New FN TSR – The 7.62x39mm market is heating up
Until recently you did not have many options if you wanted a bolt gun chambered in 7.62x39mm. In the United States the most readily available gun was the CZ 527 Carbine and Remington Model 799, in Canada it was the Norinco (Chinese) made rifle (I forget the model name).
Then earlier this year Ruger came out with the M77 Hawkeye Compact, chambered in 7.62x39mm, and I applauded their efforts. I just learnt from Michael Bane that FNH USA have a new bolt action rifle called the TSR (Tactical Sport Rifle) and, you guessed it, will be available in 7.62x39mm!
FN TSR USA
FNH owns Winchester Arms and manufactures all the Model 70 rifle actions in its South Carolina plant, so naturally the rifle is based on the famous action. The rifles feature:
* The new Tactical Sport Trigger ( factory set at 3.75 lbs )
* Hogue rubber stock with full aluminum bedding block
* Fluted barrel
* One piece picatinny rail
There are two models, each available in a variety of chamberings. The FN TSR USA has an Ultra Short action ( 5.56x45mm, 7.62×39 ), 20″ barrel and hinged floorplate magazine. The FN TSR XP has Short Magnum action ( 308 Win., 300 WSM), 20″ or 24″ barrel and a floorplate magazine for the .300 WSM rifles and a detachable box magazine for the .308.
It is great to see another company recognize the potential of the 7.62x39mm as a sporting round in bolt rifles. It also allows the owners of SKS and AK type rifles ammunition parity with a bolt gun. It is just a pity they are not offering a detachable magazine model in 7.62x39mm. Hopefully this will be offered in the future, although for hunting this is not that much of a big deal.
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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Hi Guys. Seeing you yankie guys talking about the Russian short was interesting indeed. Living here in the arse-end of the world (Australia) I still managed to get myself one of the greatest (and super-rare) buys of all time back in the early eighties. A Ruger K77 in stainless, no doubt. World class design and manufacturing and materials that won't cringe even with PRC sourced corrosive primers. Topping it with a model specific (floated and bedded) Ramline stock (the semi-skeleton Ruger product has never been popular) and a Leupold 1-4 x 25 VX-2 scope has turned this rig into a jewel. And the stubby cartridge is a honey. Careful reloading and using SP Sierra 123 gr. bullets, my wife just loves it. Both on the range (groups average 1 - 1.5 MOA and many times less) and in the field. It is especially suited for the kind of spotlight shooting we have over here as the range, unlike with her .243, is somewhat limited. Yeah, give me the 7.62x39 over the .223 any day (even though my treasured .223 is an accuried Reminton 788). But that's another story.
Cheers
Paul B
A very enjoyable blog to say the least, the knowledge and lack of it shared here is interesting. I particularly like the points on range and accuracy of the 7'62 X 39mm cartridge. Unfortunately most posters talk much about what they know little of period and when assessing the caliber are not comparing apples with apples.
To begin with one cant compare carbine style military rifles with bolt action hunting rifles using decent manufactured loads. As for the cartridges ability, its a better cartridge than a 30 30 and at 500 yrds will have a similar knock down to a 243win, the islamo insurgents used this caliber for sniping Nato troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, ask any marine that took a hit to his vest at how much hitting power it has at long range..
Savage did release a very limited number of their Hunter 11FCNS rifles with Accustock and adjustable Accutriger in this caliber, see this link, http://www.savagearms.com/f..., this together with some reasonable costing S&B 123gr SP hunting loads give me 2 to 3" groups at 350 yrds without a problem, but using Hornady's new 123gr SST cartridge I am reaching out over 500 yrds without any difficulty at all. If you cant hit the target, don't blame the gun, learn how to shoot it, it may just be in your best interests.