Ruger American Russian 7.62x39

A Ruger American Russian Model in 7.62x39 caught my eye at the hardware store today, and I wanted opinions on this round. The gun design itself being short and light seemed like a good fit for me and the type of territory that I hunt. The 30 caliber round would essentially be comparable to a 30-30, I assume. I think this rifle would make for a good "work horse' and be good for hunting in tight places where a 200 yard shot is nearly unheard of. My gun man showed me Winchester soft point ammo that was 123 grains, but I am sure that there are other options available. Could anyone be so kind as to shed some light on this particular set-up chambered in this round ?

I bought one a few weeks ago. It's a sweet shooting little rifle, very accurate if I do my part. It will eat Russian steel cased ammo without a problem.

I do not have that rifle but I've been shooting and hunting with the 7.62x39 since I was a kid. SKS or AK is still my go-to when I'm mad at the hogs and doing an active stalk.
The round is, as you suspect, about the same as the 30-30 and will perform nicely at the ranges one would generally use the 30-30, ie 150 yards or less, half that being better. I prefer the 154gr sp from Barnaul (you can usually find it as Brown Bear). If you are cash conscious like some when ammo cost is figured you are in for a treat. You can get x39 for 20-22cents all day.

I would look at the 300blk variation because of the ease of getting ammo and more options for hunting ammo.
7.62X39 prices are very conditional upon friendly import laws, laws can change down the road.

It's a bolt action rifle not a full auto AK, I wouldn't be too greatly concerned about ammo costs.

I just looked because I was curious, the MSRP is $70 cheaper on the 300blk variation compared to the 7.62X39.
Not sure if that translate to street pricing but an interesting point regardless.

That's right, I bought a 1000 rounds of 124gr Wolf Classic hps. The classic is supposed to have better expansion than the black box wolf & was shipped to my house for .22 a round.

Where I bought mine the 300blk was 389 & the 7.62x39 was 419.

Are you really suggesting that 300blk is easier to find than 7.62x39? You can get 7.62 just about everywhere, 300blk not so much. Then if you want to get all gun snob you could say that the blk is a fairly new cartridge and may not be around in 10 years, like they say about the 6.5 creedmoor.

As much as I enjoy my 2 300blk ARs, the fact is that you are extremely limited in ammo choice for a hunting application in supersonic ammo (Barnes 110 and 120 tactx and Nosler 120s being the top performers) and these cost $1.25+/ea if you can find them in stock. Most reports I've seen on the 300blk forums suggest the RAR does not shoot the 110s very well. It can drive tacks with the 150s and heavier though but those are inappropiate unless you plan to go subsonic and suppressed in which case you will have the unique experience of hunting with a rifle that shoots like a bow and arrow. By the way, hunting quality subs are $2+/ea if you roll your own and closer to $3-4 if you by them from a reputable manufacturer.

Just get a 308 and be done with it.

Gentlemen, thanks for all of the helpful responses. I think the 7.62x39 would work for what I am trying to accomplish. I may look at other calibers and am not the type to typically fall in love with a particular caliber. I think primarily that I am amused by the Ruger ranch rifle platform for its utility. I am all about utility and functionality in day to day real world use applications. I may be swayed by the fact that I do have a round or two laying around for an AK and an SKS that I enjoy, but have not put to use in a hunting application. However, after reading MDEES post, it may be fun to take one of these down to the riverswamp for some hogs !! I do believe that if you have a good shooting SKS that you have a superior weapon. I have a Mosin in 7.62x54R that I would like to convert to a scout rifle. It happens to have an excellent trigger and is a really good shooter. These old guns are fun to shoot ! They should all perform well on game with the correct ammunition !

The SKS can be made to shoot.I have a yugo that will shoot 1" with most cheap ammo.That 7.62x39 is a hard hitter at 100-150 yds.

Update: Went with the 7.62x39 and got her zeroed in today and am impressed with the RARR. Now I am ready for some live targets !

Congrats, it's really a fun rifle to shoot. What scope did you put on it?

I put a Nikon 2x7x32 on it. Nothing fancy at all, and to my surprise I found this to be a 1MOA gun. I killed a buck with it and it did the job ! I foresee carrying this set-up hunting more that anything else I've got. It is a joy to hunt with, and the cheap Wolf ammo shoots basically the same as the Winchester Power Points that I hunt with. I can use the Wolf ammo for fun, and ear shots on hogs and coyotes if needed.

I kind of wish now I had put a 40mm on mine but I wanted to keep it compact as possible. I gave mine a good cleaning the other day, while I had the stock off I turned the trigger down. I haven't shot it since but I am anxious to try it.

I have heard the 7.62x39 described as "inherently inaccurate". Not sure if that's just in AK's or if a bolt action would be better....Sounds like you're doing pretty well with it.

The belief that 7.62x39 is "inherently inaccurate" stems from several factors: myth, disdain, poor training, and crap ammo. While the round is rarely what most would consider a tack-driver from any platform, the fact is that most rounds are difficult to put into .25moa groups. Yet 1moa seems a legitimate standard and quality ammunition can produce close to that all day from an AKM, SKS or bolt gun. Those who choose the Commie guns often did so because they were cheap, compared to an AR for example, and could be fed for pennies rather than half-dollars. But they are being fed 50yr old overstock from the Ukraine into weapons either imported as well-used parts kits or hastily assembled weapons for commercial export. Like any hunting rifle, there will be ammunition the weapon shoots well and some it shoots poorly. It's just a matter of finding the right load.

It is plenty capable of shooting MOA at 100yds with good ammo and/or hand loads. There are just not many firearms chambered in the round that are up to that challenge. "inherently inaccurate" is fake news. The internet is covered up with Tactical Timmy types that "write gun related articles" and it seems a majority these days don't even bother to own a chronograph, hand load or shoot for accuracy more than 2-3 types of ammo. I've even read some that reviewed accuracy as 2-3 inch group off hand at 100yds and stated that in the article (if you can really call it that). Such that accuracy don't mean a dang thing. And then that somehow gets repeated until 1/2 truths become the standard? People are left running around saying if they can get 2" out of their AK that's great because it's the ammo's fault? That's nothing short of just plain Stupid. Their reviews are something along the lines of...... look at the awesome rail system you can attach some tactical weapons light to and when I dry fired the trigger I felt cool just holding it in my hand. This gun is the best ever.....

What Complete Garbage. Welcome to guns and the internet.

The 7.62x39 is not a long range cartridge it was designed to kill people with a rough but reliable Communist built firearm at distances you could reliably hit with an SKS/AK. Nothing more really. Nothing less.

I am really pleased ! Basically I have a round comparable to a 30-30 in a platform that I personally like to carry more than a lever gun. The gun performs well and has exceeded my expectations at the range and in hunting performance in its intended application which is tight places...just a good woods gun. I have an SKS and an AK and my experience is that the SKS can be pretty accurate, and my father who is a NAM Vet doesn't discount an AK either. To this day he is still amazed at the conditions in which an AK would still fire and can distinguish its sound any time anywhere. There are some good comments regarding 7.62x39 here that discuss the various platforms it has been chambered in and its intended use. I do think that the Ruger Ranch Rifle is more than a crude firearm, but certainly not a safe queen. It has really turned out to be a fun set-up.

Check out the CZ............

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-527-carbine-223-rem/

I have the full stocked version in .223 and I am very impressed with it. Everyone that owns a carbine in X39 seems to really like it.

That CZ is sweet, I would love to add that to my x39 collection. American gun makers could take lessons from CZ, especially their iron sights.