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Ok, thread title is confusing, is this a caliber thing or platform? 7.62x39 can be had in an AR & lots of other platforms. You can also get AK's in a couple calibers, one of the other more common ones being 5.45x39mm. AR's can also be had in a plethora of calibers besides 5.56 or 7.62x39.

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I am in ur age range Sully. 20 years ago a buddy needed money and sold me a scoped chinese SKS for $100, I sold it consignment a few months ago for $600 cause I always thought it was an ugly rifle. I have rifles and shotguns that I really like so I had no issues selling it...
I would say, sell the chinese SKS and keep the Russian with half the ammo and buy yourself something you really like. Thems my 2cents worth.

 

I have no use for either AR, AK or SKS so I see no advantage in selling ones you know for ones you don't.

 

With all that ammo and experience...stay with the SKS's.

You could probably sell your SKS's at a premium, sell your ammo and then spend it all on AR's and slightly less ammo...

...but why?

Sounds like you like the SKS, you have experience with it, they are very reliable, and other than slower reloading vs an AR, they can still do the job just as well.

The ONLY reason I would go to an AR is for better optics. If your eyes need help, an AR will make it easier to put a red dot or scope on that will maintain zero well.

I have several SKS's, and several AR's in various calibers (not in 7.62X39).

There's no need for you to swap out at this stage of the game, unless you just really want a lighter weapon with better scope mounts.




You may not "have a use" for them, but millions of us do.

There are advantages....but since you don't have any use for them, you obviously don't know about those things.

As I said above, those may or may not be things that are advantages he wants or needs. But a lighter weapon with more ammo in a mag, that can be scoped, and then can reliably shoot eyeball sized targets at 100 yards without too much effort...that's not nothing.

 

AKs are available in 5.56, and ARs in 7.62x39, SKS only in 7.62x39 but from my experience, AR-15s dont do 7.62x39 very well, and AKs dont do 5.56 very well either (mostly due to the suboptimal magazine situation

so if you want one caliber or the other, get the rifle that goes with it.. or if you specifically want an AR or AK/SKS, get the caliber that goes with that

without telling you exactly which route to go, i will simply discuss my own thought process in my switch from one caliber, 7.62, to the other, 5.56

the way i see it, 7.62x39 is an old cartridge, in age, but even older in concept based on the 7.92x33 kurz that the STG-44 was equipped with.. this was the german military and later the russian military wanting something that would work in smaller rifles, but still use much of the same components for manufacturing ammunition.. it wasnt really designed from the ground up for the role that it's been pressed into.. russians and the chinese have both realized this, and have switched long ago to cartridges much more resembling 5.56 for the advantages it provides

those advantages are: less weight, less recoil, higher capacities in smaller magazines, better long range accuracy, less drop meaning it's easier to hit targets at distance with easier to predict holdovers.. its faster which penetrates hard barriers better, and means you are more likely to hit a moving target at greater distances.. also lower recoil means you can fire a more accurate followup shot quicker

some advantages 7.62x39 has over 5.56 is that its harder hitting inside a certain distance, this distance is well within the range that most gunfights take place, they tend to penetrate better on softer targets as they carry more energy and momentum, you can find better ammunition for 7.62x39 at lower costs than equivalent quality 5.56 (most russian made 5.56 is trash, but a lot of the russian 7.62x39 is decent).. with a soft point, you'll be able to match a 30-30, and even surpass a 30-30 where they tend to fall short at distance, so it's the better hunting option for most people, though my experience hunting deer with 5.56 is it works pretty well too (i havent gone bigger than white tail yet though)

however, for most people these advantages are fairly negligible, since they wont be carrying large amounts of ammunition, firing high volumes of ammo at once, be shot at while shooting at a target.. so really, pick the weapon you like, and just go with the ammunition that goes with it, or pick what works best where you live.. if you have a much more wide open area around you, like the deserts, or the midwest, you may want the greater range of 5.56.. but if you live in a dense forest somewhere, or a place with a lot of brush, you may want the heavier pill of 7.62x39

 

AR in 7.62x39, it's my of my ARs. Best of both worlds. Its a hammer to the 556's icepick. It does 7.62x39 very well.

