What would be the argument for and against this round in a hunting rifle? From what I gather the ballistics and underwhelming with a rainbow trajectory, yet some argue that cheap surplus ammo makes it an incredibly cheap hunter. Yet again, would surplus ammo have acceptable accuracy and consistency? Doesn't good quality 7.62x39 ammo cost close to other centerfire rounds? One last point, what effect does steel cases have on the chamber and ejector?

Thank you.

Well, it's about the same ballisticly as a 30-30 so shots under 200 are fine.

The problem with surplus ammo is that it is typically FMJ stuff. Check you local laws - most places I've read up on do not permit hunting with FMJs.

Steel cases? I'd think not a huge issue, likely a softer steel. I'm not sure they are reloadable. Just keep them clean and you should be fine.

I've often thought it would make for a cheap and fun truck gun. Most reports I've read though tend to pan accuracy. It's not likely to be a bench rest rifle.

+1 on the cheap-to-shoot bolt gun... I picked up lots of wolf 7.62x39 at $99/1000.... I have a mini-30 and an armalite in 7.62x39.... so I'm shooting on the cheap....

I have a Remington 799 in 7.62x39.
After-
setting the barrel back and rechambered due to an incredibly rough chamber,
smoothing the action,
Timney trigger,
and glass bead and re blue to lose the shine
I have a nice light rifle with not quite 30/30 ballistics.
I like it for javelina.
I have not used steel cases after the rechamber, just Remington.

The dream of the mini Mauser was well above the reality, a lot of work was required to make it useful.

Mark

IMHO, a bolt gun chambered for the 7.62x39 is a novelty at best. There are myriad weapons out there better suited and designed around the 7.62x39 cartridge - if I want 30-30 performance I'll buy a lever gun. I looked at a Ruger 77 so chambered and talked myself out of buying it for the reasons previously mentioned. In the end it's your $$$, buy what makes you happy.

Neck it down and get a custom barrel.

I have a Zastava Mini Mauser for sale in the classifieds here on AR.
I bought it new 2 years ago and played with it awhile, shoots the cheap ammo into 1.5-2" groups,the steel case ammo operates nicely through it. They also sell cheap ammo steel case with soft point bullets.
I'm selling it because in Colorado I don't need another 30/30. If I were living in the thick stuff somewhere where common shots were 150 yards and under I'd keep it, it's a very nice little rifle and quick handling and nice wood on it too.
Depends on where you live and what type of hunting you do but in my opinion the 7.62x39 is just about like a 30/30 and there is nothing wrong with that round for hunting Deer and Black Bear.

since when do you need a reason to buy a new rifle

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
since when do you need a reason to buy a new rifle

And very real indeed!

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Clark:
I have a Remington 799 in 7.62x39.
After-
setting the barrel back and rechambered due to an incredibly rough chamber,
smoothing the action,
Timney trigger,
and glass bead and re blue to lose the shine
I have a nice light rifle with not quite 30/30 ballistics.
I like it for javelina.
I have not used steel cases after the rechamber, just Remington.

The dream of the mini Mauser was well above the reality, a lot of work was required to make it useful.

Mark

I owned the same rifle in 7.62x39 when it was imported under the Interarms banner. Nothing I could do with any kind of factory or handload would get that little beggar to shoot a group of less than four inches. After weeks of fiddling with every possible accuracy tweak I finally gave up and sold it.

The little Zastava action is just fine -- I have one on a custom .221 Fireball and it shoots lights-out. But apparently the Zastava barrel is a POS.

I've always pined for a Sako L461 in 7.62x39 (there were actually a few of them made, but I've never laid eyes on one.) The goal here obviously isn't cheap shooting, but rather shooting a relatively quieter, easier recoiling rifle which is adequate for deer and smaller game at modest ranges.

But, as with most guns, the most compelling reason for owning a bolt rifle in 7.62x39 is just TO HAVE.

How about to rebore to 9x39? Load Remington bulk RN 200gr. Instant brush gun.

This will stir up the pot a little bit.

When It comes to "gun tinkering" projects some people will say that I have way more time then good common sense. I tend to agree most of the time and here is a good example and my contribution to this post.

Several years ago a range officer I was acquainted w/ showed me a rifle he knew nothing about and I have to admit it took me several hours to figure out just what it was. I gave $40 for it and brought it home. It turned out to be an Italin Carcaino "youth" carbine in 6.5 Carcaino. Research revealed that it was made at the Beretta Factory w/ a 17" gain twist barrel, 12-1/2" length of pull & 36" loa. The action & Stock are in perfect condition and the barrel, after 2 hours of lapping and scrubbing is still as gray as an old hickory tree. Surplus ammo for me is impossible to find and Norma is/was $40 a box/20, way to expensive to just "shoot" So it leaned in the corner on my bench for a few years.

Then one day I was playing around w/ a 303 British barrel and slugged the bore. What I came up w/ was a bore dia. of .3115" and a groove dia of .306" which are perfect detention's for the 7.62X39mm cartridge. I have since chambered the 303 barrel for it and mounted it on the Carcaino action. I have to admit it went together very sweetly for such a mis-match of old parts. I haven't shot it yet however because of one glitch. The 7.62 rounds while fitting in the Carcaino clips nicely they do flop around a little. Not enough to come out while in your pocket and it isn't a problem. The problem is in picking up the last round in the clip. The 7.62 round is much shorter than the 6.5 Carcaino cartridge and the follower puts too much pressure on the back end of the cartridge and causes it to tip down not allowing it to feed properly (at all). It picks up and feeds the first five just right and the firing pin pops a primed case. I elected to stay w/ the open sights because I deplore side mounted scopes and a short woods gun is better suited sighted this way anyway.
I'm thinking it will make a perfect "first" deer rifle for a kid or maybe a nice truck gun for someone that spends a lot of time around the woods.
For me the project was more about getting an old obsolete gun back into the game and w/ very inexpensive ammo to boot.
Right now I'm tinkering w/ a teeter/tottering follower to see if I can't get it to load and feed as it did fresh out of the Beretta Factory.

Buy a plentiful and cheap .308 Win bolt gun. Then buy a loader and components and load your own to .300 Savage velocities. You'll have a pleasant to shoot 200 yd deer rifle that eats $4 a box ammo.

Bobster
Although your solution is very practical it does nothing to feed the irreverent gun nut and tinkerer. Far too practical......
No offense intended.

Yes you are correct. What was I thinking?

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Bobster
Although your solution is very practical it does nothing to feed the irreverent gun nut and tinkerer. Far too practical......
No offense intended.

Cutting Edge Bullets makes 100gr and 130gr .311 bullets.

That's should be reason enough!

I have one of the boat paddle stocked Rugers in 7.62x39. Did a little glass bedding and it shoot great.
I have a recoil shy niece who has used it on several deer, and loaded with rem 150 corloks a forky moose. Nothing spectacular in its killing, but like a 30-30, does the job.

Who needs a reason? Want is all that is needed.