7.62x39 ammo shortage

[The Long Road]

I can't find ammo for my AK anywhere except single boxes. Every online resource for cases is sold out/on backorder. Anyone have an idea why this is taking place? I've heard two theories, one this is a normal event and people panic every time or that the ammo is currently going to the Middle East due to the war. Any shooters able to get this ammo or have ideas on when supplies will increase?

[Johnny L.A.]

I don't have an answer to your question, but a friend of mine recently bought a very nice Romanian AK and has run into the same problem.

[bradministrator]

Here's (http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1825625) a thread from the Something Awful forums with some non-authoritative answers.

[The Long Road]

Here's (http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1825625) a thread from the Something Awful forums with some non-authoritative answers.


That brings me to a registration page and asks for a one time fee of $9.95

[CynicalGabe]

Go to Sportsmansguide.com

They just got a new shipment in. It had been backordered for me for months.

[silenus]

My local sporting goods store has plenty. I checked this afternoon. I didn't need any, but I looked.

[The Long Road]

Go to Sportsmansguide.com

They just got a new shipment in. It had been backordered for me for months.


For new orders, Sportsman's Guide has ship date as April 28th. Thanks for the tip though. I found some today, a bit over what I would have liked to have paid but for 1,000 rounds I'm happy. Now if I could just install my new scope mount. Yikes.

[JXJohns]

I got a bunch of surplus from Cabelas. Ordered it about a week ago. Good prices and I think they had some left. I have said the same thing on several messages boards however. Better hurry if you don't want to wait.

[Martini Enfield]

There's heaps of it floating around in Australia, which is deliciously ironic since the only legal firearms chambered in 7.62x39 in this part of the world are the AIA M10 rifles and a couple of Norinco bolt action things, neither of which anyone wants since 7.62x39 isn't a great cartridge for hunting in Australia...

[Tristan]

For new orders, Sportsman's Guide has ship date as April 28th. Thanks for the tip though. I found some today, a bit over what I would have liked to have paid but for 1,000 rounds I'm happy. Now if I could just install my new scope mount. Yikes.

I've got to ask, and please don't take this as me being snarky, but why are you mounting a scope on the AK? I've been under the impression that it's not worth it to scope, as it's not what one would usually refer to as a precision weapon.

Are you rebarreling or anything along those lines?

I'm actually curious, as someone who intends to buy an AK once the move to Pennsylvania is complete.....

[Johnny L.A.]

I've got to ask, and please don't take this as me being snarky, but why are you mounting a scope on the AK? I've been under the impression that it's not worth it to scope, as it's not what one would usually refer to as a precision weapon.
I can't answer for the OP, and I sold my AKM back in the '80s. I'm not a hunter, nor a competitive target shooter. I just like to punch holes in some paper once in a while. I'm a pretty good shot, but I'm sure my rifles are more accurate than I am. Still, it's fun to shoot with a scope.
since 7.62x39 isn't a great cartridge for hunting in Australia...
What kind of game is there in Australia? As I said, I'm not a hunter; but I remember reading several years ago that the 7.62x39mm round is pretty good for deer, similar to .30-30 Winchester. (Of course capacities are limited when hunting, and there are other rifles than an AK that are chambered for the round that are more suited to hunting.)

[The Long Road]

I've got to ask, and please don't take this as me being snarky, but why are you mounting a scope on the AK? I've been under the impression that it's not worth it to scope, as it's not what one would usually refer to as a precision weapon.

Are you rebarreling or anything along those lines?

I'm actually curious, as someone who intends to buy an AK once the move to Pennsylvania is complete.....

I'm not looking for long range shots or extremely tight grouping. I have a weird issue with my glasses and irons sights, keeping everything in focus. The scope is nothing expensive and the scope mount is about as cheap as you can get. It fits on as a dust cover on the receiver. I paid $20 for the mount but I'm about to dump it and go with a side mount. Before Hurricane Katrina I viewed it as a play weapon, good for plinking. Now I have no idea what it might be used for but better accuracy can't hurt either for targets, varmint hunting or anything else.

[NurseCarmen]

Go to Sportsmansguide.com
It bums me out. They used to carry them already on the stripper clips, just right for my SKS. They don't anymore.

[The Long Road]

Just to see it, I'm going with this (http://www.veriforcetactical.com/tactical_accessories/43/) mount because this (http://www.veriforcetactical.com/tactical_accessories/480/) one is a pain in the ass to mount and keep stable.

