Author Topic: 7.62x39 should I buy it?? (Read 1130 times)

handishooter · « **on:** September 18, 2011, 09:27:12 PM »

Been offered a brand new in the box 7.62x39 handi for $375, to me this seems a bit pricey but I am tempted. What are your opinions on this set up? Has anyone ever rechambered a 39 barrel to 7.62 x 54r?

thanks

Austin from NC · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2011, 09:54:57 PM »

Seems a bit high but if you want it it's your money.

Austin

surehuntsalot · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2011, 11:09:36 PM »

that is high

Deerhunter#1 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2011, 12:58:04 AM »

That seems high. For that price just get a 30-30 they are close enough.

petemi · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2011, 02:16:06 AM »

I bought mine for about a hundred less after they were discontinued, but I was very lucky. Today, if I didn't have one, I'd be tempted by that one. If you're looking for inexpensive shooting, it's fine the way it is. If you're looking for something more powerful, I'd just buy a Handi in .308, 7mm-08 or 30-06.

Pete

je265 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2011, 03:36:59 AM »

I just got a barrel fitted from the factory in 7.62x39. If you already have a frame you can get the barrel for under $150.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2011, 04:25:30 AM »

Too hi priced for me. Generally they are good shooters with quality ammo.

It's not a good candidate for re chamber to 54mm as the 39mm uses a bastard .310 bullet while the 54mm does vary. But generally uses .308. It could be made to work but you would be limited to few bullets in this diameter. The larger .312/.313 bullets made for the 7.7 jap 303 Brit and 7.65x53 Mauser are a bit large and STD US 30 cal too small.

Personally, I would pass on it.

CW

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2011, 05:22:30 AM »

Doesn't the 7.62x39 have a problem with ejection/extraction of the round?

cwlongshot · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2011, 06:42:03 AM »

Quote from: OldSchoolRanger on September 19, 2011, 05:22:30 AM

Doesn't the 7.62x39 have a problem with ejection/extraction of the round?

Yes, some did with junk varnished steel cased ammo.

CW

Spanky · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2011, 08:12:46 AM »

Quote from: Deerhunter#1 on September 19, 2011, 12:58:04 AM

That seems high. For that price just get a 30-30 they are close enough.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Spanky

beaverslayer · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2011, 08:29:36 AM »

Offer them the going price, which should be about $100 less. If they accept it great, otherwise that's way too high. I too, would try and find a 30/30, before I bought that one.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #11 on:** September 19, 2011, 10:03:05 AM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on September 19, 2011, 06:42:03 AM

Quote from: OldSchoolRanger on September 19, 2011, 05:22:30 AM
Doesn't the 7.62x39 have a problem with ejection/extraction of the round?
Yes, some did with junk varnished steel cased ammo.

CW

That would be the only reason I would want a barrel in that caliber, to fire the cheap, junk varnished steel cased ammo.

I'm happy with my 30-30.

handishooter · « **Reply #12 on:** September 19, 2011, 08:39:24 PM »

I offered him $275 for it and he accepted, I will pick it up on Thursday. I am going to eventually convert it to 7.62x54r. I shot a lot of this now and already reload for it. Have several handis but this is the first one I ever got new in the box so I am excited about it. Will be interested to see what the bore slugs out too. My Mosins are all about .3105

thanks for all the advice.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #13 on:** September 20, 2011, 02:56:06 AM »

For that price, I think you did fine. When I started reading the thread my thought was "a lot of money, especially for a rifle he's going the do more work to", but $275 makes plenty of sense.

I had one for a while but sold it because I wasn't shooting it. I had other rounds in the Handis and I had other rifles in the x39 so the x39 Handi just didn't come out to play.

A 7.62x54 Handi is a great idea. It's rimmed and plentiful. They should offer it from the factory. I suspect that the reason they don't has to do with the variations encountered in mil-surp ammo. Still, it has balistics comparable to 308 and a rim. Sounds perfect for a break open hunting gun.

Ol BW · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2011, 05:15:21 PM »

Please don't rechamber it till you shoot it.

