Georgia Arms 7.62x39

[tpr17]

Anyone tried Georgia Arms 7.62x39 ammo w/125 grain ballistic tips? Have had good luck with their 10 mm ammo and am considering ordering some for short range hunting round. Before I get blasted for using "AK" for whitetail hunting, Im looking to harvest a whitetail with all my "military" rifles, i.e. SA58, Yugo Mauser and a nagant when I pick one up. I could use my .280 Rem 700, but looking to add a little challange/fun to the hunt. Thanks for the info.

[Packrat]

I've never run across Georgia Arms ammo before, but don't apologise about using 7.62x39 for deer. Just because the current practice is to use elephant rounds for deer so that you can get a kill by hitting the tail is no reason to consider it a poor choice for an animal in the 150-200 pound range--about the range of humans, which the "game" it was intended to kill. There is not much difference between the .30-30 Winchester and the x39 round. You might consider the 125gr SP from Barnaul or the 154gr SP from wolf, also.

All of this assumes you are capable of hitting your target dependably. If you can't do that, you shouldn't be hunting, which is why I didn't hunt--I never felt I was good enough to be assured of clean kills. Since you're hunting with your other rifles, I assume you're a competent hunter, so give the AK a try. You may get some dirty looks, but a photo of a good buck with an AK leaning on it ought to answer them. Good luck!

[tpr17]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Pakrat. Have shot several deer at extended range with both my 280 and 308, but average distance is under 100 yds, well within 7.62x39 range. I have a Vepr K which I have sent to Krebs for some work and am anxiously awaiting its return. With the standard sight I was confident out to 100yds to put shot within 6" circle of hand and off the bench or rest it put 5 w/in 2.5" and this with cheap surplus. Was considering reloading but then found that Georgia Arms loads up with ballistic tips. I geuss I'll have to order some and shoot them. Will post results. May be awhile as my rifle is not due back for another month or so. I am hoping with rear peep accuracy will get better.

[Packrat]

If this is the peep on the receiver, I'm very interested in your experience with it. It's way expensive for me, but I've argued that this is the only place for an aperture sight.

Make sure that your gas tube and your lower handguard have a little looseness so they aren't pushing the barrel (makes it more or less floating), then you're ready to start hand-loading for accuracy. I've heard some amazing things about Saigas and Veprs with hand-loads--like MOA accuracy. I've also heard that a lot of them like heavier bullets, especially the 150gr loads. And this was with .308 dia bullets, though if you find .310 or .311 dia (.303 Brit bullets) it won't hurt. Like any other rifles, AKs can be picky about ammo. They'll shoot about anything, but what they shoot well is another matter. One person was getting about 4" out of a .308 Saiga with milsurp, but pulled it down to about 1" with 165gr handloads (hunting bullets, not match). But he said he had another that liked milsurp just fine.

I had hoped that we would see some examples of good accuracy in the Postal Match, but so far there have been no entries.

[tpr17]

Yes it is the rear peep sight which is mounted on the dust cover with rail. I tried a mojo peep sight which replaces the standard rear sight. It was better, at least I liked it better, than the issue sight, but I never noticed a great difference in accuracy. However I only shot at 50yds with surplus ammo and the weather was a bit frosty. I did get respectable groups at 100 with vepr, better than I ever was able to get w/MAK90, w/issue sight. I was a little concerned about the repeatability with sight mounted on removable dust cover, but am being assured by Krebs that it locks up solid. I have heard good things about them and am hoping it turns out as I've spent nearly one years worth of gun money on the work. Will post something when I get the gun back and put some rnds through it.

I like the idea of the Vepr or Saiga in 308, however am a little short on cash, am considering selling my Mini30 to finance further purchase. Have had good luck w/the Mini, however have only put about 300 rnds through it. Have never had any jamming/malfunction problems even with cheap aftermarket mags. I hate selling anything, for fear of regreating it after the fact.

[Packrat]

I have a Mini-30, and that's the ONLY firearm I own that I would sell. I have a long-barrelled .308 Saiga with wooden furniture. I'm currently reshaping that. I was going to make an AK-style rifle from it, but decided that it wouldn't look right with the long barrel. I could make an RPK look-alike, but I don't care for them, and can't get into prone position any more. So I'll leave it as a "hunting" rifle.

An aperture sight as far from your eye as the AK's rear sight doesn't work the way it's supposed to. I've sorried about the receiver cover not returning to zero if removed, but all the rifles I own have tightly-fitting covers, so that probably isn't a problem. I can't see the price of the Krebs sight, but I have been looking for a cheaper one that I could mount myself. And I have 2 covers with scope bases on them, and some Saigas with scope bases on them. I wish someone would make an inexpensive red dot sight; I'm tempted to get one of the $10 air/paintgun sights and try it. I mounted one on a High Point carbine and it worked quite well. If I had a 5.45 AK I'd certainly try it. Maybe on a .223...

[shogun3]

I have used a bunch of the GA Arms ammo - mostly 9mm and .45LC, but also .308 and .223. It's VERY reliable and the 9mm NATO spec shoots much better in my MP5 than most anything else I've tried. (my MP5 seems to be real finicky about cheap ammo)

[tpr17]

Finally back with report of Krebs custom work on VEPR. Very pleased. The new sights are outstanding and complete return to zero after removal of dust cover which contains rear sight. They also installed Galil style safety lever , i.e. permits on/off of safety with thumb of firing hand if rt handed. The installed muzzle break is very effective, no muzzle rise at all. The only thing I didn't like is the gas tube is no longer removable, unless it is operator error and I just havent figured it out yet. Just makes it a little more difficult to clean. I will have to send in target that I shot from the postal match. Nearly all rounds where in the black using 154 grn wolf soft points with open sights. Havent gotten around to putting scope on the rail to see what its capable of. I have an aimpoint on it now which allows co witnessing of iron sights. Works very good as the dot sits on top of the front post, not really conducive to precise groups, but fun to play with, and if the dot is not needed or wanted just turn it off and use the irons. Have to find time to test it with scope. I have a scope on my AR rail that fits on the AK just have to stop being lazy and get to the range.