[CynicalGabe]

It bums me out. They used to carry them already on the stripper clips, just right for my SKS. They don't anymore.

Ask and ye shall receive.

http://www.marstar.ca/ammo/762x39mm.htm

[CynicalGabe]

Just to see it, I'm going with this (http://www.veriforcetactical.com/tactical_accessories/43/) mount because this (http://www.veriforcetactical.com/tactical_accessories/480/) one is a pain in the ass to mount and keep stable.

I also like the siderail mounts. I've got a few builds in progress, and I'm going to put one on one of them. Probably a weaver base with a Cobra collimator sight.

[Martini Enfield]

What kind of game is there in Australia? As I said, I'm not a hunter; but I remember reading several years ago that the 7.62x39mm round is pretty good for deer, similar to .30-30 Winchester. (Of course capacities are limited when hunting, and there are other rifles than an AK that are chambered for the round that are more suited to hunting.)

Just off the top of my head, we've got:

Wild Pigs
Wild Goats
Foxes
Feral Cats/Dogs
Deer (many kinds, but mainly Sambar)
Kangaroos
Dingoes
Hares
Rabbits
Cane Toads

I realise a lot of those aren't Game (Cane Toads, Foxes, Feral Cats/Dogs), but there's a lot to shoot at!

It's also worth bearing in mind that hunting in Australia is typically done at longer ranges than in the US- Most of the things I've shot have been at an average range of 100yds or so, with "Point Blank" being the shortest at about 300yds being the longest. I don't use scopes, and I usually hunt with a spotlight at night (thats when the feral pests come out).

I wonder if there'd be any interest in an "Ask The Australian Gun Owner And Shooter" thread once I subscribe? :)

[HPL]

These guys never seem to be short of bulk ammo.

http://www.ammoman.com/index.htm

[The Long Road]

Just off the top of my head, we've got:

Wild Pigs
Wild Goats
Foxes
Feral Cats/Dogs
Deer (many kinds, but mainly Sambar)
Kangaroos
Dingoes
Hares
Rabbits
Cane Toads

I realise a lot of those aren't Game (Cane Toads, Foxes, Feral Cats/Dogs), but there's a lot to shoot at!

It's also worth bearing in mind that hunting in Australia is typically done at longer ranges than in the US- Most of the things I've shot have been at an average range of 100yds or so, with "Point Blank" being the shortest at about 300yds being the longest. I don't use scopes, and I usually hunt with a spotlight at night (thats when the feral pests come out).

I wonder if there'd be any interest in an "Ask The Australian Gun Owner And Shooter" thread once I subscribe? :)

Is there some reason to shoot Kangaroos? Are they some national menace to Australia or is the "it moves it dies" philosophy?

[drachillix]

[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]I don't use scopes, and I usually hunt with a spotlight at night (thats when the feral pests come out).[qUOTE]

At least in CA, this is illegal last i heard. An old boss of mine got cited for it by game wardens about 10 years ago.

[Hirundo82]

I don't use scopes, and I usually hunt with a spotlight at night (thats when the feral pests come out).

At least in CA, this is illegal last i heard. An old boss of mine got cited for it by game wardens about 10 years ago.
At least in many place it isn't illegal for pests--in Virginia, my understanding is that it is even legal for farmers to spotlight deer who are in their crops.

And in terms of scoping an AK, my understanding is that it is pretty much pointless for magnification but for ranges out to 300-400 yards a red dot scope does make a difference for accuracy--good enough for minute of bad guy accuracy at least.

[The Long Road]

Update on the scope mount. The dust cover scope mount for the AK is nice, damn cheap and sturdy. If your looking to mount a scope on an AK, go with the dust cover mount.

[silenus]

Is there some reason to shoot Kangaroos? Are they some national menace to Australia or is the "it moves it dies" philosophy?

They are a pest. A large, vicious, eat-your-crops pest.

[SenorBeef]

Scoping an AK is usually kind of silly - but the AK design isn't inherently horribly accurate, it's just that often the manufacture is very crude. Well made weapons, such as the Bulgarian exports, can be expected to shoot at 2 MOA or better, which is very reasonable for a military weapon. If you have poor eyesight, and just plan to punch paper at the range from a bench, I suppose it could increase your enjoyment.


I keep meaning to get a collimator site and mount it on the siderail..... I find those types of sites very practical for an AK type weapon.

