7.62x39 20" vs 22" feedback

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Scarb67

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Are you owners of 7.62x39 with 20", 22", or both barrel lengths finding differences in drop or impact at various distances?

I'm asking due to casual mentions of ("if" ...that, or "probably"...that result) in Youtube testing of factory, and reload, velocity listings or energy expectations.

I already own an SKS and ammo.
But I'm looking at buying a modern offering in that chambering.
Possibly as a deer rifle option.
Howa seems to offer some 20" and 22" offerings, of the few over 18" barrel offerings.
 
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Before buying one I recall watching some YouTube where a guy started with a 28 inch barrel and cut of 1 inch per short and recorded the velo’s there was little incremental changes between 28 and 20, but after that you started to see it pick up. I ended up with an 18 inch barrel on the kids gun. The boys have taken a deer as far as 200yds and a medium black bear at 125. Drop does start to accumulate quickly after 200 tho. I have not chrono’d it myself to check actual numbers
 
The x39 case is pretty small. That will reduce velocity gains with barrel length. 308win loses like 40fps going from 22" to 20", so I would expect slightly less than that.

Besides, 7.62x39 isn't exactly a long range cartridge. Differences in drop at the kind of ranges you'd use one to hunt deer (150-200yds) is going to be negligible.
 
beltfed said:
I think the sweet spot for most 7.62x39 loads is in the 15-18" barrel length - IIRC - someone correct me if I'm wrong on this.
I think the difference between 20 and 22" barrels is going to be negligible.
Click to expand...
They are certainly easy enough, for 7.62x39 rifles, to come by.
But modern gun review videos seem to regularly imply cartridge manufacturers may have used a 20" barrel. When they find lower velocities from manufacture listed velocities. Or when finding groups that aren't as tight as expected at distances above 100 yards..

So I'm hoping to hear from people who've owned and shot the various barrel lengths. But aren't trying to imagine (or remember) to include the best information to post a popular video.

Maybe even hunters with a favourite cartridge, that shot it out of different rifles, and found differences in drop or penetration characteristics?
As one possible means of tangible differences?
 
Suther said:
The x39 case is pretty small. That will reduce velocity gains with barrel length. 308win loses like 40fps going from 22" to 20", so I would expect slightly less than that.

Besides, 7.62x39 isn't exactly a long range cartridge. Differences in drop at the kind of ranges you'd use one to hunt deer (150-200yds) is going to be negligible.
Click to expand...
The initial generalisations that a couple browsers displayed. Ahead of the list of website offerings.
Seemed to show less than 100fps low-high extremes as barrel length increased. Also mentioned above 23-24" might show a fps loss.
But also mentioned drop benefits as you approach those barrel limits.

So I'm just hoping for real world feedback.
 
Scarb67 said:
The initial generalisations that a couple browsers displayed. Ahead of the list of website offerings.
Seemed to show less than 100fps low-high extremes as barrel length increased. Also mentioned above 23-24" might show a fps loss.
But also mentioned drop benefits as you approach those barrel limits.
Click to expand...

Every gun is different. Even if someone has what you're looking for - both a 22" and 20" gun - there are so many variables involved that its entirely possible that the 20" gun happens to be the faster gun. Especially if the shorter barrel gun is a bolt action and thus isn't bleeding anything off to cycle the action.

Long story short, it won't be much difference, and the only way you'll get a more accurate answer than what's already been said is to buy a gun and test it to see how that specific gun differs from what you already have.
 
Its a non issue. I can't imagine the difference in any way being significant.

They're all pretty much a 200 yard deer option regardless of barrel length.

Well, 100 if its a minute of TV at the dump SKS haha
 
Guess I'm on a short range rifle scent?
Got interested in the lower recoil, short range, less common, rifle stuff after buying a Marlin lever action in .357, to offer a counter to my Ruger .357 revolver. And comparing the effective range for that against other (mostly classic) 100<150' chamberings.
Was picking up the Marlin and buying a variety of .357, 38 special, and ammo in .308 when I ran into a (pretty big/tall) young fellow buying 300 blackout.
Looked it up thinking it might be a cartridge that was "also big".
Started down the rabbit hole of that load before thinking/remembering the 7.62x39 I already have.
But in looking up the 300 blk rifles. I also discovered the more modern rifles in 7.62x39 chambering.
That are almost all bolt action here in Canada.

Between the
16" Ruger
18" CZ
20"-22" Howa

I just felt drawn to the Howa for some reason? Maybe the current stock with Walnut stock here in Canada, with the option to test a slightly longer barrel than SKS drew my initial attention?

Maybe because my .308 is a synthetic stock and a classic look was tempting me?

But the idea of the Howa Gamepro with the free-ish scope that could be a hand-me-down to a grandkids .177 or .22 also got me relaxing on the walnut idea.

Seems like a 20"HB and a 22" std contour sporter barrel would also be a negligible weight difference?
So far the feedback is pointing at the heavy barrel for the extra couple shots between practice groups at the range too?
 
I have the a CZ 600+ Lux in 7.62x39 with the 18" barrel. For hunting i wouldnt want it any longer. Having it longer kindov contradicts the main pros of a small nimble intermediate cartridge hunting rifle. Whether the bullet drop at 200m is 8" or 16" it doesnt really concern me so long as im familiar with what it actually is.
 
