Have 7.62x39, no rifle.

[adcoch1]

I voted for oddballs, i love sks rifles, and good ak rifles too. Got a cz 527 that is really my favorite plinking gun, and I can easily recommend them. I intend to pick up a ruger American ranch very soon as well. I just love the 7.62x39, it is so usefull.

 

[Sistema1927]

I picked up an AR upper in 7.62x39 recently from Palmetto State Armory. $279 shipped, with charging handle and bolt carrier group. So far, lots of fun and functions great.

View attachment 794712

Do these work with a standard AR lower? Any problems feeding with a straight magazine as opposed to the "banana" shape of AK/SKS? Limited capacity to maintain function? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[someguy2800]

Do these work with a standard AR lower? Any problems feeding with a straight magazine as opposed to the "banana" shape of AK/SKS? Limited capacity to maintain function? Inquiring minds want to know.

I know you weren’t asking me but I’ll throw my experience in too. I built mine on a standard upper and lower and just bought a 7.62x39 bolt and popped it in my carrier. I use the same lower with a 223 upper as well. I use 10 rnd c products mags just because I have no desire for a larger mag. Mine has never jammed or malfunctioned. It’s more reliable than my 223 upper.

I have heard anecdotally that the 10’s and 20’s work good and the 30 round ones work well if downloaded to 26 rounds or so.

 

[brunowbe]

Buy another Saiga if you liked it so much, it’s not like they are unobtainable. I’ve seen unconverted examples from $500 to $700 on armslist in the last month, they’re out there.

 

[jmr40]

I can remember SKS's selling at gunshows for $69. For $200 you got the rifle and 1000 rounds of ammo. I had 2-3 back in the day including one Paratrooper that I probably should have kept. I never did like them, but based on what they are selling for I could have made a nice profit if I'd bought several at $69. I wouldn't pay today's prices. I think they are currently over valued and don't expect prices to ever be higher. Probably lower.

If I were sitting on a bunch of 7.62X39 ammo with no rifle I'd buy one of the compact bolt guns. I like the Ruger American that takes Mini-30 mags. But that's me.

 

[ThomasT]

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

I never liked that show either. I saw the old man just died. Maybe they will bury the show with him. The History channel is a joke anymore.

We got so use to the cheap...or I should say inexpensive communist stuff...

Yep. I wonder if there will be another influx of cheap communist guns? If there are I am going to buy a stack of them and all the ammo for them I can afford. And then wait for the price to go up.

jmr40 those were probably 1200 rd cases if you were getting the Norinco ammo in the yellow boxes with the steel core bullet. I have 760 rounds of that stuff left.

 

[Shane in MT]

Do these work with a standard AR lower? Any problems feeding with a straight magazine as opposed to the "banana" shape of AK/SKS? Limited capacity to maintain function? Inquiring minds want to know.

Yes, standard AR-15 lower. I've heard some aftermarket trigger springs can have trouble with the hard primers on the 7.62x39. Mine has standard milspec trigger, no problems so far after about 200 rounds.

I'm using ASC 10-round magazines for the 7.62x39, no issues there either. I have a couple ASC 20-rond magazines, but just got them in, haven't tried them yet. Feedback on the internet indicates the 20-round ASC mags work well. I found them at J&G Sales.

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

Yes, standard AR-15 lower. I've heard some aftermarket trigger springs can have trouble with the hard primers on the 7.62x39. Mine has standard milspec trigger, no problems so far after about 200 rounds.

I'm using ASC 10-round magazines for the 7.62x39, no issues there either. I have a couple ASC 20-rond magazines, but just got them in, haven't tried them yet. Feedback on the internet indicates the 20-round ASC mags work well. I found them at J&G Sales.

PSA hasn't had them in stock for a while, but they also have made a proprietary lower receiver similar to the LAR-47 that takes AK-47 magazines. If I ever do a 7.62x39 AR I think I'd go with that approach.

 

[Shane in MT]

I bought mine from PSA about a month ago. At the time they had 16" and 10.5" uppers available in 7.62x39.

They seem to go fast.

