Thinking about a 7.62x39 AR kit/upper

[Vonz90]

Anyone have a recommendation or some to avoid. Same for magazines.

I have a couple projects ahead of it, but eventually I want to build out one of the lowers I have collecting dust and that could be a cool piece.

[Weetabix]

I have a Bear Creek Armory 7.62x39 upper that's lots of fun. I had to replace the firing pin because I kept getting light primer strikes, but from what I've read, that's not uncommon. I was shooting Golden Tiger, iirc.

Can't remember what mags I got. I'll try to remember to look at home.

[blackeagle603]

Flintlock Tom put one together some time ago. I can ask him on book of face to check in with long term review.

[Netpackrat]

Yeah. If you want 7.62x39 get an AK. If you want 7.62x39 ballistics in an AR, get an AR in 300 Blackout.

For 300blk mags, I run Lancers.

[Vonz90]

Yeah. If you want 7.62x39 get an AK. If you want 7.62x39 ballistics in an AR, get an AR in 300 Blackout.

For 300blk mags, I run Lancers.

I do not like AKs and do not really want one.

I have thought about 300, but it is like 3x the price of 7.62x39. Since I have no plans to shoot subsonic, I am not sure that makes. Is there a reason it makes sense that I am not thinking of?

[Captain Wheelgun]

I really like my CMMG Mutant, but that’s probably more than you were wanting to spend. It does have the advantage of using AK magazines, though.

[Netpackrat]

I do not like AKs and do not really want one.

I have thought about 300, but it is like 3x the price of 7.62x39. Since I have no plans to shoot subsonic, I am not sure that makes. Is there a reason it makes sense that I am not thinking of?

It's only 3x the price if you are comparing high quality 300blk to cheap steel case 7.62x39. I have found that good quality brass case 7.62x39 is similarly priced to equivalent quality 300blk, and in current production there are more options for the latter. Cheap steel case "medium quality ammo" is not as widely available as the same in 7.62x39, but it is out there, and more comparably priced to its equivalent in 7.62x39.

Unlike the 7.62x39, 300blk is actually designed to work in an AR; the only significant difference is the barrel. So if you build an AR in 300blk and later decide it was a mistake, you can turn it into a 5.56 AR just by swapping out the barrel. And while 300blk likes some AR magazines better than others, if you decide to ditch the caliber entirely, you can still use the same mags for 5.56, rather than having a bunch of oddball 7.62x39 AR magazines (and other parts) to unload. I am using standard 5.56 Lancer magazines for 300blk and I have had no issues whatsoever with them. I'm sure they would feed 5.56 fine if I owned anything in that caliber. Also because it is designed to work in an AR, you're far more likely to end up with a rifle that is reliable with 300blk compared to building one in 7.62x39. Most of the 300blk issues people have run into have involved subsonic ammo anyway; running supers you can likely use any 5.56 mags.

If you want to handload, 300blk is totally superior to 7.62x39. The components are much more widely available and you have many, many more options to choose from. If brass gets hard to find (as it currently is), you can still almost always find once fired 5.56, which can easily be turned into 300blk with a minimal investment in tooling.

If you think you might want to hunt with your AR, you again have more good choices in 300blk ammunition/bullets than you do in 7.62x39.

[Netpackrat]

Have you considered getting a PTR-32?

[Vonz90]

Have you considered getting a PTR-32?

I actually have considered it, I was just thinking of other options.

[Langenator]

I really like my CMMG Mutant, but that’s probably more than you were wanting to spend. It does have the advantage of using AK magazines, though.

There's also the PSA KS-47. Uses AK mags. Mine has run well, once I got the firing pin issue squared away. (Summary: the 'collar' on the firing pin that came with the rifle was too narrow, which allowed the firing pin to slip past the retaining pin during firing. Been fine since I replaced it. Also learned that there are special firing pins for 7.62x39 - they're slightly longer, to help with the harder primers.)