Ok, I'm wanting to build an a1 uppered midlength lightweight 7.62x39 gun, but who has 7.62x39 kits? I'll switch out the flat top for an a1. Anyone got pics of their build for inspiration?

While its not 7.62, it is a mid length (custom made by jhud) there is a gas block under the handguards and the FSB has been moved forward. Those are cut down A1 handguards.

Love it forager and now that's got me wanting to put the triangles on.

Is it the midlength gas system you want or look?
If you just want the gas system you could take one of the commercial faux dissipator uppers (with the hidden low profile gas block doing all the work) and change-out the handguard cap and handguards. You'd be able to use rifle length handguards but still have midlength gas on a 16" barrel.

Just an Idea

I want how his photo is, midlength look plus the actual midlength system with midlength has tube. I think delton kit would suit me and change out the flat top it comes with to an a1. Guess the search for an a1 upper begins.

The mid length handguards we made

PSA was about the only one I knew doing 7.23x39 mid length complete kits in 18" and appears they are out.  Search AR-47 on PSA.  Generally you can inquire and they will get you something pretty quick.  

Most 7.62x39 barrels are carbine gas HBAR or M-4 and YHM in 20" rifle gas.  Surplus Ammo has 16" HBAR carbine at $125 and Highclasshillbilly on GB generally has anywhere from $104-149ish if you want FSB installed.  Anderson MFG is less than $100 for HBAR.  Still not mid length for these.  

Check ESS Solutions www as they supply a lot of vendors.  CBC Industries also.  Generally I get a barrel and bolt and use M-16 components for the rest.  Either use surplus 20 rd or ASC 7.62x39 mags depending on desired capacity.  I've always used USGI M-16 hammer spring and tuned FCG around it for desired pull.  Never had a FTF or light strike even with hard primers.  

With mid-length you may have to do a little tailoring to get it to run right.  No big deal.  Think the PSA had it worked out.  

With all the recent magazine write ups and big coin vendors entering market,  7.62x39 AR parts have gone up in price.  Still cheap to shoot.  Not as many bullet weight combinations as 300 blackout but rds don't cost $1 each either.  All in what you want.  I just use them for deer personally and they have a little more velocity than 300 IMO with more case capacity.  300 ammo is fairly easy to reload or should I say brass is easier to come by than 7.62x39.  Mostly I shoot 20-25 cent steel Wolf HP's or 125 grain HP reloads with IMR or Hogdon 4198.

Check Anderson MFG and see if they will do a mid-length 7.62x39 as they do a 18" mid .308 on the cheap.  Generally 7.62x39 is .310 and some use .311 reloads in the SKS / AK stuff to get them to shoot accurately.

RRA is going to be dedicated and Green Mountain is kinda pricey for no FSB and carbine gas but we all know they can shoot.  Just isn't going to make much difference in accuracy for a 150 yd weapon IMO.  

Mostly I use ESS or Highclasshillbilly barrels  (probably ESS blanks or stampings look the same) and CBC or Barrier Defense bolts.  I've also used Surplus Ammo barrels and bolts. They don't look as appealing at $200-300 today as they did for $150 for a set up a year or two back.  Don't think I've ever done one that wouldn't shoot 2 MOA with a novice an optic at 100 yds.  Plenty good for whitetail generally.

Middy sounds like a cool build and longer the barrel the more velocity.  Could probably get one un-drilled and DIY for middy.  Don't know why I'm thinking .093 but don't hold me to that. Thinking member Crackedcorn has one or a few in various calibers and probably a middy or two.

Here's a little hunter.  It's handy and carries well.  All new parts except FF HG and stock with two 30ish round ASC / Stoner mags under $525 but doubt you could do it today with all new pieces especially since most everything is Colt except Sabre Defense front sight, DPMS railed block, Colt B-Square w/ Bushnell 3x9, LBR and Splintered A receivers, GP sling, ESS barrel and SAA  bolt.  Built this back when Apex had NIW M-16 Colt carriers for $75 and Colt LPK components were $70ish at funshows.  It has no tic and tear drop.  Never had to track a whitetail over 110 yds after being shot.  It kills pretty clean. Just installed front sight for pic never tried it with irons. It's 2 MOA with Wolf at worse.

All 7.62x39 builds I've done had M-4 feed ramps.  Never built one without them and thinking buddies Colt has some kind of ramp modification but not positive.  Use a A-1 upper receiver and it would look pretty VN era Franken especially with triangle HG's.

Forager, that's hot! You don't have a pic of it with round handguards do you? ;)

No, unfortunately the round ones are just a tad too long... I have  a set that I was contemplating cutting to fit some how.

That's really a gorgeous rifle! Thanks for sharing Forager. :)

My Canada inspired C8-sih 762x39 homade dissy

since this thread veered wildly from Retro, I'm gonna add my $.02.


18 inch midlength .458 Socom.









turn down the lights and squint, see the retro? yeah, not so much.


 

That ejection port is clearly too tall to be authentic.    Where did you get/make that carry handle, & have you had any difficulties w/ mid gas vs carbine gas?

I'm deciding I'll go 5.45x39 instead of 7.62x39

CNC Gunsmithing A1 carry handle

 
 

I'm deciding I'll go 5.45x39 instead of 7.62x39

Might want to rethink as no benefits over .223/5.56.  Very negative unless one already has a bunch of commie ammo stashed.  Food for thought.  If going that way be careful of barrel twist as ammo is very limited and a lot of barrels out there won't shoot it very well.

How about 9MM?  Mag looks stupid but they shoot great with 16" and one can reload that stuff cheap.  Some cheap kits out there right now for this caliber.

Well, want it simply to have another caliber. I love my ak74 and I have plenty of the ammo.

Makes sense.  Check barrel  twist for ammo as I know there were a bunch of them US manufactured that wouldn't shoot very accurately and twist rate was the blame whether actual reason or just poorly made. I had one almost complete when the ammo got stupid and sold the pieces.  Really not much different than .22 3 / 5.56  except more finicky (bolt, extractor, mag)

It would cost more and require some skill to look correct  but a .308 middy or XM177ish retro would look awesome and give more than adequate fire power.  Ammo is also a little stupid priced unless one can reload.  Don't see many out there besides carry handle charging system AR-10's in  rifle length generally.  I wish I had bought a couple of the Armalite's back when they were $900. Would have been perfect for some cool retro builds with simple barrel / furniture swaps but at the time retro was called worn out surplus for cheap.

Retro Middy?

OK!



5.56 though.

That's actually really beautiful. You find all kinds of great stuff in the garbage Cal!

Well the ammo box and the pistol belt and the canteen cover all came out of the garbage!

So did the VN era maps I Secret Santa'ed to someone the year before last!

My buddy found a WWII Walther and SA Dagger in the garbage along with other stuff 20 years ago!

I hooked him up with a buyer and got the blade marked Case M3 in an early M8 scabbard as a finders fee!

I was driving that day or ALL the swag would have been mine!

Decided to stay with 5.56. I'll probably go easier on this build by buying lightweight kit and replacing upper and stock.

I didn't read far enough and started a new thread.

That is what I want to build.

Ron