Hornady Frontier 7.62x39 Tested in an AK, an SKS and a Ruger

GarandThumb.com ran Hornady's upcoming Frontier 7.62x39 load through three rifles to see how the new range ammunition performs.

Key points

• The load: a 123-grain full-metal-jacket bullet, item FR421, in a 50-round box, listed in Hornady's 2027 lineup.
• Test rifles: an iron-sighted AK, a military-surplus SKS and a scoped Ruger American Ranch, with 100 rounds through each.
• Reliability: all three finished their 100 rounds. One surplus AK magazine caused a failure to feed, and the author blames the magazine.
• Accuracy: five-shot groups at 100 yards from a bench averaged about 3.1 inches for the AK, 3.8 inches for the SKS and 1.7 inches for the Ruger, whose best group was 1.3 inches.

Quick take

The author says the load suited the AK well and works for recreational AK and SKS shooting, steel targets and bolt-action accuracy tests, but not for deer hunting. He says its success depends on availability and street price, since cheap imported steel-cased ammunition built much of the 7.62x39 market.

Read the full story at GarandThumb.com.