What ever happened to the 7.62x39 barrels?

[jeeper1]

I finally have the money for one and I can't find them anywhere.

[db22]

Unfortunately, they discontinued 7.62x39mm because of misfires with Soviet-bloc milsurp ammo. That ammo is made with very hard primers to avoid slam-fires in Rooskie and Chicom firearms, which usually don't have firing-pin return springs. A normal American hammer spring sometimes isn't strong enough to dent the darn stuff deep enough to set it off.

The reverse is also true -- a Chicom military rifle will slam-fire with normal ammo reloaded with normal American primers. It's a serious safety issue with milsurp rifles, but just a frustration issue with Handi rifles. I wanted a 7.62 in order to use the brass and dies I have for my SKS -- I quit shooting handloads in it after experiencing a slam-fire at the range.

Get yourself a .308 Win, .30-'06 or .30-30 Handi -- it'll do anything the 7.62x39 will do, and do it better, with normal-diameter bullets and reliable ignition.

Dave

[eskimo36]

There are still some floating around.  I have owned a couple before I owned the one I have now.   I bought one from the factory and the other two from sellers here.  Surplus ammo won't work so don't even think about it.  I reload and use lead bullets and I am going to try some backward boattails.  I only shoot "whisper" type loads for now but I have a box of 123 SP that i will load later to use in deer season if I decide to.  There is quite a bit of info on the web concerning subsonic 7.62x39 loadsI am going to use this rifle as a calling rifle to shoot coyotes called in on the less open areas I hunt.  Less racket made means I can come back to these sweet spots quicker, I think.  As it is, I only repeat a successful calling spot about about every 3 weeks.

i say all that to say this.....I think most have ended up in the hands of reloaders such as myself that have found a niche for them.  It won't do anything the 30-30 won't do and I even have about 800 pieces of 30-30 brass and no 30-30 barrel. What was I thinking?  Any way the 30 Herrett, 300 whisper, 300/221, and 7.62x39 are all real similar.  I am going to try some Herrett data with fast powder to see if there is any difference in the longer tube as far as muzzle blast is concerned.  As you know all 30 Herrett data was designed for 10-14 inch contender barrels so most data is for the faster end of the powder spectrum.

Good Luck on your search.

[eskimo36]

Not that you, or for that matter any prudent man, should consider it.....but someone has a new one listed with a $225 buy it now on e-bite... I buy whole guns for that regularly and dang nice guns at that......

[xhare]

Its a real shame that the 7.62x39 barrels did not work out.  An inexpensive cartridge and an inexpensive gun that you could shoot economically without having to reload.  Should have been a perfect match.  Oh well. 

[jeeper1]

It was my intention to reload, I've had the dies and brass for years. I just didn't want to reload for my AKs or SKSs.
 

[Smokin Joe]

You really need to get the fix from Murray's:

http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

I put a spring in my SKS and it works great! No primer hits at all.

[Mitch in MI]

Eskimo, you mention 300 Whisper and 30/221 Fireball separately. I thought they were the same cartridge. Is there a difference?

[eskimo36]

There is no difference other than who chambers it. 300 Whisper is one of many proprietary cartridge of JD Jones of SSK Industries. Many chamber 300/221 while only those with Mr. Jones' blessing chamber a 300 Whisper.

[ironduke2]

I rechambered mine to 7.62x54R works great. Bob

[~Ace~]

The Spring on the firing pin will prevent the Slam-Fire on the SKS.... I also have Not been able to Make one slam fire with CCI Primers, but have on rare occasion with other brands (No Spring), Federals were the most common to go Bang.

It's pretty impressive how accurate a SKS can be with Handloads, and a Great 100 yard deer gun.

When I get my 7.62x39 Barrel for the Handi, I'll work up some loads and post what I find out

[warf73]

I rechambered mine to 7.62x54R works great. Bob

That's what I want to do but no dice.

[db22]

Yep, I have heard of the firing-pin spring upgrade, but haven't decided if I want to invest any more money in the rifle. Both of my slam-fires were with CCI primers. The pin is really loose in the bolt -- I made a point of cleaning the grease out to avoid having it stick in the forward position. You can really hear it rattling in there. I'd rather spend my money on another Handi! In the meantime, I've got brass and dies for 7.62, so I'll probably go back to the SKS eventually.

I'm a long way from bored with my NEFs, so it'll be awhile!