Range Report - 8 different 7.62x39

[Ganderite]

I appreciate the info shared on the test results from various SKS caliber rifles and the sorts of Ammo used in the testing. I've shot SKS and always arrived at the conclusion that they are too inaccurate for my liking and are unworthy of owning and shooting. Yet I understand why shooters like them (price) and the ammo (price) that's available for the SKS. I do like the 7.63 x 39 cartridge and it's abilities but would only consider some sort of bolt configuration where decent accuracy is achievable.

I tend to agree with you. Inaccurate rifles are no fun.

But "accuracy" is also a function of application. I find that my Ontario deer hunting shots are usually on the 25 to 50 yard range. My SKS would do the job.

I also have a nice scoped Norinco bolt action rifle, that is a bit more accurate than the SKS.

 

[bearhunter]

I tend to agree with you. Inaccurate rifles are no fun.

But "accuracy" is also a function of application. I find that my Ontario deer hunting shots are usually on the 25 to 50 yard range. My SKS would do the job.

I also have a nice scoped Norinco bolt action rifle, that is a bit more accurate than the SKS.

Yup, I settled on a Howa 1500 chambered in 7.62x39. It shoots .308/.310/.311/312 bullets very well.

Last fall, about six months after my shoulder replacement I need a rifle with low recoil that would give me reliable accuracy out to 150 meters. I tested a lot of different loads, with different powders and bullet diameters/weights. Everything from .308 diameter 100 grain half jacket (intended for M1 Carbine) to 150 grain .312 diameter round nose (intended for 303 Brit).

The bore diameter on my rifle measures .310 by my micrometer and has a 1-9.5 twist rate. It stabilized everything shot through it very well and some extremely well.

The very light 100 grain half jackets bullets shot into 2 inches at 100m but only 6 inches at 200m. At 100m they were explosive on impact into wet paper media. At 200 they held together but accuracy wasn't acceptable.

The next weights I tried were 125 grain in different diameters up to .312. These, were designed for the cartridge but not such a tight twist rate. The .308 diameter shot acceptably out to 200m with consistent 1.5 moa groups and decent expansion. The .310 diameter bullets which were Hornady 125 grain Spire Point Soft Point shot the best at consistent 1moa right out to 200m. The 311 to 312 diameter bullets opened up their groups to 2 moa out to 200m but otherwise performed acceptably. The 135 an 150 grain bullets were also very accurate but because of the limited case capacities velocities produced trajectories like rainbows.

The little Howa mini action is a jewel. I don't like their mag release but other than that it's light, easily carried and handles like a dream, with very little recoil. Mindy you it's much lighter than the SKS so recoil is more noticeable, as is muzzle flash.

The heaviest bullets performed acceptably out to 200m but I would have needed to do a lot of work under field conditions to get used to the trajectory. There was also a noticeable tendency for the 150 grain bullets to drift to the right about 10cm at 200m.

I stuck with the excellent Hornady 125 grain spsp. It did what was asked of it at 125 yards with a good lung shot.

 

[Ganderite]

I am hoping my 13 year old grandson can join us at a ORA Sporting Rifle shoot. This involves a 100 yard standing and then 200 and 300 yard prone off a rest.

I know the 200 and 300 yard prone won’t be a problem for him, but I am looking for a rifle that he could comfortably shoot standing. I have a Norinco 7.62x39 BushRanger, which weighs even less than an SKS (although he might prefer the SKS because of the cool factor) so today I shot the Norinco with a variety of milsurp ammo to see how it does and to check the zero.

The Norinco BushRanger results were poor with milsurp, running around 3” to 4”. It has a 3-9 scope on it, and results were about the same as my iron sighted SKS.

I also had some milsurp Mexican-match. I pulled the 123FMJ and substituted a Horandy 123 soft point. This grouped at 2.00” This is quite acceptable.

I also took the opportunity to shoot the same ammo through my Remington 788 that I made up specifically as an accurate heavy barrel rifle for testing ammo. I used one of my old 308 target rifle barrels and re-chambered to 7.62x39. It has a 20” barrel.


This rifle shot the milsurp at just under 1.5”. Not bad for military ammo.





The Mexican-match made with 130 gr Speer 308 Soft points grouped at 0.65” Very nice.


When I used the 788 for ammo testing a couple of years ago it tended to misfire about 50% of the time. It usually fired on the second attempt. The hard military primers were an issue.

I subsequently installed a heavier than stock Wolfe spring. I tried a few shots and it still misfired. So did the Norinco.

I took the bolts out and stuck a brake cleaner nozzle in the firing pin hole and washed out the inside of the bolt. I left the bolts on a pad of paper towel to drain and noted some grease stains. Then I squirted in some G96 as a lubricant. problem solved. 100% ignition with both rifles.

 

[BAAC]

Just found this post. By far, one of the best I've ever read. Thanks so much for all this amazing info.

 

[Buck1950]

Hi Ganderite and all - I (luckily) found this thread a couple years ago and saved the pics of your ammo tests. I now find that the Photobucket images are very blurry. Is this just me or do others have this problem?? I have found that P-bucket images elsewhere are also of poor quality. I never had that 'service' - I have used 'Postimage' for several years - they don't have a "watermark' on their images either, so the pics are very detailed !! Most of the PB pics I've seen have that PB watermark right where the detail I'm interested in resides.

SORRY !! - This image was deleted accidentally around 10/22/2020 and replaced 10/27 - Buck

[/url][/IMG]

 

[Tvw]

Gosh.. as a huge x39 fan THANK YOU!!

 

[Ganderite]

Real World Results

I have a Norinco SKS I bought for $99 about 40 years ago. I recall a case of Norinco non-corrosive at the same time for another $99.

I have a number of SKS rifles, but this is my "shooter". I put a peep sight on it to help my old eyes.

I shot it today off a bench at 50 yards. Then sight picture was good.

I had 3 different flavours of milsurp ammo to shoot.

Tula - Russian copper wash case

Romanian - with the red stripe

Yugo - Brass case and lead core bullet


I know from past experience that the Yugo does not shoot well. I use it to pull the bulelts, dump the powder and then reload with a new powder charge and a good hunting bullet.

First I fired 5 of each. Each hit the target ok, so I repeated the test with 10 shots of each ammo. 10 shots is a more realistic test.

10 shot group size at 50 yards

Tula - 3.7"

Romanian - 2.9"

Yugo - 5.0"

 

[1939]

Thanks, that was a fantastic and thorough post!

 

[Ganderite]

My iron sight rifle groups 3" to 4" at 50 yards. I have several SKS rifles, and that is a typical group. Note that I measure a group as 10 shots - not 3.

Today I shot my Russian with a Bushnell red dot. I have the same sight on a 858 that I used in CQB competition and each time I used it I was surprised at how fast and accurate it is. Almost as good as a scope, but faster and much better peripheral vison because works perfectly with both eyes open.

The SKS shot corrosive milsurp and commercial non-corrosive ammo well. It looks like the milsurp has a few flyers.

The red dot mounts on the place where the rear sight used to be. A good solid location. Much better than on the wobbly receiver cover.

The SKS flings brass violently in all directions. It will blow the rear lens out of an optic. (Don't ask how I know this.) The solution is to file the rear of the ejection port square. See my rifle. This simple mod allows the brass to eject sideways.