Model 12 308 to 7.62x39

[mattri]

Tried a search sorry if this has been covered.

Have a model 12 SA in 308, currently running AICS mags.

Kicking around the idea of converting to 7.62x39.

Other than a barrel/bolt head swap anything else needed?

Will 7.62x39 feed from reg mags?

Thanks, Matt.

[mikebritton]

Why would you want to convert from .308 to 7.62X39?

[olddav]

Would you need to swap bolt heads?
.308 (.4709)
7.62x39 (.447)

[Dave Hoback]

Why on God’s green earth would compel you to do this? :noidea:

Bolt head is NOT the same. You need the PPC/ARC bolt head. Magazine likely will not work either. As is anyway. Would need a mag block.

[mattri]

Thanks guys, bolt head is mentioned in first post.

Looks like a new mag as well.

Why not? Seems like it could be a fun project.

[Dave Hoback]

Did I mention.... WHY??

“Excuse me waiter. Could you please take back this American Prime Rib back & exchange it for some Russian CHUCK BEEF?”

You know I’m just kidding Matt. Of course it’ll be a fun project. Any gun work I do is fun! Barrel swap, accurizing, machining custom parts... all fun. But in all seriousness, why 7.62x39? Why not a target cartridge if you are looking for a shorter cartridge? Something like a 6BR would be my choice... but if you’d rather stick with 30cal, a 30BR maybe?

7.62 used to be a great go to for feeding our AKs an ENDLESS supply of of crazy cheap ammo! No longer the case! My first bit was building AKs... right after the Clinton AWB expired. And I built many! They were fun, and cheap! Just not the case anymore. Crappy comm block 7.62 with wasted steel cases, costs as much as reloadable brass vases 223!

[mattri]

Maybe I'm russian, hmm comrade?

[Dave Hoback]

LOL! I doubt it. Aren’t Russians EXECUTED if they’re caught with a 308 chambered gun? Isn’t that considered treason against the State?

ahh wait... are you one of those Russian Informant sent by Donald Trump, the Left is always harping about? Maybe your real name is Mattrovawich!!

[olddav]

I was really asking a question more than anything else. I would have thought that the .308 bolt head would have worked.
Then again I am probably just defining the limits of my knowledge again.

[olddav]

Yep, defining the limits of my knowledge and exposing my laziness again. Should have just done a little research.

[mattri]

ahh wait... are you one of those Russian Informant sent by Donald Trump, the Left is always harping about? Maybe your real name is Mattrovawich!!

I could tell you, but then....

It really would just be a project for fun- we can't hunt with anything like 308/7.62 anyway here.

[Fuj']

Comrade.....Put rubles toward 300 Black Out, 223 bolt head, bottle cheap
vodka and ugly girl friend. Maybe 2 bottles.

[wbm]

Ah no dude! Vodka does not fix ugly...Tequila fixes ugly. Thought everybody knew that.

[mattri]

Dunno man no matter how much I drink they still say I'm ugly.

[Dave Hoback]

Yeah, I got that same problem. My own wife doesn’t even like me anymore! Now that sucks! When your own family hates you!

[Newtosavage]

Not the worst idea in the world. I enjoyed every bolt action 7.62x39 rifle I owned and will probably have another someday. Good cheap fun and a great deer/pig rifle within limits. I actually killed quite a few deer with a 7.62x39 bolt action the past 5 years and never had to track a single one.

Barrel, bolt head and magazine should do it. Don't listen to the naysayers. It is fun to tinker and that's what makes Savage rifles so interesting. I say go for it.

[big honkin jeep]

You could always go "cloak and dagger" and download the .308 to 7.62X39 performance and velocity with 125gr bullets and H4895. You cant do this with just "any powder" but data on youth/ reduced loads using H4895 is available from Hodgdon.
Easy Peasy and anything you shoot with them wont know the difference and your rifle functions just as it always did.

[charlie b]

Or you can use cast bullets in your .308 :) Light recoil and they work really well. If you want expansion you can make a hollow point and use softer alloy. For more penetration you can use harder alloy and heavier bullets. My target load is a 210gn bullet at 1800fps. I shoot a subsonic load using a 170gn bullet and pistol powder. 900-1000fps. 2" at 100yd.

Of course, you can do the same thing with a 7.62x39. Difference is you can't change to a 168gn jacketed at 2800fps for those 1000yd shots. :)

[mattri]

Definitely things to consider- thanks!

[Dave Hoback]

Remember a BAN on import of ALL Russian ammo is supposed to go into effect on Sept. 7th. Another one of Biden the FRAUD’S attacks on gun owners. So 7.62x39 will become far more expensive & difficult to acquire.