7.62 x 39 AR--UPDATE
I have been doing some reading on the AR platform in this caliber and it seems the results vary greatly. I have read everything from just get good magazines, to shave the bolt face back and replace the spring weights. Common sense tells me to start with some different mags and go from there(cheapest and easiest fix to start).
So, please share any and all experiences you have had with this caliber and rifle combination. I would greatly appreciate them. From what I understand, most of the issues are coming from the Russian ammo. Shooting American or other brass cased ammo would be a good solution, but making it run right with the cheap and plentiful Russian or Australian steel cased ammo would definitely be a plus.
I have almost all my parts to start my 7.62 x 39 build, I just am looking for some extra guidance before I get into the shooting/testing stages. Thanks in advance.
UPDATE: Well, so far this build and experiment has been a nightmare. I started off with 3 C-Products 10 round mags that my AR would not feed from. I could manually feed a round into the chamber, but it would eject the spent case and not feed the next round. When loading the mag with just a single round, when done firing that round, the action did remain open as it should. The mags loaded very hard, so thinking that may have had something to do with the issue, I ordered 2 different 30 round curved mags. One a Pro Mag and the other a ASC mag.
After receiving the other mags, I was delighted to find them very easy to load all 30 rounds into. My 2nd range session with these 2, new mags was just as frustrating. I was not able to even chamber a round with either mag, when they were fully loaded. I emptied both mags by hand and loaded somewhere between 5-8 rounds in each. Both mags chambered the 1st round fine and with the exception of one issue, they both worked as they should.
Any ideas as to what is going on here or what I can do to solve my issue?
Jon
So, please share any and all experiences you have had with this caliber and rifle combination. I would greatly appreciate them. From what I understand, most of the issues are coming from the Russian ammo. Shooting American or other brass cased ammo would be a good solution, but making it run right with the cheap and plentiful Russian or Australian steel cased ammo would definitely be a plus.
I have almost all my parts to start my 7.62 x 39 build, I just am looking for some extra guidance before I get into the shooting/testing stages. Thanks in advance.
UPDATE: Well, so far this build and experiment has been a nightmare. I started off with 3 C-Products 10 round mags that my AR would not feed from. I could manually feed a round into the chamber, but it would eject the spent case and not feed the next round. When loading the mag with just a single round, when done firing that round, the action did remain open as it should. The mags loaded very hard, so thinking that may have had something to do with the issue, I ordered 2 different 30 round curved mags. One a Pro Mag and the other a ASC mag.
After receiving the other mags, I was delighted to find them very easy to load all 30 rounds into. My 2nd range session with these 2, new mags was just as frustrating. I was not able to even chamber a round with either mag, when they were fully loaded. I emptied both mags by hand and loaded somewhere between 5-8 rounds in each. Both mags chambered the 1st round fine and with the exception of one issue, they both worked as they should.
Any ideas as to what is going on here or what I can do to solve my issue?
Jon
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I've had 3(currently 2) 7.62x39 AR's. I traded my Colt A2 for an Olympic flattop last year and "assembled" another using a Red-X barrel and assorted pieces from my parts boxes. I don't do "battle rattle" rapid fire or play "shootem up" games I DO expect guns to work. No problems with any of the ones I have/had.
I traded a couple of "Frankenmags" that came with the Colt for C-Products mags and the C-P mags work fine.
Getting the right amount of gas is important. I looked at some barrels that had what I consider way too big gas ports so I passed on those. If you do end up with an over-gassed condition, there are ways to control that. I wouldn't begin "shaving" anything w/o first determining if the there really IS a problem.
Lastly, don't attempt to use Privi round nose soft point ammo-it most likely won't feed. In fact I don't use ANY 7.62x39 soft point ammo-- HP, FMJ, or "tipped" is more likely to feed acceptably.0 -
I dont believe its shaving the bolt face. I think its taking some material off of the bolts tail. This allows the firing pin to hit the primers deeper which the cheap ammo needs to fire reliably. I personally put my firing pin in a drill press and slowly took off material until it was reliable with cheap ammo. Firing pins are cheap and bolts are not. When cleaning carefully inspect the bolt lugs in your rifle. The 7.62x39 round has a lot of case taper which makes for a lot more bolt thrust than the 5.56 round. It is known to be hard on bolts. You can buy bolts made of a higher grade of steel for this caliber. As far as mags I use the old USA frankenmags with no trouble. I have read good things about the NEW C-products mags. The old C-products mags were total junk. I returned two of those as they would not even load correctly much less function reliably in the rifle. 0 -
I've had a X39 AR for a few years. I bought a 16" from Model 1 or DelTon IIRC - pretty basic "economy" stuff. I use a heavy mainspring to give the primer an extra whack, added a few cosmetic odds & ends and all is well. I use only CProducts (now named "ASC" I think) and the thing functions perfectly.
