7.62x39 mm Survivor -- RANGE REPORT!!

[click4spam]

UPDATED: 06.29.2005 -- RANGE REPORT:

-- nef factory upgrade -- barrel accessory program --

  donor receiver -- new sb2-623   (.223 survivor)
  caliber -- 7.62x39
  barrel -- 22" -- standard contour w/nice target crown
  sights -- scope rail
  cartridge removal - extractor -- (.185" of case exposure)
=======================================

range report -- 06.26.2005 -- sighting in the scope
weather: 86 degrees, 70% humidity, dewpoint 73 degrees, wind 10 mph
range: 60 meters benchrest w/bipod -- 4.5x scope
ammo: wolf 122gr HP (current production - polymer coated)

goal: a "cheap to feed" 7.62x39 single-shot rifle. here are the results:

1) two boxes of wolf 122gr HP (40 rounds) -- 24 failures to fire!!

2)  i still believe the accuracy for this round in a single-shot is there . . . but not today.

conclusion: today was not good for wolf ammo!

extraction did require a concerted effort, even with the poly-coat case. i was somewhat concerned about recoil with the survivor buttstock, but there was actually less recoil than anticipated.

the opinions seem to be the nef fcg doesn't have the power to work with the heavy primers -- so the cheap import ammo appears to be a no go in 7.62x39.

[Norseman112]

 Hi C4,

First of all let me welcome you. Also congrats on your rifle it looks very nice. I don't have this caliber but am thinking of getting that barrel. Good luck at the range and I hope you will give us your report.

Norse

[Varminter]

Congrats on the new barrel. And Welcome. Be sure to give us a range report when you get a chance.

[Badnews Bob]

Welcome home.  I just sent off for the 39 and a .44mag, tick tock tick tock :roll:

[click4spam]

btt

[Varminter]

Sorry to hear of your trouble with the 39. Sounds like it's either a firing pin issue or the primers on the wolf cartridges. My first guess would be the wolf ammo. I think the firing pin in a SKS hits alot harder than the handi's does. Just try alot of different ammo. Best of luck to you or your quest for a cheap but accurate plinker.

[quickdtoo]

The off center pin strike which is common in Handis, could be the culprit with the priming of the Wolf ammo, don't know what kind of priming they have, but worth some thought. The only Handi caliber I have that shoots good when hot is the Hornet and I think it just takes a while for it to warm up.  I wouldn't expect the 39 to shoot good when hot, either.

Tim

[mt3030]

Just a thought or two: Since you never fired this action with its' original barrel, did you think to remove the stocks, hang it outside and douche the heck out of the trigger/lock work with WD-40? Could there be some junk preventing the firing pin from it's complete travel? Or at least slowing it down and cushioning it's fall?

Wally

[Leftoverdj]

Primers for the 7.62x39 are extremely hard because the SKS is prone to slam firing. Firing pin protrusion should be .040 if you want to check that.
http://www.gunsprings.com/1ndex.html has a 15% overpower spring for the Handi.

I've had misfire problems with Russian and with UMC ammo in my CZ 527. No problem with reloads using commercial primers (mostly WW).

[click4spam]

mt3030:
i thought of that, considering the factory did some trigger work
while getting rebarreled . . . there's a good chance some "stuff"
may have been left behind.

leftoverdj:
i knew about the hard primers -- did not know about the extra
power springs. thanks for the link!

[quickdtoo]

I don't know if this has happened or not, but the heavier spring may break the transfer bar which does have a reputation of breaking with a standard spring.

Tim

[Leftoverdj]

I broke a transfer bar somewhere well past 5,000 rounds. Expect to break the firing pin eventually. Worth keeping spares on hand, but anything that keeps getting hit hard is going to break sometime.

[quickdtoo]

This is one of the transfer bar threads that comes to mind, particularly JB's post.

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=52465&highlight=transfer+bar

Tim

[myarmor]

Did you try shooting with the hammer extension off?

[Mac11700]

Last time I talked with the folks of Wolf Ammo...I was told that the 7.62x39 was repackaged mil-surp ammo...so....this is most likely the cause for the failures...doesn't NEF advise against using mil-surp ammo in the Handi's???This was brought up when we found out they were going to produce it...remember...?

Mac

[mt3030]

Mac:

You might of hit it right on the head. And to think I was going to get one just so all that cheap mil-sup ammo could be used. (Boy, that might put a stick in the spoke in the sales wheels!)

Wally

[quickdtoo]

Maybe this will help the 7.62x39 shooters...

http://www.marlinowners.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=79922#79922

[click4spam]

well, i think that pretty much closes my chapter on a nice
single-shot that fires cheap russian 7.62x39 ammo.

but at least i didn't blow a bunch of money converting an
argie mauser or carcano carbine to 7.62x39!! :-)

i'm going to drop this rifle into the sale bin . . . would be
perfect for a hand-loader (less than 50 trigger pulls and
only 16 rounds down the tube).

thanks for all the comments guys! i really enjoy the nef
crew here!

cheers,
--C4

[Datil]

Just sell the barrel on E-Bay, Bunch people will jump on it :-D  :-D  :-D
 Marv.

[Norseman112]

Yeah on Ebay you will get more money  for the barrel than you paid for the gun. Heck with the money you get for the barrel at Ebay you can then buy 2 barrels and have some money left over for a meal for two at Red Lobster  

[click4spam]

here's the kicker . . .

i ordered a varmit buttstock for this rifle from choate.
because i planned on shooting this rifle A LOT and wanted
some heavy duty furniture . . .

ups delivered it about 45 minutes ago! :-)

something cosmic about that!!

-- C4