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7.62x39 AR upper - any experience?

PropStop

Kool-Aid free since 2001.
pilot
Contributor
Hey guys, I just bought my first AR lower!!! I know, how did I go this long without one? Anyhow, I went with the Plum Crazy lower because we had a group buy at work - couldn't pass up the price. I was thinking of going with a 7.62x39 upper since I already have a SKS and a small stash of 7.62.

Has anyone had any experience with a 7.62x39 AR?

Will post pics when I'm finished building it.

I do have a line on a DPMS 5.56 upper for $490, but i"m still leaning toward the 7.62. Any DPMS users out there?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.
 

gaijin6423

Ask me about ninjas!
I would stay away from DPMS products, but I'm a fan of trying to adhere to MIL-SPEC. If you're just looking for a plinking long gun, the DPMS will be fine, but if you're going to abuse it even moderately, I would opt for something along the lines of Daniel Defense, Colt, Noveske, BCM, etc. BCM products are relatively affordable still, but the others are going to run you a chunk of change. When you can actually find them, that is. Stocks have been hit or miss for a few months now.

There is an apparent growing minority that has taken umbrage to companies like DPMS, DTI, etc, which have attempted to capitalize on the AR market by offering lower quality products for premium prices. I avoid them, but I use my rifles hard in courses, practice and competition.

Sorry, but my only experience with 7.62x39 is in my AK, the soulless, heathen commie that it is.

ETA: A lot of the 7.62x39 ammo I use nasties up my AK something fierce, so I imagine that it might prove problematic in an AR patterned rifle, which relies on a direct impingement system to cycle it.
 

C420sailor

Former Rhino Bro
pilot
I have a DPMS AR, as well as a rifle that I put together myself. Haven't had a single problem with either one.

I've heard that the weak point in the 7.62x39 AR is the magazine.
 

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
No direct experience w/ a 7.62x39 Commie ammo AR pattern, by choice, but I wholeheartedly agree w/ the two boys above.

I owned one DPMS lower, just for 'fun'. I traded it w/ a non-descript top when I decided to cull the herd. One thing I have learned:

If you want 7.62x39mm -- stick w/ Commie guns.

If you want AR -- go with better 'stuff'.
 

SynixMan

HKG Based Artificial Excrement Pilot
pilot
Contributor
I too built up a DPMS AR lower and added a DPMS upper. No issues so far @ ~1000 rds. Admittedly I don't take super good care of it, but I also don't use it that hard.
 

PropStop

Kool-Aid free since 2001.
pilot
Contributor
Between what y'all have said and what I've learned from the gun-geeks at several of our finer firearms establishments, I'm going to go with the 5.56. Already have the SKS, may as well diversify!
 

jbuck387

Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!
pilot
While I don't have experience with 7.62x39, I bought an ar upper from Palmetto State Armory in 5.45x39 another commie round. It has its ups and downs. Ammo is MUCH cheaper. That is the major positive. On the down side: the cheap ammo is corrosive and dirty, and you are limited on your parts and accessories. I enjoy buying 5.45x39 at $130 for 1080 rounds, but I hate spending 30 minutes to an hour cleaning IMMEDIATELY after shooting. I've had my upper for about two years and already have some pitting corrosion on my firing pin (even though I throughly clean after shooting). While the cheap ammo is nice, I caution against using the cheapo-Soviet corrosive ammo.
 

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
I've given up trying to keep my Commie guns 'pristine' in barrel & bore w/ the exception of a couple of Polytech Legends (milled) and a Valmet. Never had a Maadi, but I'd put it in that category as well ...

The rest: I just slush 'em out after firing and let the good times roll ... they seem to 'like' the hog wallow of dirty primers & powder ...
 

scoolbubba

Brett327 gargles ballsacks
pilot
Contributor
Can any of you gents recommend a commie gun that won't break the bank/blow up in my face and can hit the side of a barn (barring shooter's lack of ability). I'm familiar with the reputable M4geries, but don't know much about the AK family of evil black death machines.
 

jbuck387

Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!
pilot
I recommend Aim surplus, I've bought a few guns through them, A+ customer service. http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog.aspx?groupid=208&name=New+Long+Guns

They have a century arms AK with folding stock for $350, or a WASR for $430. If you want a M4gery, I went with http://www.model1sales.com/ to get my 5.45x39 upper, pretty decent prices. Hope that helps.

Can any of you gents recommend a commie gun that won't break the bank/blow up in my face and can hit the side of a barn (barring shooter's lack of ability). I'm familiar with the reputable M4geries, but don't know much about the AK family of evil black death machines.
 

LFDtoUSMC

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
I currently own a Yugoslavian (or whatever its called now) AK and my brother has another former Soviet-block (can't remember which) AK. Both were purchased for well under $350 each. Both work flawlessly with Wolf ammo, though I do miss the days of 20 rounds of 7.62 for $1.20. You can find ammo deals many places and just like everything else, buy in bulk and save $$.

As far as accuracy goes; with mine much past 50yds is a crap shoot. DISCLAIMER: I haven't actually taken the time to try and zero it in. As most of the AK shooting I do is within 25 yards and is strictly plinking for fun.

Try here first. You'll have to sort through fluff but there is good info there, especially in the links section.
 

Junkball

"I believe in ammunition"
pilot
I bought a S&W 5.45 AR upper that came with a Daniel Defense Omega Rail 7.0, Adams Arms Piston Kit, Ranier Arms Xtreme Darkness Flash hider, KAC vertical foregrip, Choate Machine Tool stock (similar in shape, config to an Emod or LMT SOPMOD), CMT iron sights and two tins (and the can opener!) of 5.45x39mm Russian surplus ammo totaling 2,160 rounds. Oh yeah, and 9 of the C-products 5.45 mags. All for $800... thought it was a good deal.

It shoots great, and I've only recently gotten tired of the extended cleaning sessions following each range trip. One day I hosed it down with windex after the range and put off the cleaning for a couple days, only to find some rust/corrosion on the flash hider and inside the piston. That Russian ammo is nasty and needs to be cleaned up quickly.

I'd say a 5.45 upper is a viable alternative as a training rifle thought, depending on your shooting schedule. Vuurwapen did a review of Spikes 5.45 offer and included a cost analysis, determining it will take ~3k rounds to break even with your additional investment into the new upper vs. 5.56. New, I think it's a good deal, especially since surplus 5.45 is at about 12 cents/round, roughly half the cost of 5.56

Upper w/ Aeroprecision lower
IMAG0229.jpgIMAG0245.jpg
 

flaps

happy to be here
None
Contributor
get a finn mosin
3373148622_5253824c98_o.jpg
 

EODDave

The pastures are greener!
pilot
Super Moderator
Go with a PWS AR. Great piston gun. They basically took the piston system from an AK and put it in an AR. The make 5.56, 7.62 x39, 300 BLK and 7.62x51. Great guns and they give a mil/LE discount as well. They take a month or so to get, but they make some great weapons. I dont like the stock trigger. You can upgrade to a Geissele trigger or put in whatever trigger you like when you get it. I had my lower built and just bought an upper. Looking to get the 300 BLK as I hear its doing some really good work these days. http://primaryweapons.com/store/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=14
 
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