Have 7.62x39, no rifle.

Which deserves the 7.62?

  • AK, tried and true.

    Votes: 25 41.0%

  • AR, modern and modular.

    Votes: 12 19.7%

  • Other, oddball, or odds and ends.

    Votes: 12 19.7%

  • Additional alliterative alternative.

    Votes: 12 19.7%
  • Total voters
    61
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D

Deus Machina

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May 24, 2007
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3,174
Location
Brandon, Florida
Like the title says, I have a can of 7.62x39, mostly steel of various flavors, sold the Saiga it was going to feed for rent money during tough times, and have nothing else to put it in.
I am, however, daydreaming, do have some tools (no bench-mounted ones or bench for them though) considerable mechanical aptitude, a desire for a smallish project, and (hopefully) a promotion coming that would make times less tough.
I do like the round. Good for the range and most hunting I'm ever likely to do that wouldn't be better done with a shotgun or .22.
So do I grab the next sale on AK kits and a blank receiver (I miss that Saiga), an AR across several parts (I've never had one), or find something more unusual (I enjoy oddballs) from a gun show parts bin? Or just wait for a deal on an SKS or something?
 
Well, I'd honestly be happy with any of them. The Mini-30 doesn't much interest me, though. Not sure why, considering my deep love for the similar SKS or M14 styles and Ruger handguns.
I'm a big fan of a Soviet engineering (Doesn't work? Hit it harder!) but very much doubt anything would be as nice as my old Saiga, and kits are getting less common and more expensive.
A built AK is more expensive than an AR, which I'd enjoy too. Particularly for the sights--though I do have a Texas Systems top rail in a box here.
So I think it may come down to what's available when I get the money, and what has available mags.
 
As much as it might be heresy, I'd look at LAR-47. Oddball factor is there, the platform has very good accuracy potential and AK mags are a big plus in my book. On the other hand you can't really go wrong with a plain old AK, providing that it's assembled from decent quality parts.
 
If you are, as you say, mechanically inclined, then building an AK would be a possibility. Restoring a beater SKS could be fun, and possibly more relaxing. Finally, maybe building a "precision" rig on a Howa mini action might be rewarding.
 
Grab a CZ 527...I think they still make it, and enjoy....enjoy that set trigger....They are not that spendy IMHO.

Unless you have a real desire to do this, and I really think about every 50yr old with an ak has had the thought cross their mind.

reddawnlead.jpg
 
SKS"s have gone up in price to the point they are selling for more then they are worth. You could build a nice AR for just a little more then what you could get a SKS for. AK kits are not the bargain they once were.
 
I'm with those that recommended the CZ 527. Great little rifles and they shoot way better then I ever thought they would, even with cheap ammo. A friend of mine has one that I want to buy off of him one of these days...

If your looking for a project I'd go with Gunny's suggestion of an AR. SKS's are over priced these days and the AR has a lot more going for anyways when it comes to accuracy, trigger, mags and mounting optics...
 
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Find Bubba's SKS. I've picked up three that were under $250.00 over the last couple of years. Two had goofy-looking mods or stocks and duckbill mags that didn't work. The third had no mag and a jammed piston. A little part swapping, a little hand work and I had three solid little guns (although one was still in a plastic stock).

I love it when Bubba gets embarrassed by his buddies and dumps this brainchild... .
 
I have 500 rounds of 7.62x39 and a Yugo SKS that I bought about 10-15 years ago. I spent a considerable amount of time getting all of the cosmoline out of that SKS, but have then never been motivated enough to take it to the range.

Maybe one day I will shoot it, but I am guessing that I will probably sell it first, or leave it to my heirs to dispose of. It really doesn't interest me.
 
I have an AK, a sks and the ruger American ranch in 7.62x39. Of the three, the RAR is my favorite by far. It’s actually top 3 at least of all my rifles as far as my favorite to shoot and have fun with. I have somewhere around 40-45 now I think.
 
I have a couple of SKS rifles. A 20" version and a 16" version both Chinese of course. And I wouldn't sell either one of them. I am sure I wouldn't pay $400 + for another one. But I would really like to have one of the new Ruger American Rifles. All my 7.62x39 ammo is the steel cased bulk that I have read shoots decent groups from the RAR. But if I had a bolt gun that didn't throw the brass all over the place I would reload for that round. What a neat little truck and woods gun that would make. But thats just me.
 
Ratshooter said:
I have a couple of SKS rifles. A 20" version and a 16" version both Chinese of course. And I wouldn't sell either one of them. I am sure I wouldn't pay $400 + for another one. But I would really like to have one of the new Ruger American Rifles. All my 7.62x39 ammo is the steel cased bulk that I have read shoots decent groups from the RAR. But if I had a bolt gun that didn't throw the brass all over the place I would reload for that round. What a neat little truck and woods gun that would make. But thats just me.
Click to expand...

We got so use to the cheap...or I should say inexpensive communist stuff....My FiL and his brother went in together and bought a Krag rifle from some small shop in Tenn hills....they could not afford the $25 for the 1903. At the time the 1903 cost about what an SKS did when they first came out....around $80 in modern money, for a share cropper teen that was all the money in the world...but they could swing the Krag...and they did make it pretty...so it is not in collector shape anymore....and the FiL went into heart failure in seeing what that rifle brings today....and said they are not worth that....is a krag worth what they are going for now.....I bet many think finding one for 200 less then the norm would be a smoking deal but it is just insane to the FiL.....now his Belgian A5, he thinks that is worth its weight in gold....they really don't bring THAT much....even the versions made in europe.

Point is Stuff costs what it costs....you really can't look back and say...man I remember in 1990's I bought my M1 carbine for $400, they cost what the market will pay. If you do not want to pay that for the gun in question don't...pretty simple. There are people that will....would you pay over $1000 for a savage 99....this is my next gun and it seems that is where the market is going.....you always look back and say I should have bought that years ago....that High Power I could have bought for $300 in the 80's. I don't want to pay the $900 ish for it now, but if I want one I will have to.

That is the point....sometimes you are thinking with the pawn stars (i so hate that show) train of thought.
 
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