Buy an AR15 in 5.56 instead. It’s a much better weapon.
There’s a problem with 5.56. It has NOWHERE near the stopping power of 7.62. I’ve seen numerous reports from the Sandbox and the Rockpile confirming this.
ALSO. .. our producers are pushing almost all their 5.56 out the door to the DOD. Whereas there’s a TON of 7.62x39 out there, fairly cheap. Someone else mentioned www.ClassicArms.us : I concur, they sell a lot of it, and do it cheaply.
Of course, if you want an even MORE dependable rifle at a price that can’t be beat, buy a Mosin-Nagant. 7.62x51R is even cheaper, and packs a lot more punch. I just bought a spam-can of 440 rounds for 99.95. . .
No doubt most AR’s are much more carefully and more ‘to spec’ built weapons, but most cost 3 to 4 times as much. Yes I know there are less expensive AR’s, but then you get back into the fact that everyone will tell you how badly made the lower cost AR’s are. And before anyone says anything, I have no desire to build my own for the same reason I have no desire to build my own car, I haven’t the skills or the knowledge.