AR platform 7.62 x 39

[JcJ]

So here's another watcha got thread..

I'm deep enough into several AR based projects that I can't justify my "need" for a .308 Zombie gun so I'm considering an AK powered AR instead.. (yeah, I know it's not the same as a .308 )

So I'm looking for experience based feedback on 7.62 conversions. Is it worth the little more bang you get? Any problems.. Things to avoid? Alternatives?

Or just straight up opinions from the non experienced..

Fire away..

[melensdad]

Why not go to a 458 Socom and make it a deer hunting legal gun for Indiana?

I personally have no experience with the 7.62x39 but it is cheap to shoot and there are plenty of factory made AR uppers available in that chambering. It seems like it would be a natural caliber for the AR. Plenty of knock down power at modest ranges.

I guess my question would be . . . what are you going to use it for? If its a practical/tactical gun the that is a great round. If its an economical shooter, then I'd say the same thing. But then again, if you want economy you could go for something like a 9mm uppper or even a 22lr upper.

Personally I've been playing more and more with my AR15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel and loving it.

[shooter521]

7.62x39 AR conversions have always been problematic. Most of the issues with the Colt/DPMS/Oly style have to do with the magazines; 7.62x39 just doesn't work real well in a regular AR mag, and capacity is greatly diminished. One of the aftermarket companies (USA, maybe?) used to offer a "Frankenmag" that had a straight AR feed tower grafted onto an AK-47 mag body. These were hideously ugly, but actually worked fairly well. Unfortunately, they are pretty much gone from the marketplace. CProducts recently developed a radically curved (and equally ugly) mag for use in Robinson's 7.62x39 XCR that can also be used in AR conversions, but I believe the jury is still out as to its effectiveness.

Then there are the "AR-47" style conversions that feature a lower designed to accept standard AK magazines. This concept has been explored by at least 3 different companies (Knight's Armament, Special Weapons and Michael's Machines), but has never met with widespread success. Part of the problem with the concept is that it takes the 7.62x39 AR from a conversion to a complete and dedicated weapon - in which case one might as well just get an AK.

A friend of mine had a Special Weapons AR-47 lower and a DPMS 7.62x39 upper, and spent a lot of time, money and effort trying to get the gun to run reliably. It never did.

The modularity of the AR platform is one of its biggest strengths, but the 7.62x39 just doesn't seem to lend itself to easy adaptation.

My

[Jeremiah]

Find some five round mags and you would have a great deer rifle for above the rifle mline in Michigan.

[karlsgunbunker]

http://www.ar-47.com/

[JcJ]

Thanks guys, Maybe a 9mm upper in addition to the .223 and .22 will suit me better.

[glockguy07]

I'd just get an AK if you don't have one yet