1/2” MOA from a 7.62x39mm bolt action?? Hell Yeah!

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1/2” MOA from a 7.62x39mm bolt action?? Hell Yeah!

We all have one of those guns that has a story and some significance or sentimental valve to us. This is the story of one of mine.

A couple years ago I really wanted at Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact with 16.5” barrel. I considered one in the available calibers but it wasn’t until I read that for a short time back when the Hawkeye was first released, they were also available in 7.62x39.

I purchased one used off the EE. The stock and components were in great shape but the barrel was a disappointment. I was the 3rd owner from what I know. Someone previously shot corrosive surplus through it and completely wrecked the barrel. It literally looked like popcorn on the inside give 6-7” groups at 100yards :(

I inquired to the Ruger service center in Canada (Snap Shots) in Quebec. I asked if they could order a new barrel. Ruger USA had 1 replacement barrel in 7.62x39 in stock and Snap Shots imported it for me on their next order of parts.
I sent them the gun and a few months later, I received my gun back with a brand new barrel.

I took it to the range with Federal Power Shok 123gr Soft Point and my groupings are unbelievable.
Its wearing a Leupold VX-1 2-7x33mm and Ruger extra low rings.

I consistently get groups as in the pics below. Amazing for this caliber let alone with factory hunting ammo and a 16.5” barrel.

I used this gun last season to drop a small 8 point from 70yards through an alder swamp. Straight on neck shot.
Some guns will come into your life that you will never sell.
 
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I have had many bolt action 7.62X39 rifles... two of the Ruger M77 Compact's and half a dozen of the M77 MKII stainless and blued versions in 20" and 22" barrels... they have all been very accurate, the two most accurate were a compact and my current Stainless MKII R-version. Below is pictured the rifle (one down from the top) and a five shot group @ 100 meters target... the load is the 123 SST over 30.0 grains CFE-BLK @ 2.220" with PPU brass and F210 primers.
 
Nice groups!
Not as nice as my buddies though. About 20 years ago or so he bought a Chinese sks, a cheap tacticool stock, a cheap Chinese scope and a crate of Norinco ammo. At 100yds he shot 3 rounds at his target and I shot 3 at mine with the ole 270, but I only saw 1 hole in his target through my scope. We walk down to get a closer look and he says "musta all gone through the same hole". We walk back and I get on his gun. The crosshairs were spun a bit and you could grab the scope and wiggle it around...lol
"Yep! You got a keeper there Schmitz! Better stick to your old 303 for deer this year though."
 
My daughter's Ruger Compact 7.62x39 will put 123gr TSX into a half inch group.

I personally don't believe any of the "7.62x39 isn't an accurate cartidge" talk. I think it's more the type of firearms it's usually fired from that gave it a poor reputation for accuracy with some people. It's been pretty well proven to me that when fired through a quality bolt, it's just as accurate as most any other round.
 
Mine does it too, along with my .260 Compact. The exactitude of these magnificent lilliputians is indomitable.


Except I keep getting these flyers:

n2CqpO5.jpg
 
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Nothing wrong with the ol’ 7.62 Soviet. Good groups!

I myself could never rationalize a bolt gun in that cartridge... I leave the bolts for haul’n @ss cartridges. lol.
 
Once in a while I'm sorely tempted to buy a 7.62x39 bolt action. My latest desire is the Howa Mini Action. But then I make the logical decision to just stick to 308 Winchester. A 308 bolt action can be built or bought at under 6 lbs and with only 1/2" longer bolt throw than the x39. Rifle costs the same or less in 308 because you can always find a used Savage for cheap. Ammo price is identical other than surplus steel cased x39. 308 can be loaded with 125gr bullets or up to 200gr. It just makes more sense.

But I still want the x39 in a little bolt action! Just can't help it :).
 
jbmauser said:
My daughter's Ruger Compact 7.62x39 will put 123gr TSX into a half inch group.

I personally don't believe any of the "7.62x39 isn't an accurate cartidge" talk. I think it's more the type of firearms it's usually fired from that gave it a poor reputation for accuracy with some people. It's been pretty well proven to me that when fired through a quality bolt, it's just as accurate as most any other round.
Click to expand...

That is exactly correct. It may not have some "inherent accuracy" features that some other cartridges do, but good ammo + good rifle = good accuracy. Most of the time the 7.62x39 is crippled with bad ammo or inaccurate rifle or both. Shooting surplus ammo in a x39 bolt gun is good and cheap fun practice, but it's not going to be stellar accuracy.

But even an SKS can give some good accuracy when fed good ammo. Much of the inaccuracy with an SKS is really in the poor battle sights and the ammo it is fed. Many years ago I took one of the 5 (New, Chinese) SKS rilfes I bought from Lever Arms for $75 each and disabled the gas assembly so it was a manual repeater, attached a bolt on scope mount and a cheap but decent scope and made some handloads for it. I managed 10 shot 4"-6" groups at 200 yards. While this isn't stellar accuracy for 3-5 round groups from a bolt action, it was pretty good for 10 rounds from an SKS, and would certainly kill a deer at 200 yards!. :)
 
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I thought I would dislike this cartridge, Im bad for judging books by its cover.

Went to the range with a relative who had a CZ 527 carbine in 7.62 with a diamondback 4-12. It has the double set trigger. Wow what a fun gun to shoot, the shots were very accurate and barely any recoil. Just what I like for target shooting.

Ill have one sometime soon.
 
Why not? said:
Why not a 7.62X39 Improved?

30arx01fix.jpg


Ted
Click to expand...

I saw this gem on the Beartooth Forum while searching the 7.62X39 Improved . . .

I just came across this thread, after having been away for a while.

About the 7.62x39 imp concept, I've got a friend/gunsmith not far from me, that talked me out of my stainless Ruger M77MKII in 7.62x39 (mistake ever getting rid of that gun), but he improved the chamber, by using a .310" pilot on a 240Wby reamer, and running it in just so that it cleaned up the shoulder/neck, retaining the same overall head/body diameter, but eliminating the body taper(I don't know the final dimensions), then uses Hornady neck-only sizing dies on his brass.

This "improvement" yields ballistics comparable to a factory loaded .300 Savage, albeit he's probably pushing the pressure envelope pretty hard. However, it's lights out for coyotes out to 300 yards with a dead-on-hold when sighted only 2" high at 100 yds using 123g SP's.

My friend doesn't own a chronograph, and I've only shot the gun up at his ranch.... don't know velocities, but he's positively eliminated case stretch... even with his steamy loads. Too, the case looks really cool with it's straight taper, and double-radiused neck/shoulder ala Weatherby.

It makes an interesting variation, and he already had the reamer, so it was a no brainer for a tinkerer like him to throw it into the lathe and "improve" it. I wouldn't do it, but fun just the same.

God Bless,
 
I have a nice little Zastava M85 in 7.62x39. I put it up for sale at a couple of gun shows. Thankfully, nobody bought it. It is now safe and sound in my office. I've only ever fired surplus at a 100 yd. gong, so can't say what it will do. I just put an old Burson scope on it, and will have to take it out a try to zero it in. Very nice little rifle to shoot. Not the finest rifle ever made, but it suits me!
 
Anybody know of any left hand versions of any of these?

Been dreaming of the CZ 527, but no lefty option & decided long ago to stick with proper lefty bolts.

Ryan
 
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