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2/1/2003 12:10:33 PM EDT
What are your thoughts on them? I am considering getting one and was wondering the delio on them from anybody who owns/has shot them.

Oz
2/1/2003 10:06:45 PM EDT
[#1]
anyone?
2/2/2003 4:44:11 AM EDT
[#2]
oz, ross might be along in a bit to explain the fine points of the -3.

personally, i like them. they are fun to shoot and reasonably accurate. they deserve more glass than a 4x pso scope, and centerfire systems does sell a package that includes a better russian scope.

the barrel is rather thin, and shot stringing will occur...not much can be done about that. ergonomically, i have no trouble using this rifle...it feels good ro me. some guys complain about the "long reach" to the trigger and "dragging wood" with their trigger finger, but this has not affected me.

in my neighborhood, these go for about 8 bones. guys bum out on them either because they shot the wrong ammo and were disappointed by the accuracy or they thought they were buying a "sniper rifle" and were disappointed by the accuracy.
2/2/2003 6:41:43 AM EDT
[#3]
I shot Ross' before his RSA trigger upgrade. Very cool big ass AK in one of my fave calibers. But for $300 total I prefer my exc cond M39 and scount mount 2.5x pistol scope combo for under 200 yds (then I'd want the bigger glass on a Romak).
2/2/2003 11:14:50 AM EDT
[#4]
My dads rifle was one of the best shooting rifles I have ever shot.  Yugo surplus and Czech silver tip shoot the best out of his.

Have not shot it since the RSA trigger upgrade, but I would rate it extreemly highly.

Never seen it fired to fast so I have not seen the verticle stringing, but properly rested its a far better rifle than it is given credit for.
2/2/2003 1:35:16 PM EDT
[#5]
The thin barrel thing is relative really.  Yeah, it can cause shot stringing, but it's not a Rem 700PSS either.  Your normal AK will stirng alot more after running a mag through it fast, so really it's a relative thing.  

Most people compare it to state-of-the-art sniper rifles and find it wanting.  Well, duh...it only costs $800 for the whole system and it wasn't designed to be a sniper rifle.  It was desinged to be used by the average Infantry platoon to extend it's "zone of control" or range over which it can engage targets.  Similar to what the USMC is finally doing with the Designated Marksman M25, but on a much less specialized scale.

They are a fun gun.  The RSA trigger is worth getting, it makes a big difference in the way the rifle behaves.  I don't get smaller groups pre se, but I get rounder, more consistent groups which results in smaller groups overall because of less flyers.  

They are VERY ammo sensitive.  They shoot some surplus great (like the Czech silvertip is a favorite with everyone I know that has one, and a good place to start for ammo) and some ammo turns up crap groups (like mine doesn't overly like Russian stuff, the groups run twice as big).

Get one with the highest paower scope you can get on it.  Mine came with the 4X, and I've pretty much run it out.  I need to get a higher power glass on it.  

They are actually pretty accurate with the iron sights too.  Long sight radius really helps, it will kick ass on any other AK with just sights because of that.  It locks open on the last round.  Mags are a bitch to find, I'm looking for more.

They are alot of fun, just a big AK firing a big ass cartidge.  Don't buy it for a sniper rifle that you're going to shoot 1000 meter head shots all day long.  It won't do that, but it will hold it's own on a man-sized target to 600 meters.  So it's pretty much a big AK that shoots farther and hits harder, and is probably more accurate than a 7.62x39.  

I like mine alot, but it's a slightly different mentality than "spray-n-pray AK."  

Ross
2/2/2003 6:31:36 PM EDT
[#6]
Thanks for the answers. I am thrilled to hear that you can put the RSA trigger in it. I am not looking for some super gun capable of 1000 yard shots. I was just looking for a fun gun with a more powerful shot and I ran by the one Im looking at.

The deal for $775 I am considering includes:

1.)Romak III in very good condition(about 60 rounds down barrel).
2.)PSO Illuminated Scope.
3.)10 and 5 round mag.
4.)Sling.
5.)Cleaning Kit.
6.)All original paperwork including test target.
7.)800+ rounds of ammo.

This to me sounds good and if all goes well on tuesday, I will pounce on it.

Oz
2/2/2003 10:04:01 PM EDT
[#7]
Also, I was talking with someone today about the 7.62x54R and they said you could also fire .308 out of it. Is that so? If this is a dumb question, please dont flame me because the only rifle I have ever owned is my 12ga and my ar.

Oz
2/2/2003 10:18:18 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:
Also, I was talking with someone today about the 7.62x54R and they said you could also fire .308 out of it. Is that so? If this is a dumb question, please dont flame me because the only rifle I have ever owned is my 12ga and my ar.

Oz



Well, let me just say this. Would you put a 7.62x51mm round with a rebated rim in a chamber for a 7.62x54mm rimmed cartridge and expect it to work?

2/2/2003 10:47:47 PM EDT
[#9]
I figured he was blow'in some smoke up my arse but figured I would ask since I didn't know.

oz
2/3/2003 12:04:14 AM EDT
[#10]
Yes, it's true, you can fire .308/7.62x51 cartridges from rifles chambered for 7.62x54r.   You'll most likely have failures to eject and will quite possibly rupture the case, but I have personally seen 7.62x51 South African ammo fired out of a Moisin Nagant chambered in 7.62x54r and I can vouch for the fact that they chambered and fired.

My nephew and I were shooting up in the mountains one day and he managed to load the MN up with the wrong ammo and fire it.   I didn't even know he had done so when he handed me the rifle and told me he couldn't remove the cartridge case from it.   I drove it out with a cleaning rod and found it to be severely malformed.   After studying it and the rifle for a minute or two to try to figure out what could have caused the rifle to do this to the casing I realized the casing I was holding did not have a rim on it.   He had loaded and fired the wrong cartridge out of the rifle and had done so twice.   The first time the cartridge had been dificult to eject, but it had come out.
2/3/2003 5:03:27 AM EDT
[#11]
wow, fudd! good story!

i, too, had heard of guys that had supposedly shot .308 in 8mm mausers and 7.62x54r bolt actions...but, like oz, i always passed off the stories as "old gunners' tales".

learn something new everyday!

2/3/2003 5:58:59 AM EDT
[#12]
I own a Romac III.  Fun guna nd a bunch more ump than a regular AK.  Not unlike my Yugo in .308.  My FAL is my MBR choice but still enjoy the Romac.

Price quoted seems reasonable.  Buy it, you will surely enjoy it.
2/3/2003 6:38:51 AM EDT
[#13]
Campybob,

If you place both cartridges side by side you'll see why it's possible.   The distance from the rim to the shoulder is almost identical.   The 7.62x54r is 3mm longer, but that length is almost all in the neck of the case.   The 7.62x54r is also a little fatter, but not very much.
I guess my problem was I assumed my nephew was knowledgeable enough about guns to know the difference.   It never even occurred to me that I should have educated him about it.
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