[SenorBeef]

Update on the scope mount. The dust cover scope mount for the AK is nice, damn cheap and sturdy. If your looking to mount a scope on an AK, go with the dust cover mount.

While I have never used one, I have to disagree with this. It's cheap, and easy, and if you're looking for very rough accuracy, it can work. But it's not stable - you can slide dust covers around a bit just by pushing on them. There's no way it can reliably hold a steady zero, unless they somehow changed the design of it. It might improve your accuracy if your ability to use iron sights sucks, but it wouldn't be consistent for target shooting.

[The Long Road]

While I have never used one, I have to disagree with this. It's cheap, and easy, and if you're looking for very rough accuracy, it can work. But it's not stable - you can slide dust covers around a bit just by pushing on them. There's no way it can reliably hold a steady zero, unless they somehow changed the design of it. It might improve your accuracy if your ability to use iron sights sucks, but it wouldn't be consistent for target shooting.


The scope dust cover has two hex screws in the back to exert upward pressure and hold it in place. I'm taking it to the range this weekend to see how accurate it is. I've put a lot of pressure on the cover and it has not moved to any noticeable degree but I'll check it out with about 100 rounds this weekend. If it sucks, I'll pull it off and install the old dust cover.

Unless I'm planning on sniping soldiers at hundreds of yards like the chick in Full Metal Jacket, I'm not all that concerned about accuracy. If I need long range accuracy or I'm hunting large game, I have an LSA-65 in 30-06 with a nice scope(idiot traded it to me for a pool cue). Hell, I'm not even aiming for mini-14 accuracy(which isn't great). It's for punching holes in paper.

[Martini Enfield]

They are a pest. A large, vicious, eat-your-crops pest.

Silenus hit the nail on the head. Your average Kangaroo is 3-6ft high and eats quite a surprising amount of crops. They also knock down fences, scare cattle, and jump in front of people's cars at night.

They're also at plague levels- there are more Kangaroos in Australia than there are people, last I heard.

The Japanese seem to think they make good eating, too...

[Pushkin]

Silenus hit the nail on the head. Your average Kangaroo is 3-6ft high and eats quite a surprising amount of crops. They also knock down fences, scare cattle, and jump in front of people's cars at night.

They're also at plague levels- there are more Kangaroos in Australia than there are people, last I heard.

The Japanese seem to think they make good eating, too...

Rabbits and feral cats are also pests IIRC. For a wilderness that makes such mince meat out of us puny humans, the Australian Outback seemed to surrender pretty quickly to small European animals ;)

[CynicalGabe]

Doper hunting trip Down Under, anyone?

[silenus]

Doper hunting trip Down Under, anyone?

Count me in. My rifles have been starved for attention lately. I wonder what a 7.65 round out of an Argentinian Mauser would do to a roo?

[Martini Enfield]

It would make quite a mess, but good luck finding 7.65mm Argentine Mauser ammo here.

The main rifle centrefire rifle calibres in Australia are:

.22/250
.223
.243
.270
6.5x55 Swedish Mauser
8x57 Mauser
.303 British
.30-06
.308
7mm Remington Magnum
.300 Winchester

There are plenty of other calibres, but those are the ones that you're pretty much guaranteed to be able to get at any gunshop you walk into.

[silenus]

I have rifles chambered for 6 of those cartridges, so I'm still in. I'll just bring the Swedish Mauser instead of the one from Argentina. :D

[CynicalGabe]

I have rifles chambered for 6 of those cartridges, so I'm still in. I'll just bring the Swedish Mauser instead of the one from Argentina. :D

I'm out of luck. I only have one of those cartridges covered, but I doubt they'd let me hunt with an AR-15 in Oz.

[silenus]

I'll lend you one. Would you like one of the 8mm, or maybe the one rechambered for .308?

[Martini Enfield]

I'm out of luck. I only have one of those cartridges covered, but I doubt they'd let me hunt with an AR-15 in Oz.

All self-loading longarms are, for all intents and purposes, illegal, unfortunately.

Would there be any interest in an "Ask The Australian Gun Owner" thread at al, I wonder?

[CynicalGabe]

All self-loading longarms are, for all intents and purposes, illegal, unfortunately.

Would there be any interest in an "Ask The Australian Gun Owner" thread at al, I wonder?

I take it the folding-stock AK is out of the question, then? :)

[Martini Enfield]

'Fraid so...