7.62×39 Cheap Surplus Ammunition

Why would anyone want to be able to use 7.62×39 ammunition in an AR-15?  Years ago the answer would have been “cheap surplus ammunition”. While that is still the case to some degree the laws have changed somewhat. This is due in part from making 7.62×39 AR pistols. Much of the cheap 7.62×39 ammunition had a steel core. This from the viewpoint of the government created “armor piercing ammunition” for pistols. There is still inexpensive 7.62×39, just less variety and not as cheap. (Note: some cheap 7.62×39 is junk by any standard and will not function reliably in most guns, even the AK-47.

7.62×39 Powerful Ammunition

7.62×39 ammunition is more powerful than 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington.  Shooters looking for more power from the AR-15 platform often consider the 7.62×39. The 7.62×39 is often compared to the 30-30 in terms of power. The power also somewhat approaches the .308 Winchester without the need for the larger AR-10 or 308 AR platform weapon.

7.62×39 Common Ammunition

It’s a simple fact that while the 5.56 is America’s (and NATO) caliber of choice the 7.62×39 is the most common ammunition in use on the remainder of the planet. It dominates Africa, Russia, Asia and the Middle East to name a few locations.

The world is pretty unstable and unpredictable. If you subscribe to the possibility of a SHTF or End of the World scenario it’s important to be able to use any ammo available. 7.62×38 can be found in mom and pop stores as well as your neighbors gun safe or ammo cache. If you believe there is even the slightest chance that a foreign invader might reach US soil the ability to use the ammunition of the invader is a plus.

7.62×39 AR/M4/M16 Military Applications

The US Military has two uses for 7.62×39 and both revolve around operating on foreign soil. The first reason is that sometimes there are unofficial military operations and it’s important to not leave evidence of who performed the operation. If 5.56 NATO is used their will be cases and projectiles as evidence. By using 7.62×39 ammo the operators are able to match the ammunition in use by the locals. These days I believe other non AR platforms are in use but the fact remains. The other reason is same as the previous section. Being able to use your enemies ammo picked up in the field is sometimes important.

What to Expect When Buying a 7.62×39 AR Rifle

The current crop of factory 7.62×39 AR rifles are actually pretty reliable. There has been some R&D, engineering and good old fashioned experimentation to make most of the reliability issues a thing of the past. If you are not someone who likes to work on firearms building a 7.62×39 AR may not be for you. If you are considering a brand that’s an unknown do your homework or simply google “brand model 7.62×39 feeding issues”.

What to Expect When Building a 7.62×39 AR

The number one issue with a do it yourself 7.62×39 AR is reliable feeding. The newest 7.62×39 AR magazines from companies such as ACS and D&H have solved a lot of feeding issues they are not the cure all. A shooter headed down the path of building their own 7.62×39 AR should have a good understanding of the AR gas, recoil and feeding system. They must also be comfortable with making minor modifications to their firearm.

Parts Needed to Build a 7.62×39 AR the Hard Way

• Stripped AR Upper Receiver –
• Complete AR-15 Lower Receiver
• 7.62×39 AR Barrel –
• Wolff Heavy Hammer Spring –
• 7.62×39 Bolt Carrier Group – Try to buy a complete 7.62×39 Bolt Carrier Group. If you must assemble one from parts be sure you purchase a 7.62 bolt. It is suggested to use a full auto carrier to take advantage of it’s extra weight over a standard AR-15 carrier.
• 7.62×39 Magazines –
• 7.62×39 Enhanced Firing Pin –
• Buffer  – A buffer sized properly for the gas system. Based on a 16″ 7.62×39 barrel the following buffers would be a good starting point. Carbine Length H2, 4.7 ounce buffer. Mid Length H3 5.6 ounce buffer. This is one step heavier than 5.56 which would be a 3 ounce carbine buffer and 3.8 ounce H buffer respectively.

Parts Needed to Build a 7.62×39 AR the Easy Way

• Quality 7.62×39 Magazines
• Complete dedicated 7.62×39 upper like the Faxon ARAK 21
• Complete AR-15 Lower Receiver
• Buffer – Consult the upper receiver manufacturer.