7.62x39 20" vs 22" feedback

Scarb67 said:
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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Next time when you are searching for a specific firearms related item, google almostprohibiteddotcom
 
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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Nice rifle and nice setup! Big fan of the Howa wood stock and 20" barrel too.

Were the deer hit with CNS shots?
 
CaribooBC said:
Next time when you are searching for a specific firearms related item, google almostprohibiteddotcom
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Impressive.
Definitely helpful!
It definitely showed the gun I bought as being in the aggregated stock listing from 34hrs ago too.
Clicking that listing for my one specimen in stock took me to the same page I had open while purchasing the gun.
And showed the same empty link that my browser refreshed to after I purchased that last gun.

So the site is definitely pretty up to date. Unlike a regular browser search.

But it had no listings for the firearms available at the other gun vendor at all. Which is listed in the main page vendor list.
The site does state it's an upcoming aggregator. So doing pretty well as such.


The correct web address is almostprohibiteddotca (ca not com).
But browsers correct the difference in a search for address results anyway.
 
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The cartridge actually performs best in carbine barrel lengths. Around the 16" mark is all you really need. Anything beyond that has unimpressive gains.

Now if you like that cartridge, check out 6.5 grendel. It's a factory wildcat of the 7.62x39. Much better long range ballistics than x39. Not terribly expensive either! Makes for a great deer gun and a fun one to reload.
 
I have two Howa's 1500 Mini Action in 7.62x39mm, one with a standard synthetic stock and the other with an EXCL LITE "tactical" chassis both 20" barrel. Also, I have a Ruger Ranch Gen.1 7.62x39mm with a16.12" barrel. I tested all three with a chronograph (Athlon Rangecraft):
Ammo: Ruag/MFS brass 7.62x39mm:
Howa Mini Action standard synthetic stock, heavy 20" barrel: Av.muzzle velocity=2405.2fps (45 shots); SD=21.5fps
Howa Mini action EXCL LITE "tactical" chassis heavy 20" barrel: Av.muzzle velocity=2418.3fps (56 shots); SD=21.9fps
Ruger Ranch Gen.1 16.12" heavy barrel: Av.muzzle velocity=2306.0fps (39 shots); SD=25.5fps
Loss on a 16.12" barrel: 99.2-112.3fps; more or less about 25fps/inch.
P.S. Also, there is a pretty good study here: https://rifleshooter.com/2016/01/7-62x39-mm-russian-effects-of-barrel-length-on-velocity/
 
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Joel said:
Nice rifle and nice setup! Big fan of the Howa wood stock and 20" barrel too.

Were the deer hit with CNS shots?
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Both were heart shots through lung, quartering away with Winchester SP’s. Hearts were mush and bullets were somewhere in the far shoulder, no exit wounds. Not the easiest to track if tracking would be needed - not much of a blood trail - but with good placement, hopefully not necessary. I’m sure a CNS hit would be even more efficient.
 
morp said:
Both were heart shots through lung, quartering away with Winchester SP’s. Hearts were mush and bullets were somewhere in the far shoulder, no exit wounds. Not the easiest to track if tracking would be needed - not much of a blood trail - but with good placement, hopefully not necessary. I’m sure a CNS hit would be even more efficient.
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Cool! Thanks for the info!
 
05RAV said:
I have two Howa's 1500 Mini Action in 7.62x39mm, one with a standard synthetic stock and the other with an EXCL LITE "tactical" chassis both 20" barrel. Also, I have a Ruger Ranch Gen.1 7.62x39mm with a16.12" barrel. I tested all three with a chronograph (Athlon Rangecraft):
Ammo: Ruag/MFS brass 7.62x39mm:
Howa Mini Action standard synthetic stock, heavy 20" barrel: Av.muzzle velocity=2405.2fps (45 shots); SD=21.5fps
Howa Mini action EXCL LITE "tactical" chassis heavy 20" barrel: Av.muzzle velocity=2418.3fps (56 shots); SD=21.9fps
Ruger Ranch Gen.1 16.12" heavy barrel: Av.muzzle velocity=2306.0fps (39 shots); SD=25.5fps
Loss on a 16.12" barrel: 99.2-112.3fps; more or less about 25fps/inch.
P.S. Also, there is a pretty good study here: https://rifleshooter.com/2016/01/7-62x39-mm-russian-effects-of-barrel-length-on-velocity/
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That's an interesting result with that ammo.
Unless the Howa and Ruger barrels reacted that differently from one another in 7.62x39? Besides any QC variations in any product...

Most of the (few) youtube videos that actually showed velocity (over just physical effects on various target media) and written articles.
Showed gain over 16" barrels to be, ~100fps at the 22" barrel length, and ~60fps for the 20" barrel length.


That article was one of the ones that I bookmarked in the 7.62x39 folder.
 
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Gumboots said:
The cartridge actually performs best in carbine barrel lengths. Around the 16" mark is all you really need. Anything beyond that has unimpressive gains.

Now if you like that cartridge, check out 6.5 grendel. It's a factory wildcat of the 7.62x39. Much better long range ballistics than x39. Not terribly expensive either! Makes for a great deer gun and a fun one to reload.
Click to expand...

If its any faster in a longer barrel length, does slower really mean "it performs best"?

I mean it doesn't slow down in 18, 20 or 22 inch barrels haha.

That said, yeah 16" is plenty good enough, prefer the handling of a longer barrel here more than caring about 50 fps etc
 
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