7.62x39 bolt actions

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GingerBear

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looking for where to start.
Id like to build a bolt action rifle in 7.62x39, but havent found enough solid info or shop to source out parts.
Was hoping this would be a cheaper option compared to just buying a ruger american, or zasteva or the pricier cz. Just cant justify spending 1000$ on a hunting rifle chambered for a surplus round...

Does anyone have experience with this?
 
Yeah sorry man no build will come cheaper than a factory guns in this chambering. Even the cz. Barrel will have to be a custom because no one makes a 7.62x39 barrel. Also be aware that surplus 7.62x39 uses .311 bullets not .308 bullets. I found savages and rugers offerings have their bore cut for 0.308 bullets. Cz i can gurantee will work with surplus. The zastava i know nothing about other than it exists.

My advice. Get the cz. Yeah its a little pricier but its beautifully finished and shoots great.
 
I was wanting to have one made up with an old sporterized 303 P14 rifle. Couldn't find anyone to do it competitively. I remember Norinco had a JW 103 "bush ranger" cheap a number of years ago, should have bought one, they don't seem to be available anymore. I did handle the Zastava mini mauser in the 7.62 x 39. It had nice wood but seem small and kind of flimsy. I did end up buying a Ruger American in 7.62 x 39 from Prairie gun traders. It was around $600 if I remember. It uses mini 30 mags and has a threaded barrel for a compensator. I have been satisfied with what I got. I have been mostly doing informal target practice with surplus ammo as its tough to get MOA accuracy with cheap ammo. I'm slowly working up handloads that will work a lot better though.
 
r34skyline said:
Yeah sorry man no build will come cheaper than a factory guns in this chambering. Even the cz. Barrel will have to be a custom because no one makes a 7.62x39 barrel. Also be aware that surplus 7.62x39 uses .311 bullets not .308 bullets. I found savages and rugers offerings have their bore cut for 0.308 bullets. Cz i can gurantee will work with surplus. The zastava i know nothing about other than it exists.
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IBI makes a true .311" diameter bore 5r rifled stainless barrel specifically for the 7.62x39. I just bought a finished AR-15 barrel made from their .311" diameter blank for one of my Modern Sporters. No it's not just a .308" blank, I had them confirm that it was actually .311" before I bought it because I also had my doubts.

However I hardly think it's economical to purchase a IBI blank and do all the other work required to build a 7.62x39 bolt gun.
 
Howa Mini Action would be my choice! It's tempting but I reload 308 Win for my Savage with a custom 14" barrel so what would I really gain with a 7.62x39 rifle? If I want a super light hunting rifle I'd save up for a Kimber. If I want low recoil I can load 125gr bullets with IMR 4198 in my 308.
 
I had the CZ. Great rifle, nice and light, wicked accuracy. The only reason it moved on to a new home is because I wanted something a little more powerful for my short-medium range carbine needs. Settled on a tikka t3x battue in 30-06.
 
The howa, or the ruger would have been my choice for buying new. Im not into the plastic on the ruger though, and ive never handled a howa.
Never heard or seen a sabatti, sounds interesting.
And howard2 i have a p14 too! But im looking into a .458 project as well lol.

Thanks for the imput guys, guess ill save up my pennies...
 
I've tried the american ranch (.556), the zastava and the CZ.

I wasn't a huge fan of the zastava.

The CZ is a great rifle, and my ruger american is very accurate. I don't like the magazine on my .556 model but the mini 30 magazine is probably much better.

If I was going to buy only one of the three I'd spend the extra on the CZ, they are awesome rifles.
 
GingerBear said:
looking for where to start.
Id like to build a bolt action rifle in 7.62x39, but havent found enough solid info or shop to source out parts.
Was hoping this would be a cheaper option compared to just buying a ruger american, or zasteva or the pricier cz. Just cant justify spending 1000$ on a hunting rifle chambered for a surplus round...

Does anyone have experience with this?
Click to expand...

It is only chambered for a surplus round if you use surplus ammo in it. There is plenty of factory soft point ammo produced and many of us handload the 7.62X39 round to impressive results. I have worked up a 150 gr Sierra Prohunter .311 load that oerates at the same or slightly higher velocity than the 123 gr surplus load velocities with MOA accuracy.
 
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r34skyline said:
Yeah sorry man no build will come cheaper than a factory guns in this chambering. Even the cz. Barrel will have to be a custom because no one makes a 7.62x39 barrel. Also be aware that surplus 7.62x39 uses .311 bullets not .308 bullets. I found savages and rugers offerings have their bore cut for 0.308 bullets. Cz i can gurantee will work with surplus. The zastava i know nothing about other than it exists.

My advice. Get the cz. Yeah its a little pricier but its beautifully finished and shoots great.
Click to expand...

The new Ruger American Ranch bolt rifle is .310/11 bore. The mini 30 and others formerly made by Ruger were .308 but the new bolt rifle is the .310/11 bore.
 
I have the Howa and love it! I'm loading 123 gr. Hornady SST's on top of 26 gr. RL7 and it shoots like a dream. When I'm pushing or scouting, it's a treat to carry and easy on this old carcass but it gives me 100-150 yd accuracy and it'll take down a deer no problem. My 14 nephew will hunt with us this fall for a few days and for a lady or smaller framed shooter, I can't think of a better rifle at that price point. If I could have afforded one, I'd have bought a CZ, but I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the Howa.
 
I have the Zastava M85 and Sabatti Rover 600 both in 7.62x39mm. Each cost me about $550+tax. I've shot Chinese and Russian surplus, Barnaul and Sellier&Bellot without any problem whatsoever. With inexpensive Vortex Crossfire II and a bench rest, a 1-1.5" grouping at 100y is normal. In particular, the Zastava M85 is an excellent bush rifle, light and short, very maneuverable:

Zastava M85
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Sabatti
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