The 7.62x39 is not the problem, the problem is the platform in which they are mostly sold, the most accurate cartridge in the world (6mmPPC)is based off the 7.62x39 cartridge. With quality components, barrel, action and sights it should be as accurate as any cartridge we think of today as being accurate.
Fun question for opinions 7.62x39
- Thread starter Chupathingy
- Start date
coyote killa
New member
Well I've owned a few 7.62 X 39's and currently own a Mini-30 and an SKS. I think the round itself is a good one. The accuracy issues are mainly due to 2 things IMO. One, many of the rifles chambered in this round are AK's, SKS's and Mini-30 type weapons, none of which are exceedingly accurate. The other thing that most folks don't consider is the ammo itself. Most people use pretty cheap mil surplus ammo. If you obtain some quality ammo, even the lowly SKS's performance will improve tremendously. I would bet that in a firearm built for accuracy that the 7.62 X 39 would be a very accurate round.
458Win
New member
The 95% reason for poor accuracy in a SKS/AK47? Is the nut behind the trigger. During Iraq I listened to just how inaccurate a AK is blah blah. Well give a decent AK47 to someone who can shoot (no mall ninja's 
) and some decent ammo and they will shoot good enough. (2-4inches at 100yrds) The rifle isn't designed for MOA accuracy, the Ammo is built to fire...not accuracy. With a 30rd mag its way to easy to just keep pulling the trigger and pointed in the general direction of the target. The Draganov sniper rifle (spelling) is a slightly modified AK47 platform and the accuracy of one is impressive for a rifle like it. (its chambered in the more powerful 7.62x54R round though)
In a good bolt gun the accuracy of the 7.62x39 with good handloads will rival any other cartridge.... Lapua even makes brass for it
) and some decent ammo and they will shoot good enough. (2-4inches at 100yrds) The rifle isn't designed for MOA accuracy, the Ammo is built to fire...not accuracy. With a 30rd mag its way to easy to just keep pulling the trigger and pointed in the general direction of the target. The Draganov sniper rifle (spelling) is a slightly modified AK47 platform and the accuracy of one is impressive for a rifle like it. (its chambered in the more powerful 7.62x54R round though)In a good bolt gun the accuracy of the 7.62x39 with good handloads will rival any other cartridge.... Lapua even makes brass for it
NM Leon
New member
Cheap stamped parts made to extremely loose tolerances makes for a rifle that will fire reliably forever without cleaning or any regular maintenance, but does not lead to accuracy.
It was designed so that someone with little to no marksmanship or firearms training could pick it up and send a lot of lead downrange reliably.
It was designed so that someone with little to no marksmanship or firearms training could pick it up and send a lot of lead downrange reliably.
Never saw and ak/sks that was moa. Then again never saw one that did not go bang. These platforms do what they were expected to do. Just like everybody who knows who has one. The rust and dust and general abuse don't stop these. Seem to run better a little abused.
Never seen a semi auto in 30-30, Accuracy can be made better by just trying different loads and manufactures. My sks likes brown bear. Mexican Match loading can also help.
Never seen a semi auto in 30-30, Accuracy can be made better by just trying different loads and manufactures. My sks likes brown bear. Mexican Match loading can also help.
DiRTY DOG
Well-known member
Quote: The sks shoots about
the same but never was able to fire full auto as it's original design intended.
I think it finally saw some battle with the N Koreans but no other time.Sure they did. They were common enough in Vietnam. Even accurately represented in movies like the opening scene of "We Were Soldiers Once" and "The Green Beretts" off the top of my head. SKS's still turn up all the time in Iraq and Afghanistan. You still see them used in commie honor guard type ceremonies all the time.
the same but never was able to fire full auto as it's original design intended.
I think it finally saw some battle with the N Koreans but no other time.Sure they did. They were common enough in Vietnam. Even accurately represented in movies like the opening scene of "We Were Soldiers Once" and "The Green Beretts" off the top of my head. SKS's still turn up all the time in Iraq and Afghanistan. You still see them used in commie honor guard type ceremonies all the time.
Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
You have to be careful not to confuse the 47s with the 74s.
They look a lot alike but are totally different animals.
