Considerations on a rifle

[Revolver]

Awhile back I picked up an AK for SHTF but would like a rifle more appropriate for target shooting and potentially hunting if necessary. I'm intrigued by the Ruger Mini-30's but have also read that there were some less than desireable ones made. Am I making a mistake looking to stick with 7.62x39. I would rather not diversify my calibers too much right now for reasons of cost and simplicity. I also favor stainless steel because we have some really humid summers and everything metal gets drenched in condensation, not to mention I like the look of SS. I will be storing it in a safe and plan to get a heater/dehumidifer.

Seeking advice.

[Larry Gibson]

Get a bolt action in 7.62x39 for the target and hunting application, you be much happier.

Mine isan older Mini MK X.

Larry Gibson

[Old Ironsights]

Here's a thought...

Got a .308 bolt gun?

For a measly $35 you can get an adapter from MC ACE that will let you shoot x39 in a .308 all day.

http://www.mcace.com/adapters.htm

It ALMOST works in my Savage 99 too (every now & again one won't extract...)

[excess650]

I've become a huge fan of the 7.62x39 since buying my CZ 527. Too, there are Remington 799s, Mini Mark X, Ruger #1, and others. AFAIK these are all blued steel. A manually operated rifle will lessen the need to crawl around looking for brass that got chucked by the action.

[bruce drake]

I built a 7.62x39 bolt rifle on a Small ring Turk Mauser action with a Wilson Stainless Barrel. I duracoated the entire rifle and now it is pretty much rustproof as well.

It loves 170gr 311291 boolits as well as LEE's 160gr Tumble Lube Spitzer.

Bruce

[excess650]

I built a 7.62x39 bolt rifle on a Small ring Turk Mauser action with a Wilson Stainless Barrel. I duracoated the entire rifle and now it is pretty much rustproof as well.

It loves 170gr 311291 boolits as well as LEE's 160gr Tumble Lube Spitzer.

Bruce

Bruce,
What barrel (diameter and twist) did you use?

[LGS]

Make sure the bore is right for the 7.62X39 before you buy. The problem with some of the older Mini 30's and a few of the other sporting rifles for this caliber was they were made with a .308 bore. The proper bore for the 7.62X39 is .311. A friend had one of the mini 30s when first introduced. He could not get it group at 25 yards with surplus ammo. Due to the larger bullet it caused the bullets to shed some of the jacket and cause excessive copper fowling in the barrel. The SKS seems to be a good rifle you might want to look at.

[429421Cowboy]

Nothing wrong with a Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle either, .308 is another popular round that shouldn't be too hard to find in a SHTF situation as well.

[2ndAmendmentNut]

If you want a semi-auto in 7.62x39 that is more accurate than an AK than avoid a Mini 30. SKS are a slightly more accurate rifle and not that expensive, and the ARs with a 7.62x39 upper are fairly accurate from what I have read. Tech Sights are a great upgrade for any SKS or Ak and will really inprove the sight picture.

As others have said you might be better served by a bolt gun in 7.62x39 such as a CZ. Also if you are not opposed to a single shot you could get into the whole Encore or Handi-Rifle addiction, start off with a 7.62x39 and watch the barrel collecting or rather breeding start.

[frank_1947]

Get a bolt gun, Savage has the most accurate bolt gun out and with floating bolt head it is trued, and the accutrigger is nice.

[Artful]

I built a 7.62x39 bolt rifle on a Small ring Turk Mauser action with a Wilson Stainless Barrel. I duracoated the entire rifle and now it is pretty much rustproof as well.

It loves 170gr 311291 boolits as well as LEE's 160gr Tumble Lube Spitzer.

Bruce

I agree with Bruce - It will take a little effort on your part but you can customize to be as you like it, I even converted mine to take WASR single stack mag's

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/762x39MauserWASRconversion.jpg


Am I making a mistake looking to stick with 7.62x39. I would rather not diversify my calibers too much right now for reasons of cost and simplicity.

Not at all, I agree using a common round is much easier on the budget and military surplus is a always a good choice.
And if you wanted another inexpensive milsurp rifle in different caliber I'd suggest looking at Mosin-Nagant bolt gun in 7.62x54R

http://www.jgsales.com/rifles-c-209_261.html
http://www.jgsales.com/7.62x54r-comm-bloc-light-ball-fmj-ammo,-steel-case,-440rd-tins.-p-4431.html
more links
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewforum.php?f=186
http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?37-The-Mosin-Nagant-Survey-Forum&
http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.com/viewforum.php?f=5
http://7.62x54r.net/Forums/index.php?board=1.0



I also favor stainless steel because we have some really humid summers and everything metal gets drenched in condensation, not to mention I like the look of SS.

I have some stainless steel guns for exactly the same reason

[Bullet Caster]

I have an AK-47. I don't think I'd ever try to hunt with it though. That's what my Win Lever .45 LC is for and the M1 Garand. In a SHTF scenario I'd use the AK for fire suppression. It's just not that accurate a rifle to hunt with.

My next acquisition will be an AK-74. It is just as accurate as the AR 15 but I've never seen any reloading dies for the 5.45x39. Don't know anyone that reloads for the 74. BC

[MBTcustom]

I'm with excess650 on this one all the way. Its not stainless, but It'll probably shoot the ticks of a dogs a$$ 200 yards away. CZ makes top of the line weapons that are very very accurate.

[badbob454]

the russian, romanian ,chinese ,e. german, polish . sks rifles, have a chrome lined barrel are from fairly accurate to near tack drivers ... depends on the wear on them .. but , most shoot @ a 4 '' group at 100 yds with surp ammo , quick to field strip, and run like a sewing machine ,...... not much will stop them ... my reccomendation , they are not a sniper gun but good to @ 300 yds for a 12'' target. a great pig gun with 311041 boolit ....
, reloads with stripper clips quickly too

[excess650]

Ruger makes the 77 Compact in 7.62x39. Remington 799s are available in the same caliber, as are the CZ-527s. None of these are stainless. There are coatings and treatments that can be applied to make them more moisture resistant.

I read that Ruger DID make a stainless sythetic M77 in 7.62x39 in the past, but not catalogged now.

[Artful]

Ruger M77 Mk 2 All Weather rifle
Limited runs in 1990 and 1999 - maybe 1,000 rifles each run - get enough interest going and I'm sure a wholesaler like Davidson's would order up another run.

[koehlerrk]

Savage Axis in 308 in stainless with a synthetic stock, $425 MSRP, or get the scope combo for $485.