No matter what I wouldn't sell the ammo. If I didn't like AR's for x39 I would build a couple AKs.

 

I'm a peasant------I like those old peasant rifles. For Gods sake please keep the Russian.

 

I have both
I like them both
I see no compelling reason for you to change
The new Strong Mount solves all scope issues I had
Robski sells them at AK4774 Operators Union

 

The only thing I've ever shot anyone with is 556.
I'll never again willingly use 556 when it matters as it takes 5-7 rounds in the chest to make people stay down.
That topic is closed.

I prefer .308, and also have 7.62x39 which after shooting large pigs and similar consider acceptable with aimpoint optics out to 300.


$0.02

 

With the right ammunition, a single shot to the "chest" is more than enough
Black Hills 50 grain Optimized
Barnes bullet
A man/deer/hog is DRT
The new 855A1 is devestating
Use the right bullet
No, for sure, the topic is not closed
A mind may be closed, but not this topic

 

YOU ALREADY have all the ammo.
I would get a couple AKs to go with the SKS and you are ready for war or peace.

Why go to the expense of getting into ARs when it sounds like your other firearms are doing what you need and you are well supplied. Every 54R I have ever fired shot like a laser. Fantastic cartridge for reaching out and saying "HI!"

Conversely if you have to get an AR, get one in 7.62X39 since it will give a more effective cartridge and a system you can get a lot of parts for just about everywhere.

 

Like some on here, I just think those old guns are ugly and usually lack accuracy.

I also guess I have had a very rare experience, based on some of your reports.... in the case of a 7.62 AR Mutant. The one that I have shot, easily produces 3" groups at 100 yards and has never had a jam with Russian Steel Case. It cycles like butter! I love that gun and have been trying to buy it off my buddy for the past three years.


.........

 

Like some on here, I just think those old guns are ugly and usually lack accuracy.

.........

I like that you said "usually", it leaves room for the good ones.:thumb:

There are a few.

 

The 50 grain TSX Optimized was introduced in 2012 by Barnes only for Black Hills
Please clarify that you were using hollow-point bullets in the U.S military in 2004
That would be most intetesting to learn about as it is secret.
I also would like to know if you used OTM bullets in 2004 ?????
Nothing you are saying adds up.

"This incident was avoidable. The “not for combat use” language was placed on OTM ammunition boxes in 1980 when it was approved for military competition use. When the M852 and M118LR were approved for combat use, no one told the contractor who made the boxes to remove the offending language. It was deleted when the current box was ordered (illustration, lower right corner). Confusion bred by ignorance continues in some circles. An ally recently (and quickly) rejected a private citizen’s assertion that OTM ammunition violated the 1899 Hague Declaration.

The adage “don’t judge a book by its covers” is applicable with respect to the Sierra MatchKing and comparable open tip match projectiles. Sierra Bullets’ characterization of the MatchKing as a “hollow point” likely exacerbated the practice of judging the projectile based solely on its appearance. Sierra Bullets has remedied this somewhat by referring to it as “open tip match” in its invoices. The problem was further aggravated by the failure of many to read and understand the text of the1899 Hague Declaration, and to incorrectly assume that any projectile with a “hollow point” would “expand or open easily” at all distances. The International Criminal Court limited the prohibition to military use of bullets designed to expand or open easily only when employed to “uselessly aggravate suffering or the wounding effect upon the target.” In this respect the international community belatedly arrived at the point argued by Captain Crozier in 1899."


Sorry for the thread drift
I am finished with this except for the gel-test

https://youtu.be/5o-Tw0BbLd0

 

Start a thread and send me a PM and I'll play.
But let's not do it here and ruin the thread

So much for that lol

 

If you decide to go with a couple AR's skip 5.56 and get 6.5 Grendel.

Grab 8k wolf steel ammo and 2k premium stuff and called it good.