Something to be aware of - threading at the muzzle varies between makers. Some are "AR 15" type while others are "AR 10" type. Obviously you'll need a 30 caliber exit hole. If your barrel is threaded 1/2X28 (AR 15 type) you can buy a thread adapter to take it to 5/8X24 (AR 10 type) or get a brake with AR 15 threading and a 30 cal exit hole. PWRC makes such a break, works fine.
Accuracy is fine, personally I prefer it over the 5.56.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dfletcher
I've had a X39 AR for a few years. I bought a 16" from Model 1 or DelTon IIRC - pretty basic "economy" stuff. I use a heavy mainspring to give the primer an extra whack, added a few cosmetic odds & ends and all is well. I use only CProducts (now named "ASC" I think) and the thing functions perfectly.
Something to be aware of - threading at the muzzle varies between makers. Some are "AR 15" type while others are "AR 10" type. Obviously you'll need a 30 caliber exit hole. If your barrel is threaded 1/2X28 (AR 15 type) you can buy a thread adapter to take it to 5/8X24 (AR 10 type) or get a brake with AR 15 threading and a 30 cal exit hole. PWRC makes such a break, works fine.
Accuracy is fine, personally I prefer it over the 5.56.
Good stuff. Thanks! Do you use the Wolff "Extra Power" spring or a different brand? Looks like the Wolff one is pretty cheap and easy to get.
Jon0 -
Mobuck,
Thanks for the heads-up on the Privi softpoint ammo. I was going to order a couple boxes of that because of it being fairly cheap, brass-cased, and something I could hunt with.
Also, thanks to you and Steve on the magazine suggestions. Midway has the 10 round models for $15. That seems real reasonable if they work good.
Jon0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sig220_Ruger77
quote:Originally posted by dfletcher
I've had a X39 AR for a few years. I bought a 16" from Model 1 or DelTon IIRC - pretty basic "economy" stuff. I use a heavy mainspring to give the primer an extra whack, added a few cosmetic odds & ends and all is well. I use only CProducts (now named "ASC" I think) and the thing functions perfectly.
Something to be aware of - threading at the muzzle varies between makers. Some are "AR 15" type while others are "AR 10" type. Obviously you'll need a 30 caliber exit hole. If your barrel is threaded 1/2X28 (AR 15 type) you can buy a thread adapter to take it to 5/8X24 (AR 10 type) or get a brake with AR 15 threading and a 30 cal exit hole. PWRC makes such a break, works fine.
Accuracy is fine, personally I prefer it over the 5.56.
Good stuff. Thanks! Do you use the Wolff "Extra Power" spring or a different brand? Looks like the Wolff one is pretty cheap and easy to get.
Jon
Pretty sure it was Wolff, most likely got it from Brownells or Midway. Extractors are a bit harder to find for the X39, I keep 1 or 2 extra just in case.0 -
"Extractors are a bit harder to find for the X39, I keep 1 or 2 extra just in case"
I keep a spare complete bolt for each of the x39 rounds. That way, I have both the extractor and bolt lug possibilities covered....0 -
Are you saying the bolt wouldn't strip a round from the fully loaded mags? I've never actually loaded the 30(28) rounders full so really don't know what to say about not feeding a round from a "full" mag. Rather than just slam your head against the wall, maybe try loading 10-12 for a while and let the whole thing work itself in a little. New rifle, new mags, I don't know-maybe stuff is just tight. I'd suggest loading the mags and leaving them loaded overnight or maybe a week. I haven't bought any mags for over a year and considering the demand and production, quite possibly fit and finish are not quite up to pre-mania standards.
I just finished a 5.45 and a 7.62 upper and bought another new name brand 7.62 upper. I'll test fire the 7.62 using some plastic 10 round mags (NWG?) that have always worked. The 5.45 works better 1-2 at a time thru 223 mags than thru the 10 round 7.62 mags.0 -
I've had a few x39 AR's ... C-Products mags (curved like an AK mag and shaving a few thousands off the bolt tail and it's good to go. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by kimberkid
I've had a few x39 AR's ... C-Products mags (curved like an AK mag and shaving a few thousands off the bolt tail and it's good to go.
I may have to end up having that done....the boat tail shaving that is. This is kind of getting frustrating. Wishing I would have gone with a 20" 5.56 instead of the 7.62 right now. [:(!]
Jon0
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