pros and cons of an AR chambered in 7.62x39

ARs weren't designed for it, personally I'm waiting for the ARAK21 uppers to show up - if they take too long on regular vendors I'll just import a few myself.
 
I have a PWS 7" and it is fun as hell. Extractor broke after 200 rounds through it. PWS sent me a new improved extractor and it has been good since then. About 400 more rounds through it. I use the non-corrosive Russian ammo. It does not like non PWS lowers and when I tried it on a Spikes Tactical Lower it had feeding issues. I use the xcr pistol mags. They need some customizing to work well by filing the front lip.

Everyone knows when I shoot it at the range. It has a distinctive sound!
 
Tactical Gak said:
I have a PWS 7" and it is fun as hell. Extractor broke after 200 rounds through it. PWS sent me a new improved extractor and it has been good since then. About 400 more rounds through it. I use the non-corrosive Russian ammo. It does not like non PWS lowers and when I tried it on a Spikes Tactical Lower it had feeding issues. I use the xcr pistol mags. They need some customizing to work well by filing the front lip.

Everyone knows when I shoot it at the range. It has a distinctive sound!
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Hey
Ive tested the upper on different lowers and no issues except a light primer strike on the norc lower and thats because the hammer spring is not strong enough,usually half of the ftfeed is because of the mag. Do you seat the mag bolt closed or open?
 
So am I right in figuring that cleanup for surplus ammo more or less involves stripping/washing the bolt carrier out and upending the upper and pouring boiling water into it, flooding the barrel and gas tube?

then solvent, lube, etc ... really, most of the gun is made of stuff that doesn't rust
 
It is the water in Windex that is the cleaning agent. The bottle is convenient. Tap water is readily available, and really cheap.
 
Water from the hot water tap is sufficient to dissolve the chemical residu.
Better yet just get some Gunzilla it is formulated to neutralize the corrosive residue, just couple squirts down the chamber and bolt head instead of windex.
 
no issues except a light primer strike on the norc lower and thats because the hammer spring is not strong enough
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I had the same issue with my Norc trigger, and a swapped-in DPMS trigger in my CQ-A lower, dropped in a Wolf extra-power hammer spring and will be further testing tomorrow.

So am I right in figuring that cleanup for surplus ammo more or less involves stripping/washing the bolt carrier out and upending the upper and pouring boiling water into it, flooding the barrel and gas tube?

then solvent, lube, etc ... really, most of the gun is made of stuff that doesn't rust
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That's exactly my cleaning procedure, I use some compressed air as well, then G96 - what else?

It is the water in Windex that is the cleaning agent.
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Agreed, straight water! Where did the Windex myth come from, and when is it going to die? A thermos full of water is good after shooting if you're far away from home.
 
Big Red, do you see fellows running these x39's on carbine courses?
If yes, any particular makes/models that stand out better than others?
 
In my opinion an Ar chambered in 76.2x39 should be a piston gun. The reason is that if you fire corrosive ammunition, a piston gun will be much easier to clean the salts out of. I would hate to try to get the corrosive salts out of a gas tube.

This was the main reason I purchased an XCR in this caliber.
 
mississaugagunnut said:
In my opinion an Ar chambered in 76.2x39 should be a piston gun. The reason is that if you fire corrosive ammunition, a piston gun will be much easier to clean the salts out of. I would hate to try to get the corrosive salts out of a gas tube.

This was the main reason I purchased an XCR in this caliber.
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I doubt the gas tube will rot out as it is stainless steel, and if it does it is an easy to find and replace $15 part.

I would look at one in a second if the AR was de restricted. Cheap ammo for training inside 100m, and 30-30 ballistics for hunting (and good ammo is available).
 
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Deagle. I normally seat magazine on a closed bolt. Get a feed issue maybe one in three mags on the Spikes Lower.

Not a big deal as I bought a second PWS 7" upper in 223 for the Spikes lower. Works great. My 7" CMMG 22lr upper works great on the Spikes lower too.
 
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mississaugagunnut said:
In my opinion an Ar chambered in 76.2x39 should be a piston gun. The reason is that if you fire corrosive ammunition, a piston gun will be much easier to clean the salts out of. I would hate to try to get the corrosive salts out of a gas tube.

This was the main reason I purchased an XCR in this caliber.
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I hear you on the cleaning. I have to say though, the only thing that adds time/effort to my corrosive cleaning is that I dump some hot water through the upper before stripping it down. If it's hot enough, it mostly evaporates, then I hit it with compressed air and strip the BCG as I normally would. G96, hoppes, boresnake, re-assemble.

Lately I've been shooting LCW non-corrosive.
 
Steiner said:
Big Red, do you see fellows running these x39's on carbine courses?
If yes, any particular makes/models that stand out better than others?
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To be honest they have not been that common until recently. I (and a couple friends) have Citizen Arms builds which run fine and are extremely accurate. The test targets that came with the CA rifles were from .8-.95 MOA. With any 7.62x39 AR that is based on the 5.56 bolt you are going to go through extractors, so have a spare on hand. No experience with the varieties with purpose built bolts, will be giving NEA a try here shortly.
 
For those who want to play with muzzle brakes.....Do most of these x39 AR barrels run 5/8x24 muzzle threads?
I'm specifically thinking NEA and Windham right now, but interested in others too.
 
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