and there's no commercially produced 5.45)

 

[chauncey]

i guess part of my point is I'm not interested in a 7.62x39 bolt if I can't accurately shoot garbage ammo out of it. if I have to spend the $$ on expensive ammo to shoot accurately I'm not saving enough to justify the purchase price of the rifle. Make sense?

 

[Ditch-Tiger]

Yes.
Then buy the C-Z...

 

[aka108]

I owned a Ruger 77 MkII. I was disappointed with it as even with good factory ammo or reloads it was no more accurate at 100 yards than a Norinco SKS using inexpensive Russian ammo. Don't have any experience with the CZ but it absolutely has to better the Ruger. I was happy to see the Ruger go down the road.

 

[Ditch-Tiger]

When i bought mine, i was torn between the Ruger and the CZ (this is before i bought the varmint model and relized that CZ's are great)
i have had no regrets!

 

[R.W.Dale]

wolf is at the bottom of the ladder in terms of steel cased 7.62x39 ammo as is winchester rem with brass cased. Get yourself some monarch barnual or bear ammo and see what happens

This group may not look that spectacular till you note the ammo used and the range

 

[chauncey]

thanks...

I'll try the Bear.

 

[armoredman]

I wanna 527...everyone who owns one raves about thier accuracy. I also asked the powers that be if we can get larger aftermarket magazines, 10 or 15 rounders, just for grins and giggles.

 

[Ditch-Tiger]

10 round mags would hang WAY to far below the rifle as they are single stacks.
15 rounders might constitute a rear mono-pod

 

[mongo4567]

what kind of accuracy do you get at 100 yards? I've never gotten anything better than 4" groups out of my 7.62x39 AK's while at the same time getting as small as 2" groups from 5.56 and 5.45 rifles of the same design. I've always blamed the 7.62x39 for this.

I get sub MOA with some of the steel cased ammo in my mauser, the rest is all under 2 MOA. It will do better when I replace the military trigger. I will second Krochus's statement about the Winchester ammo being garbage, it opened my groups up to 2 MOA or more. Still fine for 100 yard shots on game, but not what I'd like to see. I'm going to be trying some S&B SP that I just got Friday, I'm hopeful!

 

[ArmedBear]

CZ advantages over, say, .308? Very light, a "mini-Mauser" action, a really nice compact carbine (one downside: bolt throw requires high scope rings).

Ruger advantages over .308? Zero.

 

[R.W.Dale]

CZ advantages over, say, .308? Very light, a "mini-Mauser" action, a really nice compact carbine (one downside: bolt throw requires high scope rings).

Ruger advantages over .308? Zero.

I wouldn't say zero. You do get a lot of low recoil .30 cal fun for a lot less $$$

 

[fal 4 me]

According to the September issue of Shooting Times, FNH USA is putting out a bolt action in 7.62x39. It's up on the website as well http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF007&gid=FNG004&mid=FNM0135 At over 8 lbs it's a bit heavy, but nice looking rifle though.