Stainless 16 Lightweight Hunter 7.62x39 build

[futurerider103]

The ammo price was a huge plus and inspiration for me building this gun

[Newtosavage]

For example (and at the risk of cutting my own supply) this stuff shoots 1.5-2" groups all day long from my gun at 100, and easily under 4" at 200 yards, carrying a measured 1004 ft. lbs of energy at 200 yards. I'm not sure how that isn't ideal for shorter-range whitetail and hog hunting, esp. considering how light the recoil is. My daughter's .243 kicks way worse than my 7.62x39, if you can believe that.

http://www.luckygunner.com/7-62x39mm-154-gr-sp-tulammo-40-rounds

Check that price. It's $11.50 for 40 rounds, not 20.

And I know they list the MV at 2100, but surely that's out of short-barreled AK's or SKS rifles, as my 20" bolt gun gives 2200 every time.

[futurerider103]

At my local Walmart they have those 40rnd boxes for $9.87
I try to do my best to buy a box or 2 a week

[Newtosavage]

Seriously? Of the 154's!?! That's great. I may have to ask my Wal-Mart to order some for me. :D

[futurerider103]

We literally have 9 super centers in my area so I have a large selection

[Newtosavage]

Nine? Geez. I don't think I want to live where you live then. :D

[futurerider103]

Springfield Mo. Walmart are growing all over here. Stupid hormones in the chicken. Lol
The 9 isn't even counting the smaller green walmart markets

[Ol' BW]

I don't see the interest in this caliber in a bolt gun, why? Seems like a 300BO or 6.8SPC would be a better choice, more velocity, though it doesn't make sense to me in a bolt rifle either. I'd think the 6.5 grendel would be a good choice, good bullets with high BC and decent velocity.
One of the reasons to chamber a traditional semi-auto carbine cartridge to bolt action (or single shot) is because of the performance advantages of the platform. Semi-autos work in a very narrow power range and pressure curve. If the load is too light it will not cycle, too heavy and it can break action parts or cause abnormal wear and threaten reliability. If the pressure curve is different because of a different powder burn rate, etc. it can cause a failure to eject or jam the action. Also traditionally, semi-autos have more variables to control to make it accurate. Having a bolt action eliminates or reduces many of those problems. You can handload for the performance you want. It makes the cartridge of choice more versatile. Subsonic, supersonic, light loads, light bullets, heavy bullets heavy loads, whatever combination you want.

The 7.62x39 is a slave to the platform it was designed for. The AK and SKS have relatively low pressure rating due to the design of the bolt lockup. Therefore, the spec pressure for the round is low because there are so many AK and SKS out there.

Put the 7.62x39 in a bolt action gives it a new lease on life!

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/762x39.htm

http://members.shaw.ca/cronhelm/762ProjectRifle.html

BW

[futurerider103]

Here is some good reading for the savage 7.62x39 builds and load development http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php?topic=144188.0

[futurerider103]

Yesterday I ordered my enhanced extractor kit from SSS and today foxx said he packaged up my botom metal/mag and trigger gaurd from being coated ready to be sent to me. I think I'm ordering my barrel and stock this week

[futurerider103]

Well I checked the finances and I ordered my AAA grade Custom Rollover stock from Richards Microfit and my X-caliber barrel from Apache Gun Works contoured to Savage Hog Hunter Spec. It's going to be a long 6-8weeks.

[Newtosavage]

Man, you're not messing around are you !?! Should be one heluva good shooting gun. I can't wait to have a shoot-off with you when you get it all put together. :D

[futurerider103]

I'm going to be shooting factory ammo for the foreseeable future because I don't have a hand loading stuff and I'm buying a house here in the next couple months so factory ammo it is.
But shooting it will surely happen regularly

[Newtosavage]

That's great. Buying a house means you can make sure you have an area for a reloading bench. LOL.

[futurerider103]

I've been living in the house for the last year making sure it was where I wanted to buy and now we are certain. 3.5acres 5bd 2 bath basement. I'm sure I can find somewhere for a bench eventually

[Newtosavage]

5 bedroom? Dang. You have room for at least 20 kids in there. LOL.

[futurerider103]

Well we have 5 kids a doberman and a great dane so we need some room

[Newtosavage]

I was one of five also. Would have killed for my own bedroom growing up.

[futurerider103]

Oddly enough they all want to sleep in the same room and range from ages 3-14

[Newtosavage]

LOL. Kids these days.

Gonna be interested in seeing what kind of accuracy you can achieve with some of the common factory loads that I've been using. The Hornady SST's are remarkably consistent in my gun - always giving me around 1" and always delivering the round to the same POI, regardless of whether it's the first shot or 15th on a hot barrel. Can't ask for much more than that.

The Winchester soft points were the most accurate, but over my chrono, fall about 50 fps. shy of the Hornady which means they are a 150-yard round for me. The TulAmmo with it's impressive 2200 fps. with a 154-grain bullet carries the most energy - a legitimate 1000 ft. lbs. at 200 yards, while maintaining reasonable accuracy, so they may be my deer hunting rounds (or my wife or daughter's) going forward.

I'm really trying to resist the urge to hand load for my 7.62x39, but I know myself and eventually I'll give in. Esp. since the dies are only about $40 and I can use the same bullets as my .308. If I do take the plunge, I'm really hoping that the 150-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips shoot well out of my 7.62x39. Since most of what I've been shooting are .310 bullets, it will be interesting to me to see what .308 bullets do.