7.62x39 20" vs 22" feedback

morp said:
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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After a couple several responses neutralizing my sway toward the 22".

I put a 20" heavy barrel in the cart, but held off purchasing to look into direct mount rings.
To look at a walnut version, in person today. To see that 1 specimen, and measure the chamber top opening width to make sure what scope length I'll need if I want to stay with a 2 piece scope mount. Keeping the top loading option more easily usable.

Got home to see a couple positive responses to the 22" barrel.
So I'm back to the ⚖️ again. But a little more free thinking about that barrel length fret.

Did you bother to add any extra wood protection to your gun for the hunting weather, or dampness in the maritimes?
 
Scarb67 said:
After a couple several responses neutralizing my sway toward the 22".

I put a 20" heavy barrel in the cart, but held off purchasing to look into direct mount rings.
To look at a walnut version, in person today. To see that 1 specimen, and measure the chamber top opening width to make sure what scope length I'll need if I want to stay with a 2 piece scope mount. Keeping the top loading option more easily usable.

Got home to see a couple positive responses to the 22" barrel.
So I'm back to the ⚖️ again. But a little more free thinking about that barrel length fret.

Did you bother to add any extra wood protection to your gun for the hunting weather, or dampness in the maritimes?
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Reconsider direct mount rings, you'll might need a scope base that has a 20 moa or more forward cant perhaps depending on your optic and desired range
 
Goo98 said:
Reconsider direct mount rings, you'll might need a scope base that has a 20 moa or more forward cant perhaps depending on your optic and desired range
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I was thinking of a <50mm scope for the <200 intended targeting, and weight savings.
The scope mounting height was another reason I backed up from finalizing my rifle order though.
Was going to order medium height as recommended by scopes I was browsing.
But decided to put high height ones in the cart for now, just in case.
Figuring cheek pieces are common enough...
 
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.
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What stock did you go with for that Howa 22"
 
My Ruger Am Ranch G-1 is 16" and gets ca MOA out to 200 with Barnaul SP x39, just using 'hold over' on reticle. Zeroed at 100 Y. I haven't gone to a longer range site.
 
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struff55 said:
on another note the accuracy from a sks will cause more of a spread in where the bullet will impact them a 2 " difference on bbl length
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Darn it, you beat me to my rant about the cr@p accuracy of the SKS making it statistically impossible to determine such a small difference in drop at the distance a 762x39 would be capable at.

OP: Do yourself a favour and get past the 762x39. Buy something modern in 308 or 65CR and you will never regret that.
 
I am getting 2200fps out of an 18" barrel in my CZ 600 Alpha. Using RL7, Norma brass, 123 gr SSTs and CCI 200 primers. No need to go longer as my accuracy is very good and what else would you want for speed for 7.62x39.
 
CaribooBC said:
I am getting 2200fps out of an 18" barrel in my CZ 600 Alpha. Using RL7, Norma brass, 123 gr SSTs and CCI 200 primers. No need to go longer as my accuracy is very good and what else would you want for speed for 7.62x39.
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I find this thread interesting. I'm getting 2195 fps from my 18.6" 300 blackout using H110 and 125 gr Speer TNT HPs and I'm 0.5 grains below the maximum recommended powder charge.
 
For that cartridge, I would personally prefer the shortest barrel possible that didn’t hinder the cartridge. If Ruger made the American Ranch with a 12” barrel for x39, 300 Blackout or 350 legend, I would be all over one.
 
Scarb67 said:
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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I packed it around for maybe 30kms last fall in the Alberta foothills (bought it last Sept). Didn't squeeze the trigger on any deer with that rifle, but it certainly carried and pointed exceptionally well. Easily the nicest sub 200m hunting arm ive handled to date! I decided before hand that id enjoy the rifle more if I didnt stress about getting general wear and tear on the stock. I was only running the single flush fit 5 rnder mag that comes with the rifle. I may likely buy the 10rnders when they are imported with the new CZ "Carbine" models (CZ's attempt at replacing the 527).


Because Poly and Gary's criticism of the SKS ramped up around that same time i was using the CZ last year, i decided to park the CZ and broke out the bubba'ed SKS for the next hunt. A rather spontaneous and unlogical decision, but it felt right out of principle. Coincidentally I bagged a small doe only within a couple hours of packing the SKS. Ill be using the SKS again this year just because of politics. Second choice would 100% be the CZ 600+ LUX otherwise.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
Darn it, you beat me to my rant about the cr@p accuracy of the SKS making it statistically impossible to determine such a small difference in drop at the distance a 762x39 would be capable at.

OP: Do yourself a favour and get past the 762x39. Buy something modern in 308 or 65CR and you will never regret that.
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I'm talking about information regarding modern 7.62x39 rifle offerings. OP
Not another SKS. OP
Already own .308. Mentioned later.

I don't regret getting any of my guns, because I went into the purchase with the knowledge I wanted.
I didn't do myself a favour buying any of them, because I deserve to buy whatever I actually want.
 
jparent said:
For that cartridge, I would personally prefer the shortest barrel possible that didn’t hinder the cartridge. If Ruger made the American Ranch with a 12” barrel for x39, 300 Blackout or 350 legend, I would be all over one.
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What is it that draws you to that barrel length?
I'm too new to the massive information on firearms to say for certain.
But don't most guns in the power range of this cartridge leave unfinished powder burn at 12"? Or was it the 300 Blk finished burn at 9"?
Is it the similar draw to the feeling of magnum handgun shooting? With the bonus of a longer sight picture.
 
Scarb67 said:
What is it that draws you to that barrel length?
I'm too new to the massive information on firearms to say for certain.
But don't most guns in the power range of this cartridge leave unfinished powder burn at 12"? Or was it the 300 Blk finished burn at 9"?
Is it the similar draw to the feeling of magnum handgun shooting? With the bonus of a longer sight picture.
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Modern powders can achieve extremely efficient burn in shorter barrels. For me, it’s handiness and weight. With these cartridges, you really give up nothing in capability with a shorter barrel.
 
Scarb67 said:
What is it that draws you to that barrel length?
I'm too new to the massive information on firearms to say for certain.
But don't most guns in the power range of this cartridge leave unfinished powder burn at 12"? Or was it the 300 Blk finished burn at 9"?
Is it the similar draw to the feeling of magnum handgun shooting? With the bonus of a longer sight picture.
Click to expand...
If you want the best of both worlds, and aren't as concerned about continuity of fire, consider a CVA Scout. You get a 20" barrel in a package that is about the same length as a 16" bolt action.
 
Thanks for the feedback.

Looked into the idea of a base model with HTI stock, and thinking about testing out some paint options later.
Seemed like there might be issues with coatings lasting well on the rubberised finish?

So I went back to my original mental image of a wood stock.

Without going through every Canadian gun shop in my bookmarks.
But searching the dozen or less stores my browser showed plus ones in my bookmarks.

I only found two stores that carried the base wood model.
The Walnut Hunter. And there was only one specimen at each of those stores.

Wasn't taken by, what I thought to be a little to light, wood colour, and grain highlights on the one I was able to see in person with a 22" barrel.

So I called the other store and was given good reason to believe that at least the colour tone of the wood would be to my liking.
It had the 20" heavy barrel.
I bought that one.
 
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