An AR with an "Eastern" flavour.

[Stevo]

I got my new NEA 7.62x39mm AR out to the range this week. It functioned perfectly on Czech and Chinese surplus M43, with new production Chinese M43 and with Wolf HP.

It's not the run of the mill 7.62x39 AR. Normally they have a .223 bolt opened up to accept the larger base, but this gun has a larger diameter bolt and a proprietary barrel extension. This should take care of the fairly common bolt failures in most x39 ARs. This rifle is also built on the new NEA forged upper and lower, rather than their older billet pieces.

I'll get more pics posted up over the weekend. I'm heading to a 3 gun match tomorrow and am going to run the NEA.

Til then, here's a teaser:

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I'm curious. Last weekend we had our local annual show and one dealer said NEA had less than a stellar reputation...I'd heard nothing. Let us know...

[Stevo]

I'm curious. Last weekend we had our local annual show and one dealer said NEA had less than a stellar reputation...I'd heard nothing. Let us know...

NEA had a rocky start due to issues with outsourced parts quality. They've gotten much, much better. They've got a lot of haters due to their early problems.

I currently own two NEAs including this one, and I had a 10.5" .223 that I sold to a buddy. My 12.5" has been rock solid. I've used it for classes and matches and my boy has claimed it as his 3 gun rifle, now.

[imarangemaster]

Very interesting!

[browningautorifle]

Thanks Steve, that's sort of what I figured. You can't stay in business if your stuff doesn't work. Anyhoo, keep us info'ed on your new one...

[vintage hunter]

this gun has a larger diameter bolt and a proprietary barrel extension. This should take care of the fairly common bolt failures in most x39 ARs.

That's good to know. Always wanted a 7.62x39 AR but was put off by the bolt failures.

[imarangemaster]

I love the 7.62x39 cartridge, but have trouble with it in an AR platform. That's why I have an AK in 7.62x39 to go with my two 5.56 AR platforms. The ARs are great weapons. My 20" 602/SP1 slick side clone is the consummate light assault rifle as Stoner's team designed at 5.5 pounds, with 3300 FPS from the 20" barrel. My M4gery is almost as light and a little handier with some velocity loss (3150 fps) from a 16" barrel.

With that said, however, my AK with it's steel com-bloc mags is the consummate, end of the world, indestructible, abuse me beyond belief, and I will still fire every time, function and feed 100% of the time weapon. I could (and have) intentionally and unintentionally abused my various AK platforms through the years, to levels I would NEVER subject my ARs to. Add to that the 8M3 loaded 124 grain HP "fragtastic" rounds I have for it are at least as nasty as an M193 round from a 20" barrel, but will punch through twice as much barrier.

[Stevo]

I love the 7.62x39 cartridge, but have trouble with it in an AR platform.

Can you expand on that or is it just a personal "rightness" thing?

[Bill Hollinger]

There are not too many AR platforms that function reliably in the 7.62X39mm. I believe Olympic Arms and Colt both gave up trying.

[imarangemaster]

Can you expand on that or is it just a personal "rightness" thing?

Hahaha! Just a personal thing. It just bothers my "firearms feng shui!" I know that AR platforms in the caliber (and 308) have been problematic, but it is more preference. The platforms were designed around their respective cartridges, that's why they work so well in their designed firearms.

The I think the 7.62x39 is a great round, but I really think Wilson Combat 7.62x40 is better for the AR platform. It duplicates 7.62x39 without reliability issues and uses the same basic 5.56 case AR mags. The 300 BLK (7.62x35) also does, but is a pain because you need proprietary design bullets for the 300 BLK (long nosed to feed). The 7.62x40 uses any .308 bullet. I sold my 300 BLK because I could not afford to feed it, even reloading. I can do 2-3 of the 5.56 rounds for the same as one 300 BLK. 6.8 SPC II is also a great round, but mags are different.