The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - AR-15 7.62X39 Synopsis/Questions

tirod · July 12, 2011, 08:21 AM

If the 7.62x39 has it's sweet spot, it's in a Kalishnikov designed magazine. The two were made for each other, and a high point in how to do it right. The magazine itself is extremely durable, and since it's so hard to get out of whack, it always presents ammo to the AK bolt at the right angle, with no mag well to complicate it. The complete lack of malfunctions gives the gun it's reputation. It's not the action, its that magazine.

The AR doesn't use it, and doesn't even accomodate a curved mag. It was designed for a straight 20 rounder, and even the later 30 round mags are typically underbuilt, prone to damage, require antitilt followers, and get a curved action to them by enforcing a short overall length. Spring pressures are high, requiring you to either download the mag to 28, or suffer malfunction getting the first shots off.

Some bright boy decided to marry the x39 to the AR action, and that means a head on collision with a tapered case cartridge feeding into a straight mag well. Take a long look at what passes for a magazine for this crossbreed - they're called frankenmags for a reason. Ones that feed dead nuts reliably - enough to trust you life to - are few and far between.

Some people need an example of why something shouldn't be done, and in firearms, this is it.

July 12, 2011, 08:21 AM	#8
tirod Junior member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Posts: 1,672	If the 7.62x39 has it's sweet spot, it's in a Kalishnikov designed magazine. The two were made for each other, and a high point in how to do it right. The magazine itself is extremely durable, and since it's so hard to get out of whack, it always presents ammo to the AK bolt at the right angle, with no mag well to complicate it. The complete lack of malfunctions gives the gun it's reputation. It's not the action, its that magazine. The AR doesn't use it, and doesn't even accomodate a curved mag. It was designed for a straight 20 rounder, and even the later 30 round mags are typically underbuilt, prone to damage, require antitilt followers, and get a curved action to them by enforcing a short overall length. Spring pressures are high, requiring you to either download the mag to 28, or suffer malfunction getting the first shots off. Some bright boy decided to marry the x39 to the AR action, and that means a head on collision with a tapered case cartridge feeding into a straight mag well. Take a long look at what passes for a magazine for this crossbreed - they're called frankenmags for a reason. Ones that feed dead nuts reliably - enough to trust you life to - are few and far between. Some people need an example of why something shouldn't be done, and in firearms, this is it.