Best 7.62x39mm Rifles: Our Top Picks

The classic 7.62x39mm is an interesting round. It’s one of the first legitimate intermediate rounds, but it’s also one of the few to use a .30 caliber projectile. The rifle round is most famously used in the AK-47 but has found its way into numerous rifles, light machine guns, and many more. The round has also become quite popular in the world of modern rifles. Today we are going to take a peek at the best 7.62x39mm rifles out there.

Why the 7.62×39? 

The 7.62x39mm round is one of the few intermediate rifle rounds on the market that uses a .30 caliber round. It’s certainly the only common one on the market. A .30 caliber projectile ensures you have a heavy bullet that hits hard and penetrates deep. At short ranges, it’s less likely to experience wind deviation. 

While most of us are used to AK fodder in the form of steel-cased cheap ammo, some companies like Hornady and Winchester have loaded some very nice and capable brass-cased premium grade 7.62x39mm ammunition. 

It’s an excellent hunting round out to 200 yards or so, and with an experienced shooter, it can reach out to 300 yards. The cartridge packs quite the punch at close range and can be capable of taking medium-sized game and predators. At the same time, the cartridge offers very manageable recoil. It’s more than a 5.56, but not by much. 

The cartridge is also quite cheap and easy to find. The price is comparable to 5.56 and can be found nearly anywhere. AK magazines might not be as common as AR mags, but they are not exactly hard to find, and plenty of rifles outside of the AK series use AK magazines. 

Best 7.62×39 Firearms

This table shows you our favorite 7.62x39mm firearms. Many are iconic rifles that have been in use all over the world for a long time while some are modern interpretations of these iconic riffles.

Our Best 7.62×39 Firearms

1. Iconic Russian 7.62×39 WASR-10 AK-47 Series		Classic Romanian AK Side Mount Scope Rail Combloc Standard	See Price
2. Iconic Israeli 7.62×39 Galil ACE Gen 2		Takes AK Mags Modern Ergonomics Optics and M-LOK Ready	See Price
3. Classic Layour 7.62×39 Ruger Mini 30		Semi-Auto Design Uses Mini 30 magazines Peep Sights	See price
4. 7.62×39 AR/AK Hybrid CMMG Dissent Mk47		AK and AR Blend Uses AK Magazines Modular	See Price
5. Modernized AK M+M M10X		Combination of AR, FAL, AK Modular and Modern Traditional Long Stroke Gas Piston	See Price
6. Most Advanced Sig MCX SPEAR LT		Short Stroke Gas Piston Design Modular Design M-LOK Handguard	See Price
7. Bolt Action Chassis 7.62×39 CZ 600 Trail		Bolt Action Guns Uses BREN 2 Magazines Modular and Modern	See Price

Spec Comparison of the Best 7.62×39 Firearms

What Is The Best 7.62×39 Firearm?

Here is our list for the best 7.62x39mm gun.

1. WASR 10 AK Series
2. Galil ACE Gen 2
3. Ruger Mini 30
4. CMMG Mk 47 Dissent
5. M+M M10X
6. SIG MCX SPEAR LT
7. CZ 600 Trail

7.62×39 Firearms Reviews

Lets go through a full review for each of our favorite 7.62×39 guns. Here you will see why we picked the guns we picked and see if you agree with our selections.

WASR 10 AL Series Review

The WASR 10 AK series is a very classic Eastern European AK series of rifles that have long been imported into the United States. While companies like PSA are making solid American-made AKs, it’s tough to beat the classic Com Bloc AK imports. The WASR 10 AK series are Romanian designed and are built in the same factory that’s produced them for decades and decades. 

The WASR 10 AK series are fairly plain rifles, and they are exactly what you picture when you say AKM. It’s simple with wood furniture, classic AK controls, the standard side mount scope rail and a slant muzzle device. The WASR 10 AK series are not fancy, but they are the type of AK that lasts absolutely forever and do so with crap-tier ammunition, an abusive maintenance schedule, and a nonpermissive environment. 

If you know AKs, you know the WASR 10. The downside to AKs is the fact that it’s basically a 1947 SMG designed to fire a rifle round. What I mean is the ergonomics are not great with the massive safety, right side only reciprocating charging handle and teeny tiny grip. That’s part and parcel of the classic AK experience. 

The WASR 10 offers you a classic AK design in the famed 7.62x39mm cartridge. It’s pure Eastern Europe, and you can almost smell the vodka on it. We did a full review of this classic rifle.

WASR 10 AK Pros and Cons

Galil ACE Gen 2 Review

When the Israelis wanted a domestically produced service rifle, they had some requirements. They wanted something that worked well in sandy environments and had been impressed with the AK series. They weren’t impressed with the gun’s ergonomics, its accuracy, or its modularity. Thus, they made something that blended parts of the M16, the FAL, the AK 47, and even a bit of the M1 Garand to make one unique rifle called the Galil. 

