Stainless 16 Lightweight Hunter 7.62x39 build

[Newtosavage]

Interesting. I didn't realize they had separate 150 SST's. Makes sense though.

[Newtosavage]

Any progress on the build?

[futurerider103]

Stalled out until I get my barrel and stock. However I did buy a walnut semi finished blank from Numrich for my dad's b day in august. Hopefully the wood is as nice as others have said

My adhd is just killing me right now waiting on my stock and barrel.

[Newtosavage]

When do you expect it?

[futurerider103]

About 2 weeks

[Newtosavage]

Hmm. That's too long! LOL.

BTW, someone asked if I may get better groups out of more magnification from my Savage scout vs. the 4x Weaver scout scope. Well, I have my answer. No. LOL. I took my scout scope and rail off my 7.62x39 and installed one of my favorite scopes - my Leupy 2-7x33 - in the conventional position. I have yet to shoot as small a group with that scope set at 7x as I have with my Weaver 4x scout scope. Go figure.

[futurerider103]

I was the one who mentioned the magnification and I was thinking more like a 12x. I know when I shoot .22 for size the difference between a 3-9 and a 12x is huge. You need to get on a Vortex Viper PST 6-25x50 stat!!!!! Lol.

Oh I agree it's too long to wait. I look at my calender everyday and just shake my head

[Newtosavage]

I've actually thought about making my 7.62x39 do dual-duty as both a range gun and hog gun, by having two scopes for it. If there was one gun I would do it with, that would be the one.

Oh, BTW, I shot another sub-MOA group at 300 yards with factory Hornady ammo today. :D

[futurerider103]

Keep rubbing it in why don't you

[Newtosavage]

Just giving you something to chase with your build. That's all. :D

[futurerider103]

My dad's stock will be in on Wednesday day. Hopefully the wood looks awesome. If no its no big deal only $35

[Newtosavage]

FWIW, I had the good fortune to discover yesterday that the Hornady 160-grain FTX (flex-tip) bullet works beautifully out of my 7.62x39 Savage barrel. I was skeptical whether it would be accurate, but it is very accurate. This bullet was designed for the lower velocities of the 30-30, so it should be a good choice for the 7.62x39 for hunting deer-sized game. That's exactly what I intend to do with it. I hope to test it on some feral pigs soon.

Looks kinda weird with the cannelure so far out of the case mouth, but I don't really care how they look, so long as they shoot well.

[futurerider103]

I need to get into reloading.
I emailed jim today for a barrel update

[Newtosavage]

For a long time, I figured there was no way I was going to reload for this caliber, since the factory stuff was so accurate and the russian stuff was so cheap. But after loading for it, I realized that I can easily exceed the factory ballistics using RL-7 powder, and still keep the pressures reasonable. I've pushed 150-grain bullets to 2300 fps. before pressure signs showed up (actually to 2350 then backed off), and these 160 grainers at 2200+ aren't showing any pressure signs. So that will be my designated deer round. I'm going to sling the rest of my 150's at plates or pigs until they are gone.

For someone who doesn't reload, the 50-round box of Hornady 123-grain SST's are impossible to beat in that bullet weight. So consistently accurate they are boring to shoot, and they do a number on pigs.

[futurerider103]

That's .308 knock down territory

[Newtosavage]

Darn near. In fact, I was able to duplicate the ballistics with my 7.62x39 of several of my reduced .308 loads, shooting 150-grainers at 2250-2300 fps. I was pretty surprised by that.

Of course, for normal loads, the little russian isn't going to get anywhere near the .308, but it will slightly out-perform the 30-30 with pointed bullets and a full charge in a rifle that can handle it (like our Savages). What's amazing to me is that even shooting a 150 grain bullet at 2250 fps., the recoil seems WAY less than my 30-30.

[futurerider103]

When loaded with the 160s how is felt recoil compared to a .308

[Newtosavage]

When loaded with the 160s how is felt recoil compared to a .308

Not even close. Still less than my 30-30, and less than my daughter's .243.

What I cannot seem to understand is how light the recoil feels on a round that is still producing in excess of 1K ft. lbs. at 200 yards. But I'm not complaining. :) It's so much fun to shoot an accurate round that carries good energy and that has recoil that does not distract the shooter at all. And keep in mind, this is with a rifle that weighs less than 7 lbs. total. For a rifle with a heavier stock, barrel and scope, it's going to be like child's play.

[futurerider103]

I can put an explanation to all of this. It's the Communists witchcraft!
Oh and a barrel update. Jim still hasn't received my barrel blank yet so he said contact him again in 2 weeks

[Newtosavage]

Well dang. And I agree the recoil thing could very well be some unknown com-bloc technology... LOL.