I had some time in Russia to fire the 74 and it was pretty impressive. Certainly not a BR rifle but much easier to hold on target in full auto. Quite easier to hold on target than the AR in full auto.
The 74 is a battle rifle but way better than the 47 and arguably better than the AR.
Jack
They look a lot alike but are totally different animals.
I had some time in Russia to fire the 74 and it was pretty impressive. Certainly not a BR rifle but much easier to hold on target in full auto. Quite easier to hold on target than the AR in full auto.
The 74 is a battle rifle but way better than the 47 and arguably better than the AR.
Jack
CacheCreek
New member
Like a lot of you guys have mentioned, you're not going to get sub MOA's out of an SKS or an AK regardless of the quality of ammo you're shooting. You're also not going to get sub MOA's out of a custom built bench rest platform shooting the cheap milsurp ammo most of us use in a 7.62 x 39. So it is a combination.
Shoot high quality handloads through a high quality platform and I suspect the 7.62 x 39 can hold it's own at the range.
Shoot high quality handloads through a high quality platform and I suspect the 7.62 x 39 can hold it's own at the range.
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7.62 russian problems
Bore - .308, .310, .311, find the size that fits your barrel.
Ammo - it's crap, aside from maybe the Hornady 125 V-max or other real ammo I haven't seen yet.
Guns - they're crap, mostly mil-surp. Find an AR, or CZ, or Ruger, or Remington, and see how they shoot.
The Model 1 AR upper I have was sold to me by an x39 fanatic who got handloads down to MOA. He took a doe at 327 yards with the upper. The cartridge is the basis for a few benchrest calibers from what I understand, the PPC ones.
Shoot the crappy stuff for fun, reload, or buy real ammo for hunting. I think the vmax stuff I got was about $20 for 50.
Bore - .308, .310, .311, find the size that fits your barrel.
Ammo - it's crap, aside from maybe the Hornady 125 V-max or other real ammo I haven't seen yet.
Guns - they're crap, mostly mil-surp. Find an AR, or CZ, or Ruger, or Remington, and see how they shoot.
The Model 1 AR upper I have was sold to me by an x39 fanatic who got handloads down to MOA. He took a doe at 327 yards with the upper. The cartridge is the basis for a few benchrest calibers from what I understand, the PPC ones.
Shoot the crappy stuff for fun, reload, or buy real ammo for hunting. I think the vmax stuff I got was about $20 for 50.
We all pretty much seem to agree that the AK's and SKS's and the steel cased foriegn mil. type ammo, in any combination, is pretty crappy in the accuracy dept.
I do have a Colt carbine upper, that I've gone over, changed the gas block, ff handguard, etc. and slapped it on a new RRA lower, and made it my dedicated short range night time pig rifle. So far, I'm shooting WW 123 grain softpoint factory ammo, and have shot some 100 yard three shot groups right at 1", and some slightly over 1". Now that I've finally got enough brass to start loading, and have several hundred Hornady 123 grain SP's, and bought a box of Barnes .310 123 grain TAC-X bullets, what are your experiences with RL 7 and H 335 powders in this cartridge? Personally, I've never found a load with H335 that I couldn't find a more accurate load with another powder in any cartridge, but that might just be my bad luck! I've got both powders, but want to know which powder folks have had the best luck with, accuracy, velocity, and pressure wise?
Any actual experience would be appreciated!
F1
I do have a Colt carbine upper, that I've gone over, changed the gas block, ff handguard, etc. and slapped it on a new RRA lower, and made it my dedicated short range night time pig rifle. So far, I'm shooting WW 123 grain softpoint factory ammo, and have shot some 100 yard three shot groups right at 1", and some slightly over 1". Now that I've finally got enough brass to start loading, and have several hundred Hornady 123 grain SP's, and bought a box of Barnes .310 123 grain TAC-X bullets, what are your experiences with RL 7 and H 335 powders in this cartridge? Personally, I've never found a load with H335 that I couldn't find a more accurate load with another powder in any cartridge, but that might just be my bad luck! I've got both powders, but want to know which powder folks have had the best luck with, accuracy, velocity, and pressure wise?
Any actual experience would be appreciated!
F1