20 E-Lander magazines as well.

 

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If you have a bunch of ammo in that caliber, you should probably hold on to it. Ammo usually doesn't hold a resale value or gain value like guns can & often do, occasional ammo shortages aside. If that means keeping the guns you have, then that is one option. You could also get or build an AR in 7.62x39, then if you want you can add other AR's (or uppers) in different calibers to have at least some parts interchangeability.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa.../psa-gen2-ks-47-16-carbine-length-7-62x39-nitride-classic-rifle-5165450167.html

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...ooting-gear-gun-supplies/modern-sporting-rifles/cmmg-mk47-mutant-rifle/p/p47595

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You could also upgrade to an AK style rifle which are very common/popular as well. The SKS is fairly common too, but I would guess the AK is more common.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psak-47-gf3-forged-moe-rifle-od-green.html

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If you really want to get into AR's but want to have the most interchangeability of parts between AR's then an AR in 7.62x39 isn't quite as good of an option. If you like the ballistics of the 7.62x39 you can get an AR in 300BLK which is fairly comparable to 7.62x39 & the only thing not interchangeable with 223/5.56 AR's is the barrel. Also 223/5.56 brass can be turned into 300BLK. There are lots of other calibers with varying levels of interchangeability that in addition to a barrel change require a different bolt and possibly a different magazine as well. Some people just swap out complete uppers (only 2 pins to pull out) for such changes. For the price vs as an AK, amount of parts, accessories & interchangeability of calibers & parts, I also lean towards the AR platform. I've owned AK's in the past & like them & while they tend to be more accurate than most give them credit for, they generally aren't as accurate as an AR & definitely don't have anywhere near the versatility of an AR.

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I'll just throw this out here......


Get rid of the SKS's and get a couple of Mini 14's in 7.62x39

They are good looking American made rifles that don't carry the stigma of the AR platform

They are very reliable and very user friendly regardless of what the Mini haters say, plus lots of accessories

 

Mini 14's aren't chambered in 7.62x39.

Mini 30's are.

Parts are an issue, mags are high....

 

I love my ak's and my sks's that take ak mags. That being said I used to have a 7.62x39 ar. It was easier to make iron sight hits with the ar. But when a red dot entered the equation it was basically dead even in terms of shooting accuracy for me.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

Think of it like the old question of moving and sell or rent out the old house.

If you didn't already own it would you buy it for an investment in rental real estate (your $ or borrowed). Seldom is the answer Yes keep it.

75yr ago the SKS briefly made sense to the godless commies. 30yr ago it briefly made sense in the US (cheap and good enough). That was long before the modern AR.

So yes dump all of it to the suckers out there and step up to a better "platform".

 

Think of it like the old question of moving and sell or rent out the old house.

If you didn't already own it would you buy it for an investment in rental real estate (your $ or borrowed). Seldom is the answer Yes keep it.

75yr ago the SKS briefly made sense to the godless commies. 30yr ago it briefly made sense in the US (cheap and good enough). That was long before the modern AR.

So yes dump all of it to the suckers out there and step up to a better "platform".

YOU ARE talking about the M1A...shooting a real HTG knockemdown cartridge ...right????::thumb:

 

Skully, Im over 60 beat to crap and still shoot up to and including 45/70 and 458 win mag, i see no problem keeping the SKS platform. solid units. Red Star Russian even more so. the only reason I went AR was im a tinkerer. I like building em. keeping hands busy and all that.
my say is dont fix it if it aint broke.
funny how things play out. Im getting set to leave the swamps and move back up into the hills WV/WNC. time for me to go home.

 

Hold on to your ammo and pick up a couple AK-47s to go with your two SKS rifles.

The AR platform is for shooters who like to trick out their rifles.

 

That’s stupid.

See any tricked out crap?

 

Skully,
While I am not a big SKS or 7.62x39 fan, and my preference runs to AR's because of the modularity, I would echo the comments about the Mini-30 being a good choice.