The Galil ACE Gen 2 represents the most modern Galil to date and is an Israeli export made available here in the states. The rifles come in 5.56, 7.62 NATO, and of course, 7.62x39mm. In the 7.62x39mm round, it uses common and affordable AK-47 series magazines. The rifle is capable of excellent accuracy. In fact, it can produce groups right at 1 MOA with high-quality ammunition. 

The rifle also comes with a way to use optics and accessories that isn’t common with the AK series rifles. The stock is also modern and often both collapsible and adjustable, depending on the model you use. The rifle comes with an excellent trigger that’s a two-stage design and is quite light and sweet. 

The Galil ACE series trimmed a lot of weight, but the main downside is that it’s still a bit of a hefty rifle and a bit bulky. If you can deal with that, it’s one of the most modern 7.62x39mm rifles on the market. 

Galil ACE Gen 2 Pros and Cons

Ruger Mini 30 Review

Ruger is pretty familiar with the 7.62x39mm with the Mini 30, and they’ve never shied away from it. The Ruger American Ranch Rifle is a series of American-made, affordable bolt action rifles in intermediate calibers. The Ruger American Ranch Rifle comes in the classic 7.62x39mm and uses Mini 30 magazines. 

There was a time when the AK and SKS were the only 7.62x39mm actions you could get. For decades, the caliber was largely ignored by the American market. The exception was this company called Ruger, which had long produced a .223 rifle known as the Mini-14. In 1987, they took that Mini-14 rifle and created the Mini Thirty. 

The Mini Thirty kept the same general layout as the Mini-14 but embraced the 7.62x39mm round. It uses a short-stroke gas piston design with a rotating bolt. The 7.62×39 fits into the Mini platform quite well, and shooters looking for a handy, lightweight rifle with some close-range punch would be well served by the Mini Thirty. 

The gun has several variations, but the classic wood stock model will always be my favorite. However, if you want something more modern, Ruger and the aftermarket have you covered. Ruger makes models with 18.5-inch barrels and 16.12-inch barrels. For the 7.62x39mm, the 16-inch barrel works best since it doesn’t benefit all that much from a long barrel. 

The Mini Thirty is a 6.7-pound rifle that’s downright handy. Recoil is timid, and the reliability factor is high thanks to the short-stroke gas piston. Surprisingly, the rifle is well-suppressed and is very comfortable to shoot. Accuracy isn’t fantastic, but you’re shooting a cartridge designed for 300 yards and in, so it doesn’t need to be a marksman’s rifle. 

What makes it a tough sell is the thousand-dollar price point. There are so many AR-type rifles out there in 7.62×39 that spending a grand on a Mini Thirty can be tough. However, the gun does have a classic style and feel that’s not replicated with the AR. 

Ruger Mini 30 Pros and Cons

CMMG Mk47 Dissent Review

CMMG is never one to rest on its laurels. They’ve certainly kept the creative juices flowing. The Mutant is one of the most notable AR/AK hybrids, but they’ve pushed the concept further. The Dissent series keeps the central theme of the Mutant, namely an ergonomic, AR-like platform in 7.62×39 mixed with AK magazines. 

What the Dissent does differently is ditch the need for the buffer and receiver extension. This frees us from the prison of a fixed stock. The included stock on the Dissent Mk47 collapses and folds, giving you a cheek riser to get nice and high on the rifle and whatever optic you plan to use. 

If you’re a suppressor nut, the adjustable gas block will make it easy to fine-tune your suppressed experience for super or subsonic ammo. It’s awesome for making sure the gun runs reliably but not overgassed. Overgassing means more recoil, more wear, and more gas to the face. No one wants that, and with the Dissent, you don’t. 

We get a fairly light recoil impulse and the accuracy potential of an AR. Sure, we sacrifice the last round bolt hold open, but we get the rest of the AR suite of controls. I love the ambidextrous safety and naturally ambi AK magazine release that combines well with the reversible charging handle. It’s a gun well-suited for the left-handed population. 

It’s a pricey rifle, but CMMG does stuff it with tons of features and offers a variety of Cerakote finishes. I personally adore the single-stage trigger, which helps make this 7.62x39mm rifle more accurate than the average bear. With the AR-like layout, you also have plenty of optics options and modularity. 

CMMG Mk47 Dissent Pros and Cons

M+M M10X Review

Much like the Galil, the M+M M10X is an attempt to implement the reliability and power of the AK into a more modular platform that excels in accuracy while using standard AK mags and ammo. The M10X has some AK traits, as well as some AR, SIG 550, and FAL traits even. It’s a neat design that is one of the most modern 7.62×39 semi-auto rifles out there. 

The weapon has a huge monolithic optics rail, an M-LOK handguard, a side folding, and collapsing stock. The rifle has a reversible charging handle and an ambidextrous AR-like safety. The system is still a long-stroke gas piston design. But we have an adjustable gas system much like the SIG 550 series rifles. This allows it to run smoother and better with a suppressor. 

We get enhanced accuracy, so much so they even produce a DMR version of the rifle. The trigger is absolutely fantastic, and the optics rail makes your choice of sighting systems broad. The design hinges open, much like an AR, for easy access, and this makes disassembly a breeze. It’s a very user-friendly platform. 

