Common Misconceptions Surrounding the 7.62x39 AR15

Many of the misinformed on social media claim that 7.62x39 in the AR platform is unreliable. They point to a small handful of issues that were addressed several years ago. Some of those are feeding issues with magazines, broken extractors, broken bolts, and short firing pins. In the time since those issues were identified, Pickett’s Mill Armory got to work to implement the corrections in our guns.

The Magazine

The magazine issues arose when companies saw an opportunity to make a buck without addressing the differences between the 5.56 casing and the 7.62x39 casing. That is why PMA only uses C-Products Duramags or ASC magazines. The inside of the magazines do not have a ridge like standard 5.56 magazines do and that allows the rounds to nest correctly on top of one another. Shooters have had the most success with magazines that are 28 rd or less. We typically ship our rifles with a 20 rd Duramag. Why 20 rd mags? The 7.62x39 round requires a constant curve in the magazine which can cause the springs in AR pattern 30 rd magazines to bind causing a failure to feed. We’ve found that we can fire our rifles on auto with 20 rd magazines without a single hiccup. Lastly, less experienced or fatigued shooters had a tendency to pull back on the bottom of the magazines which can cause a misfeed in some cases.

The 7.62x39 AR Bolt and Extractor

Another common fallacy are ones of metallurgy. People have been conditioned by social media to believe that it’s common to break bolts and extractors in their AR-47. The rationale is the deeper bolt face and thinner walls make it more susceptible to breaking. While a possibility, properly manufactured bolts that are properly heat treated are capable of taking quite a bit of punishment. The reality is, the bolts and extractors have to be heat treated and in doing so can become brittle if not done correctly. When a company combines a brittle extractor or bolt face with steel cased ammunition, you can increase the likelihood of an issue. The PMA 7.62x39 AR uses bolts that are heat treated correctly and are not brittle which has been an issue for other companies. It’s really that easy. A little time and careful quality control avoids these issues.

The Firing Pin

An enhanced firing pin is essentially a slightly longer firing pin compared to the standard AR-15 pin. The extended length allows it to protrude further into the bolt face, providing a deeper, more forceful strike on the primer of the 7.62x39 cartridge. This enhancement ensures consistent ignition and reduces the likelihood of misfires.

However, it's essential to note that while the extended design serves the purpose for 7.62x39 rounds, it might lead to primer punctures when used with 5.56 NATO ammunition, due to the softer primers. Hence, it's crucial to ensure that the enhanced firing pin is exclusively used for rifles chambered in 7.62x39.

Conclusion 

The commonly stated issues are simply not issues when the customer buys a properly built and inspected rifle. The desire to save money with a less expensive rifle option normally leads to the failures commonly discussed on social media and proliferated around the internet. The combination of quality, curated parts and a company that stands behind their products is what makes this a viable rifle option.