Has anyone seen the new Ruger #1A in 7.62X39? I've seem them listed on GunsAmerica, but don't know which distributer is handling them. I'm sure it's just a limited run for one jobber, but don't yet know which one.

I think that would make a nice base for any number custom calibers, or maybe just punch it out to 30X47.

Thanks

Gabe

I am very much interested in this development. Didn't know there was going to be such a critter!!

I found the answer to my own qestion. The gun was made for Lipsey's who is a sporting goods distributer out of Louisiana. They had 250 guns made. They state on their website that the gun has a .311 bore. I would very much doubt this as Ruger went with .308 on their mini 30's. Otherwise the gun is a stainless 1A with a walnut stock. I just hope it doesn't have the wacko bore diameter.

Gabe

I have not yet seen one of the #1 rifles in 7.62x39. However, I have had several of Ruger's model 77 rifles and Mini-30 rifles in this caliber and have yet to find one in .308 bore diameter. They all have varied from .310-.311 which is correct for this cartridge. As a point of interest, I have loaded .308 diameter, 130 grain Speer bullets for both and have had fairly good results. I have slugged the bores to determine the diameter and you will find the bore diameter of the 77 rifle listed on the Davidson's website as .310-.311.

I have used .308 bullets in both Ruger and SKS 7.62X39's, in 7.65X53mm Argentines, and .303 British rifles with excellent results!

It is my understanding that when Ruger initially produced guns in this chambering that they did have a .308 groove, but since those early days they have switched to .311".

I am left to wonder why anybody would want a #1 in this chambering, or a bolt gun for that matter. It is a POS and there are many better alternatives that are easier to load and more effective for any application.

For one thing you can load heavy bullets made for the .303 to subsonic levels for a fairly quiet close range deer rifle.

Slug! Right! I have used the Speer .311" 180 RN with 28 grains of H335 for 2000 FPS in my SKS! As good as the original .30/30 load! You can also use 180-grain pointed bullets, but they are a little too long to use the same powder charge and still fit in the magazine.

Digital Dan

I couldn't disagree with you more about the 7.62X39. The only reason I'm not interested in this one is that I've been there and done that already. I used to own a 7.62X39 in a Sako AI action. What a handy rifle! It came in fully loaded at less than 7lbs., shot very small groups, and got 2675 with the 110 gr. Barnes X bullet. Eight Wisconsin whitetails were very impressed by it.

I will conceed this: the 7.62 is not the most practical cartridge when compared with some of the other .30 cal offerings. What it is capable of though is extreme accuracy and it can be very effective when proper bullets are chosen. I think it's a great break from the mundane but more practical choices.

FWIW with .311 bullets, all bets are off.

Gabe

I agree with papaschmud! This caereidge did not seem "hard to load" at all! Not nearly as hard as small pistol cases, or the .30/30 even, which seems to have fragile, esily bent/collapsed necks!!

One thing we know for sure is that the 7.62x39 is not innaccurate. The .30 Kern is an improved 7.62x39, and in 1988-1989 it held several national records in cast bullet benchrest competition.

It is easily capable of propelling 215 gr. cast bullets at 2,200 fps with sub 0.5" 5-shot group accuracy at 100 yards, BTW. (Best acurracy with 215 gr. bullets in most guns seems to come at 1,950 to 2,000 fps.)

I currently own several cast bullet bench rest rifles in .30 PPC, which is simply another improved form of the 7.62x39, and have shot many 100-yard registered competition groups under 0.4" with it...one as small as 0.211".

The smallest Cast Bullet Association registered 100-yard 5-shot group ever fired in competition measures 0.155", and was shot by Gary Long of Roseburg, Oregon, in a match at Mohawk, Oregon. It was shot from...a .30 Long - - Gary's own improvement of the 7.62x39!

AC

[ 10-10-2003, 00:15: Message edited by: Alberta Canuck ]