Those I have handed and run, did just that, kept running.
Sticking with the Ruger mags for everything may not be cheap but how many are you going to get?
Get a couple of mags to start and grab one or two every so often as you can afford them.


You will note that I did not say get rid of them, you own them, have ammo for them and know where they shoot. Always good to have backups.

 

stripper clips are underrated on something like an SKS

 

I am 66, have had a heart attack, rheumatoid arthritis, Type II diabetes. I can still shoot anything, like a 35 Whelen, 3006, 308, 12 gauge, etc. Every thing I have is under control with medication. I skip a pill a week on stuff, and have built up a supply of meds. Also taking herbal alternatives. Walking long distances is my current problem. I'm working on that, cause I like to stalk hunt. Oh, and still use a traditional 45# pull recurve bow.

Exercise as best you can to keep strength up. My cholestrol runs between 135-150. Doc said the heart attack was genetic. Lost 35#'s after becoming diabetic. I actually can go without meds using cinnamon and watching carbs.

SKS's kick is tame compared to the above calibers. Not hard at all unless you are really bad off.

 

Since you asked......

1. I have no use for an AR15 / 5.56mm. ( 24 years in the Infantry and still counting ='It completely broke that illusion.)

2. We used the SKS rifles as cache weapons once the AK essentially took thier place ...along with ammo.

Note: Dug one Chicom SKS up in pic below after 30 years just to see how it fared. GTG.

3. Even thou we have switched from 7.62x39mm to 7.52x51mm via primary cartridge, the former is still stocked deep, we keep weapons for both cartridges, and our group ammo funds go towards both.

4. 7.62x39mm will dump bambi just fine, and had so for decades.....including China Sports, Norinco, and Wolf FMJ. Same with countless feral pigs over the years. ( If you and yours are comfortable with rifle, then even the cheap stuff gets it done.)

5. When I get too old to carry a rifle, then that means someone found me dead while clinching it......lol

A few suggestions.....

Get an AK rifle and an AK pistol to go along with your SKS rifles and 20k stock pile of 7.62x39mm. ( Do your homework first.....hint......A decent AK will reliably cycle your stockpile of ammo, where " other" firearms chambered in 7.62x39mm may or may not.)

Last.....
Don't keep all your eggs in one basket. ( Cache program if you don't already have one)
1= none. If you have 1 ammo stockpile , then this also = none.

11B

 

....1. I have no use for an AR15 / 5.56mm. ( 24 years in the Infantry and still counting ='It completely broke that illusion.)....

My previous time in the Marines left me feeling the same way. That being said I did recently break down 25yrs later and buy some ARs because they were just SO damn cheap now.

I would really like a 12" pistol in 6.5G over the 5.56 but now is not the time to try to lay in a stock of a new caliber and associated magazines.

My AKs are still my go to rifle with the PTR91s available for heavy hitting backup. There isn't much that a 50rd drum of .308 won't take care of.

 

Here's my take on it. You've got plenty of excellent, as in effective, ammo...and you're not going to be running and gunning with the young bucks; keep what you got... it's more than adequate for "home defense". The only good reason I can see for switching to the AR, is commonality with others in your unit: you can share ammo, magazines etc. That switch will cost you money and you'll be losing "punch" in the bargain. If you can't live without more firepower, get an AK (too much plastic in the AR) in 7.62 that you already have stockpiled. Then there's the question of re-training with the new platform.

 

If I were older (I'm young compared to a lot of members here), I'd defiantly go with an AR. I'd have a H2 buffer, compensator, thin profile barrel, lightweight handguard, 1x prism optic with adjustable focus, stock with a thicker recoil pad, and oversized controls such as the safety, mag release and bolt catch. A tactical light. The idea would be to make the recoil as soft as possible, a sight that's soft on the eyes, and easy to manipulate controls all in a light package. Similar idea to the S&W EZ line. Low recoil, easy to use.

My dad has shoulder issues and tends to shoot 1 handed lately. He used to be a .45 auto guy but now sticks with 9mm because for him it's better 1 handed than .45 auto.