You just might like it! I just got through building a 7.62x39 cause I couldn't find one. Bought a frame and stock from here and sent it to the factory for a barrel. I paid about $350 for it after it was all over, but I really like it! ( Thanks Brian 56 and Oldsoldja) It is a really versatile cartridge, and if you hand load it can do alot more than the factory loading. Now, it will never be a .308 but it will do almost everything the 30-30 will. Using .308 diameter bullets in .311 barrel work fine.

If your dead set on a x54, I guess this is the only real way to get one with a .311 barrel. . .

jlwilliams · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2011, 02:54:00 AM »

They really should offer more in the .311 bore. The 7.62x54 and the .303 Brit would both be excellent cartridges in Handis.

handishooter · « **Reply #16 on:** September 22, 2011, 07:42:14 PM »

I picked up the handi today. I am very pleased with it. I originally located it on an auction site. The seller was close to me and we made the deal in person.

I am really pleased with it, the wood looks great but the best part is the trigger. I have never had a handy rifle or any rifle come from the factory with this good of a trigger, it breaks clean at 3.25lbs according to my Lyman gauge. The seller claims that no work was done on it and I believe him because it is right out of the box, no signs of any work being done or the rifle ever being fired, it is factory new. I guess I just got lucky, very lucky.

I mounted a scope on it tonight, bought 40 rnds of ammo from cabellas and am taking it to the hunting lease tomorrow. Will see how it shoots. I do intend to convert it to 54r in the very near future, I reload for that round and shoot it a lot. This is going to make a great project. Has anyone else converted to 54r?

beaverslayer · « **Reply #17 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:07:16 AM »

That worked out perfectly. Aren't you glad you didn't give him the asking price.

I would like to know how the 7.62x54 project turns out.

gendoc · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:54:51 PM »

Quote from: handishooter on September 22, 2011, 07:42:14 PM

I picked up the handi today. I am very pleased with it. I originally located it on an auction site. The seller was close to me and we made the deal in person.

I am really pleased with it, the wood looks great but the best part is the trigger. I have never had a handy rifle or any rifle come from the factory with this good of a trigger, it breaks clean at 3.25lbs according to my Lyman gauge. The seller claims that no work was done on it and I believe him because it is right out of the box, no signs of any work being done or the rifle ever being fired, it is factory new. I guess I just got lucky, very lucky.

I mounted a scope on it tonight, bought 40 rnds of ammo from cabellas and am taking it to the hunting lease tomorrow. Will see how it shoots. I do intend to convert it to 54r in the very near future, I reload for that round and shoot it a lot. This is going to make a great project. Has anyone else converted to 54r?

first off, its been named "tha commie handi" on here by others.

handishooter, don't be mis-led by folks that don't have experiance with the 39 !!!
i have one thats a 54 and itsa great shooter

but my favorite handi and most accurate is tha factory "39"
.30911 and it shoots 130gr speer hp's .308 #2005 into one hole as many times as you allow it too consistantly @ 100yrds

it has taken many pink slips from high dollar rifle owners in these parts.
since everyone knows bout it now, ain't been compete'n with it.

but its always ready, as i am !!!!!!!!!!!

don't be deceived by tha inexperianced.......................

Ol BW · « **Reply #19 on:** September 24, 2011, 07:21:04 AM »

I'm with ya Gendoc!

handishooter · « **Reply #20 on:** September 27, 2011, 08:33:34 PM »

Had a lot of fun at the lease with the rifle, was quick to sight in, started with S&B 123gr soft points, had 20 rounds. Last 3 shot group was just under 3 inches, which I don't think was too bad. Also had 20 rounds of Remmington 125gr soft points which were a lot more expensive then the S&B but I wanted to try 2 different loads. Shot those after the S&B and the group opened up to about 5 inches. 40 rounds went far too quick, my cousin who was with me had some herters 154gr soft points that he also got from Cabellas and some wolf ammo that he shoots in an AK. Both of those definitely belong in an AK and not a handi, could not get 1 round to go off with out atleast 3 strikes of the hammer. Had no problems with the other ammo. Not surprised by this as I have read a lot of the comments about using this ammo with the hardened primers.

I don't reload for the 7.62x39, and really don't want to start. I have over a 1k of 7.62 x54 cases that are re loadable, which will probably last me a lifetime. For those of you that converted to 54 how hard was it? Did you have to change the extractor or were you able to modify the original?