Scarb67 said:
Guess I'm on a short range rifle scent?
Got interested in the lower recoil, short range, less common, rifle stuff after buying a Marlin lever action in .357, to offer a counter to my Ruger .357 revolver. And comparing the effective range for that against other (mostly classic) 100<150' chamberings.
Was picking up the Marlin and buying a variety of .357, 38 special, and ammo in .308 when I ran into a (pretty big/tall) young fellow buying 300 blackout.
Looked it up thinking it might be a cartridge that was "also big".
Started down the rabbit hole of that load before thinking/remembering the 7.62x39 I already have.
But in looking up the 300 blk rifles. I also discovered the more modern rifles in 7.62x39 chambering.
That are almost all bolt action here in Canada.

Between the
16" Ruger
18" CZ
20"-22" Howa

I just felt drawn to the Howa for some reason? Maybe the current stock with Walnut stock here in Canada, with the option to test a slightly longer barrel than SKS drew my initial attention?

Maybe because my .308 is a synthetic stock and a classic look was tempting me?

But the idea of the Howa Gamepro with the free-ish scope that could be a hand-me-down to a grandkids .177 or .22 also got me relaxing on the walnut idea.

Seems like a 20"HB and a 22" std contour sporter barrel would also be a negligible weight difference?
So far the feedback is pointing at the heavy barrel for the extra couple shots between practice groups at the range too?
Click to expand...

Well you should get the rifle that appeals to you the most. In a x39 none of the barrel lengths are going to offer that much difference in velocity

So simply look at the other factors that make the different rifles more or less appealing to you personally.
 
I have a cz with a 16” barrel. With steel cased Barnaul with 123 gr bullets I’m getting 2400fps. Handloads with 123 gr hornady interlocks I’m getting just over 2200fps. It’s a handy little rifle and I’m looking forward to carrying it in the bush.
 
I went for the Howa 22” and even replaced the magazine trigger guard with the Jefferson hinged floorplate internal mag.
If you wanna maximize potential velocity you’ll need the 22”.

On a side note the grenade launcher Yugo sks has a 22” barrel.
 
Scarb67 said:
Guess I'm on a short range rifle scent?
Got interested in the lower recoil, short range, less common, rifle stuff after buying a Marlin lever action in .357, to offer a counter to my Ruger .357 revolver. And comparing the effective range for that against other (mostly classic) 100<150' chamberings.
Was picking up the Marlin and buying a variety of .357, 38 special, and ammo in .308 when I ran into a (pretty big/tall) young fellow buying 300 blackout.
Looked it up thinking it might be a cartridge that was "also big".
Started down the rabbit hole of that load before thinking/remembering the 7.62x39 I already have.
But in looking up the 300 blk rifles. I also discovered the more modern rifles in 7.62x39 chambering.
That are almost all bolt action here in Canada.

Between the
16" Ruger
18" CZ
20"-22" Howa

I just felt drawn to the Howa for some reason? Maybe the current stock with Walnut stock here in Canada, with the option to test a slightly longer barrel than SKS drew my initial attention?

Maybe because my .308 is a synthetic stock and a classic look was tempting me?

But the idea of the Howa Gamepro with the free-ish scope that could be a hand-me-down to a grandkids .177 or .22 also got me relaxing on the walnut idea.

Seems like a 20"HB and a 22" std contour sporter barrel would also be a negligible weight difference?
So far the feedback is pointing at the heavy barrel for the extra couple shots between practice groups at the range too?
Click to expand...

I have the Howa 20” heavy barrel in a walnut stock with Jefferson aluminium bottom metal and a Leupold VX2 in QRW rings. Weighs 7.5lb scoped with an empty mag.
Balance is perfect for me with the heavy barrel adding a little forward weight which helps for offhand shooting and allows a few more shot strings at the range without losing POI. Trigger is good.
Have taken two deer in the woods, both within 100yds, no issues and no tracking needed. I didn’t find the 20” barrel a hindrance to manoeuvring.

Keep thinking of trying out a CZ in same chambering, but every time I handle the Howa, I can’t help feeling I’d be downgrading. The Howa action/bolt is all steel with no plastic, where as both Ruger and CZ have a bunch of plastic/aluminium parts.

I also have a Ruger Ranch in 5.56. Handy little gun, but quality is certainly below the Howa.
 

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Murray 3-D said:
I have the a CZ 600+ Lux in 7.62x39 with the 18" barrel. For hunting i wouldnt want it any longer. Having it longer kindov contradicts the main pros of a small nimble intermediate cartridge hunting rifle. Whether the bullet drop at 200m is 8" or 16" it doesnt really concern me so long as im familiar with what it actually is.
Click to expand...
That's a nice looking gun for sure!
Have you actually taken it hunting, and did you choose to add any extra wood protector to the stock?
Did you bother with any stock and magazine swaps available with the model?
 
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Goo98 said:
I went for the Howa 22” and even replaced the magazine trigger guard with the Jefferson hinged floorplate internal mag.
If you wanna maximize potential velocity you’ll need the 22”.

On a side note the grenade launcher Yugo sks has a 22” barrel.
Click to expand...
That's an interesting fact about the Yugo SKS. Does the literature you read mention the reason their army went with the 22"?
 
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