Why isn't the 7.62 x39 round more popular

[Mtbkski]

I was wondering. The AK is the most widely used firearm in the world. Ammo to fit in it can be found in almost any country.

Yet, you don't see a bunch of rifles made in the states for this round. Wouldn't it be smart to "jump on the band wagon" and create weapons for the 7.62 x 39 round? That ammo can be found world wide to feed the worlds AK's. I'm amazed no other gun company tried to do anything with this.

Any thoughts on why?

[Holleta]

A few US firearms were chambered in this round, Ruger comes to mind.

The "Problem" with the 7.62x39 is the fact that it was designed as and is an "Intermediate" round which lands about smack dab between full power rifle cartridges (30-06, 7.62x54, 8 mm etc) and SMG pistol cartridges 9mm, 45 ACP etc). It was designed from the get go to offer near rifle ballistics with full auto SMG like control.

The "Problem" is that it's not a spectacular hunting round so most gunmakers (who mostly concentrate on hunting firearms) ignore it. Not all that powerful (a bit less than a 30-30) Not that flat shooting (again a bit behind the 30-30) and coming from a communist (GASP!!!!! ) country certainly did not help. It's a good closer range deer round (with proper bullets-forget the Russian stuff) that has mild recoil and has no doubt taken many deer (and possibly larger game) but US hunters and/or gunmakers never really gave it a chance.

[Mtbkski]

But why haven't other gun makers jumped on the market? Hell, you can find the round worldwide. Wouldn't it make sense to try and create a better rifle than the AK (Blaspheme) that can use all that ammo world wide.

[Holleta]

LOL! I'm with you Mtbkski. I am of the belief however, that the AK platform in general is an extremely hard platform to improve upon (dependent on ones idea of "improved"). The bastard is near perfect for it's intended purpose!!

[Mtbkski]

YEAHHHH, on second thought screw it. Forget I brought it up. Why mess with perfection.






That should get some of the guys stirred up.

[fultonCoShooter]

American gun makers tend to stay away from metric calibers thats is why most AR 15
say .223 rem instead of the metric 5.56x45


just to add .223 and 5.56 are not the same bullet but they are damm close

another example is 7.62x51 (.308 Win) they could stamp 7.62x51 but they stamp .308 win

[Mtbkski]

But what I don't understand, is that this round is found WORLD WIDE. No other round can say that. If it works, and it is being used, why don't others adapt it. If for no other reason. Maybe someone overseas will say, "Hey, here is great american made weapon that fires the same ammo we have stockpiled in our underground bunker. I think I'm gonna buy it for the guys.

[Kenshin]

Most other countries that do have 7.62x39 (China, Russia, North Korea, most of Africa) don't allow private ownership of firearms. So why would gun makers make guns, that people in those countries with the ammo can't own?

Edit: That and the AK47 is dirt cheap to manufacture and acquire.

[PA Rifleman]

Probably because the numbers don't make sense. From a manufacturer's perspective, marketing a $300-$600 gun will be tough with the flood of eastern European surplus guns in the same chambering. A better angle is offering a bolt gun, which is exactly what Ruger & CZ tried to do.

The next problem is ammunition -- ammo makers are reluctant to make 7.62x39 as long as cheap E Euro ammunition continues to flood the market. Even now it's still below domestic ammunition prices.

So now it becomes something of a circular dilemma...as long as domestic hunting ammo is scarce, there won't be much market for a bolt gun in '39, and lacking a big choice in hunting guns in '39 won't encourage ammunition makers to offer a wide variety of 7.62x39 hunting ammunition. While some states allow hunting with military-style autoloading rifles, Pennsylvania isn't one of them.

One in-duh-vidual tried making a handgun chambered in 7.62x39 decades ago, and severely damaged the inexpensive Chinese ammunition market in the process. He was warned about it, but ignored the warnings and went ahead anyway. This is why the steel core 7.62x39 isn't imported any more. (article)

[VeryPrivate]

The AK is a terrific assault rifle, but its ammo is another thing. The 7.62 X 39mm is not a ballistically incredible round. It is less powerful than the 7.62mm NATO, and it is less accurate than the 5.56mm NATO. I have also heard some negative comments regarding its terminal effectiveness.

So it is not the best assault rifle cartridge, and it is not useful as a sporting cartridge. There is still plenty available.