 

[gsbuickman]

Well, I wanted to vote in your poll but I can't because you're missing a very obvious category so if you want to make the poll fair you need to add a category for the SKS to it. Anybody who knows anything about milsurp rifles will tell you that the SKS is more accurate than the AK & they're more reliable than the AR platform, that's just an undeniable fact ...

 

[Mn Fats]

I voted for an AK. I could probably make more use out of a 7.62x39mm CZ 527 or a RAR but then, I already own rifles that fit the bill of those. Same with the AR platform. I struck when the iron was hot on a Ruger AR-556. Fired a few mags and tucked in the back of the safe. Mind you, I'd probably do the same with an AK, but I'd still like to add one to the collection one day.

 

[tarosean]

I never did like them, but based on what they are selling for I could have made a nice profit if I'd bought several at $69. I wouldn't pay today's prices.

Sure 69 dollars in the early 80's equals close to 200 in today's dollars. 150-200 bucks over 30yrs is not exactly a healthy return.
I didn't like em either BTW and sold mine in the 80's.

 

[SharpDog]

I voted AR because I like it the best and if you've never had one you're really missing out. The best feature is the ability to change uppers so you could do as I have done and get an AR with an extra 7.62x39 upper and even a 6.5G second extra upper.

But really, if you miss your Saiga there's nothing wrong with getting another one of them.

 

[drobs]

 

[<*(((><]

@drobs that SKS is lonely in that picture.

That's an interesting folding stock 2nd from the left. Is that spun metal or stranded wire?

 

[drobs]

@drobs that SKS is lonely in that picture.

That's an interesting folding stock 2nd from the left. Is that spun metal or stranded wire?

That's a Romanian Wire Folding stock with a 550 cord wrap.
I built the 2 AK's on the left and 2 on the right from parts kits back when they were cheap - $75 to $125 a Romanian G kit. Now the kits with original barrels are probably worth more than the home built rifles.

 

[CoalTrain49]

The truth is 7.62x39 ammo prices are going the same place the SKS and AK did.

Now the same price as .223 ammo. Used to be half that. I think the commies are just about finished dumping all of their surplus ammo in the US market.

 

[HankC]

View attachment 794713
How about a VZ2008?

If you can find one!
I had couple VZ2008s when PSA was dumping them at $400/kit, still have one. It is my most accurate AK style rifle (in iron sight) but you can't scope it while there is no scope rail and brass kicked upwards. I don't think they still make VZ2008 and VZ58 is expensive.

 

[someguy2800]

The truth is 7.62x39 ammo prices are going the same place the SKS and AK did.

Now the same price as .223 ammo. Used to be half that. I think the commies are just about finished dumping all of their surplus ammo in the US market.

The surplus ammo is all but gone but the new production ammo is a steal if you ask me. Wolf MC hp’s shoot sub moa in mine and I bought a case of 1000 for $200 shipped.

 

[FL-NC]

I would hold out for a SKS. Wal Mart was marking down mini 14's, not sure if they sell mini 30's though or if the discount is still even there.

 

[gsbuickman]

For the price point you still can't beat a good SKS. With consistent ammo this early 1952 will shoot ragged holes all day .. ( no I don't care about the scope that's on it cuz it's a piece of crap but it does have the only rock-solid SKS rail I've ever seen )

 

[TRX]

I'd like to put a vote in for the SKS.

I never liked the look of them. Oddly proportioned with the action too far forward, funky rounded-off stock, oddball fixed magazine like an upside-down shark fin. Nothing to see here, move along...

I wound up with one more or less by accident. And I *love* the thing. It is beautifully balanced, and the ugly stock puts the sights right in front of my eye when I swing it up. It's like an extension of my arm. Not only that, my wife had the same reaction, "eeewww" when she first saw it, "this is NICE!" after handling it.

Mechanically the action is strong and reliable. They're reasonably accurate. And if you get one with the folding bayonet, you can run screaming at the target and stab it once you run out of ammo...

 

[Bama59]

If I had 76.39 would like a Mini 30 , AR ,AK or SKS.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

If range and hunting is what you're after you might be better served by a Howa or CZ bolt gun chambered in x39.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

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.

View attachment 794683

Wolverines!

I am 35 and my life won't be complete unless I get to do that. Red Dawn changed my life.