Which 7.62 x 39 rifle to buy??

[criticalbass]

And because it is a Mauser, it is inadvisable to chamber a round except through the magazine, due to the extractor design.

Mauser bolt actions are controlled round feed as opposed to push feed. That means you can chamber a round while upside down, falling through the sky, or in any other desperate situation and not have the cartridge get away. The down side is, if one drops a round into the chamber and forces the bolt shut, it will damage and eventually destroy the extractor.

Professional hunters in Africa have strong feelings about controlled round feed vs push feed, but not all of them are on the same side. It's faster in an emergency to drop in one round and slam the bolt shut on it, but if you are dodging an angry critter and trying to reload from the magazine, push feed rifles have been known to lose a round on the ground.

Here's another idea for the 7.62x39--buy the cheapest old Savage, preferably with a short action, and rebarrel it. Now you can use up the 600 rounds, and you have a "switchbarrel" rifle. Anyone with average mechanicl skills can do it. http://www.savageshooters.com/ This site can provide all the info you need to make the swap. CB

 

[ldp4570]

Ruger also makes a bolt action.

http://www.ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeCompact/models.html

 

[mdm.gunbroker]

Thanks a ton for all your knowledge and input. If/when I buy it'll probably be an AK. A little concerned about the brass ammo though.

I was at USSA yesterday and one of the Range Masters suggested I take a short "full auto" cert course. They have full auto AK's they rent pretty cheaply by the day. Not sure I could sleep burning through that much ammo that quickly, but certainly tempting for some of it!!

 

[ldp4570]

Thanks a ton for all your knowledge and input. If/when I buy it'll probably be an AK. A little concerned about the brass ammo though.

I was at USSA yesterday and one of the Range Masters suggested I take a short "full auto" cert course. They have full auto AK's they rent pretty cheaply by the day. Not sure I could sleep burning through that much ammo that quickly, but certainly tempting for some of it!!

Once you touch the giggle switch, you'll find that the only way to control the AK is with 3 to 5 round burst's to keep the muzzle down, and on target. She can climb rather fast on full auto.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Any other platforms out there I missed?

Yes you did - the best one - the Robinson XCR. It is available not in 7.62x39. Why not get a vastly superior platform to the AK for your round of choice? Or not quite as good, but better than an AK - an AR15 in 7.62x39.

 

[cjjtulsa]

Have you looked into a VZ-58?

Czechpoint vz-58

That was going to be my suggestion. Want one badly, but don't want to have to buy for another caliber.

 

[Perplexed]

Or not quite as good, but better than an AK - an AR15 in 7.62x39.

I agree with this. I have a Model One 20" upper on my AR, chambered for 7.62x39. It's fairly accurate out to 300 meters, and a lot of fun to shoot. The looks I get from other shooters when they see the brass ejected from my AR are priceless

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Oh yeah, and I'll third the VZ 58 as another possibility.

 

[Shootin 4 Fun]

Yes you did - the best one - the Robinson XCR. It is available not in 7.62x39. Why not get a vastly superior platform to the AK for your round of choice? Or not quite as good, but better than an AK - an AR15 in 7.62x39.

Are you implying that the AR platform is as reliable as the AK platform?

 

[POSITIVE DISCONTENT]

Are you implying that the AR platform is as reliable as the AK platform?

What do you know about the AR platform?