View attachment 795225 Howas pretty affodable In different configurations
or maybe a czechpoint vz58 compact if budget permits
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.
Uh... the Tula and Wolf plants are going anywhere soon. That old surplus ammo that you got at a gun show in 2004 was cheap crap ammo then and it will always be crap ammo, but the prices have gone up because prices go up on everything.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.
Uh... the Tula and Wolf plants are going anywhere soon. That old surplus ammo that you got at a gun show in 2004 was cheap crap ammo then and it will always be crap ammo, but the prices have gone up because prices go up on everything.
The days of .20 cent 7.62x39 are indeed over, but 7.62x39 will always be a few cents a round cheaper than .223 brass ammo.
I, personally like my SKS. It's an old WWII era Russia in VGC. Great build, all matching serials, superb balance, runs like a sewing machine. But you might like an AK project gun. I guess the real question is if you want something box mag fed, or you prefer a internal mag, with less rounds.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.
Steel case 7.62x39 is the only thing that makes 7.62x39 worth owning. When the chicken littles were out a few months ago about Russian ammo going away due to sanctions and steel tariffs, I said that if 7.62x39 goes up in price to the tune of 50 cents/round, it was no longer worth having because it basically forces you to reload brass cases and reloading a .30 caliber that has a 250 yards max range and less power than .308 is asinine. One would be better off using that time to reload .308.So what's the point of owning a 7.62x39 anything? Ammo costs are about 0.08 more for LC 5.56x45 according to ammoseek. At least you get the brass to reload if you want. If you don't reload it you can sell it for $30/1000 which makes 5.56 about a nickle more a round.
Quit buying that commie steel cased garbage and support American ammo manufacturers.
So what's the point of owning a 7.62x39 anything? Ammo costs are about 0.08 more for LC 5.56x45 according to ammoseek. At least you get the brass to reload if you want. If you don't reload it you can sell it for $30/1000 which makes 5.56 about a nickle more a round.
Quit buying that commie steel cased garbage and support American ammo manufacturers.
So what's the point of owning a 7.62x39 anything? Ammo costs are about 0.08 more for LC 5.56x45 according to ammoseek. At least you get the brass to reload if you want. If you don't reload it you can sell it for $30/1000 which makes 5.56 about a nickle more a round.
Quit buying that commie steel cased garbage and support American ammo manufacturers.
To tell the truth, having a can of mixed 7.62x39 is not a good reason to buy a rifle. It’s an excuse. Now if that can was filled with four or five thousand rounds, that might be a good reason.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.
Well, yeah.To tell the truth, having a can of mixed 7.62x39 is not a good reason to buy a rifle. It’s an excuse.
Like I said, I have never needed a reason for buying a gun, but I have had a hell of a lot of excuses over the years.Well, yeah.
But I do like the round. For the range I enjoy a little more 'thump' to my shoulder, and it would be more useful for the rare hunting and HD duty than .223 IMO.
I even have some reloadable brass and will buy more once I have another rifle for it. Not that I'll do much, but it's a slow build.
Plus, you know, an excuse.