The downside is that M+M is a small company, and the guns are expensive and often sold out. This is a unique rifle platform that’s sold internationally, so it’s likely tough to keep in stock. If you can snag one, you have an awesome and modern 7.62x39mm rifle. 

M+M M10X Pros and Cons

SIG MCX SPEAR LT Review

The SIG Sauer MCX Spear-LT might be the most advanced 7.62x39mm rifle on the market. It’s a pleasant surprise that the Spear-LT series would embrace the 7.62x39mm round. This short-stroke gas piston system gives you a modern, modular rifle system that’s lightweight, accurate, and highly modern. 

One of the reasons I love the MCX is how well it suppresses. The MCX in 7.62x39mm is an awesome suppressor host, and the 7.62x39mm has more than a few subsonic cartridge options for the modern market. The short-stroke gas piston keeps gas out of your face and makes suppressed shooting comfortable compared to alternative options. Plus, the adjustable gas system ensures reliability with less recoil. 

The MCX comes with all the bells and whistles you expect. You get SIG’s Flatblade match trigger, fully ambidextrous controls, a lightweight M-LOK rail, and a folding stock. The handguard, in particular, strikes my fancy. It’s pretty light, which helps keep the 7.62 barrel well-balanced with the minimalist folding stock. 

Your typical steel-cased 7.62x39mm round isn’t known for its exceptional accuracy, but the Spear-LT finds a way to get every little bit of accuracy out of the cartridge and rifle. If you invest in the good stuff, like Hornady Black, then you can likely get some 1 MOA groups out of the gun. I wouldn’t call it a 1 MOA gun because that implies it’s going to consistently create 1 MOA groups, but it’s 1 MOA capable. 

The downside to me is the magazines. 7.62x39mm magazines that fit in what’s essentially an AR lower can be a crapshoot. There aren’t many great options, so you’re stuck with a few brands to get it right. If you can deal with that, the MCX Spear-LT provides an accurate, easily suppressed, and capable rifle.

SIG SPEAR MCX LT Pros and Cons

CZ 600 Trail Review

The CZ 600 Trail is one of my favorite new rifles. It’s a super interesting bolt action rifle designed for intermediate cartridges. The 600 Trail series chambers either 5.56 or 7.62×39 and uses either AR mags or Bren 2 mags in the case of the 7.62x39mm version. This lightweight rifle is ultra-modern and quite compact. 

To help keep it compact, they have a PDW-style stock that collapses nearly flush against the gun. It makes the rifle easy enough to toss in a pack and go! The rifle features AK-like controls, and most of the controls are ambidextrous. The bolt action is massive and super smooth in nature. The rifle has a near full-length M-LOK handguard and offers you plenty of space for accessories. 

The rifle features a user-adjustable trigger and is crazy accurate. It’s got a 1 MOA guarantee, but don’t expect that with steel ammo. You’ll need to spring for the good stuff. Even with the cheap stuff, the gun is plenty accurate inside of three hundred yards and could be a fantastic predator gun or even a deer gun. 

The Bren 2 magazines aren’t quite AK cheap or as widely available. They aren’t expensive either, but it’s not an optimum magazine if commonality is your goal. The rifle is also a bit expensive, but it’s also a CZ, which means quality is a guarantee. 

CZ 600 Trail Pros and Cons

Where the 7.62×39 Shines 

The 7.62×39 could be used for home defense, but it does over-penetrate with the more common ammo types. You’d really have to find a defensive loading with a soft or hollow tip. Even then, the round offers more recoil than the lighter 5.56. It does work, but there are better options. 

Where the 7.62x39mm really shines is when you get outside in thicket-style environments. The round penetrates well in both urban and forest environments. It’s more likely to smash through hardcover and less likely to deviate when it strikes vines, leaves, and ultra-small limbs. Much like the famed .30-30, it’s an American brush hunter’s best friend. 

In the swamp environments I hunt, my Mark X in 7.62×39 is absolutely perfect. It hits hard and penetrates deep within its effective range. At the same time, the gun doesn’t hurt my shoulder and gives it the thump I associate with other .30 caliber rounds. If you want a light, low recoiling rifle that hits hard, it’s easy to pick the 7.62x39mm. 

Cheap Ammo 

Another big reason is the ammunition availability. A cheap box of .308 costs at least a buck a round. I can find 7.62x39mm for a whole lot less if I don’t mind steel-cased stuff. I like shooting my Mark X as a bolt gun and appreciate the option for very cheap ammo to do so. 

When you need better ammo, that’s also available, although expect to pay premium prices. The ammo is also nearly panic-proof. I mean, in a long enough ammo shortage, it will dry up, but it’s often slower than 5.56 and even .308. The difference between the two in availability is night and day. 

The little 7.62x39mm round shouldn’t be overlooked. It has some excellent advantages and could be a great addition to your gun safe. Let me know below what you think about this classic rifle round. 

Suggested Reading

It is probably not a big surprise that the AK 47 was top of our list for 7.62×39 rifles. We have an article with our Favorite AK47 to see which AK we think is best.