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I did read that the AIA's are made in Vietnam of all places, anyone else heard this?

http://www.australianinternationalarms.com.au/

Designed & developed in Australia, A.I.A. is truly international with components outsourced from the Americas, S.E. Asia & Australia.

From what I've heard, this is the case. It would seem that the ones sent to Canada was pretty crap.

http://www.303british.com/id41.html
http://www.303british.com/id56.html

I went back and had a look at the site again, somehow it does not sound Australian in the way they explain things.

I went back and had a look at the site again, somehow it does not sound Australian in the way they explain things.

I'm pretty sure it is an Australian (Queensland) operation, but they're trying to do it on the cheap. This is pity because it's a good concept, but apparently badly executed.

I suspect the 7.62x39 version was developed in response to a Govt plan to ban that ammo, because some naughty people decided not to hand in their SKS's. The logic being if there was a locally produced rifle that fired 7.62x39, the Govt would find it more difficult to bring in a ban. I can't find if a ban was ever implemented or if remained just an idea.

I did a quick Google for AIA/7.62X39 reloading this morning and found nothing, they Aussies seem to like to feed them with Milsurp instead. I did find this though:

http://www.ak-47.net/ammo/reload2.html

The small amount of powder used is quite impressive and add a 146 NATO type bullet and you could have a cheap and usable load.

Alpha1 - I use 146 grain S&B's from Peter Lawman http://www.peterlawman.co.uk I just checked and he has nothing listed but he would be worth a call, from memory we paid GBP12/100. I may even have a few I can mail out to you if you want to try some first. I use them for plinking in my 7,62X51 and they are accurate at 600m.

Or you could do what the Kiwi's are doing.

http://www.gunworks.co.nz/index.php?itemid=45

It was the AIA that I was looking at. I found that the furniture was made in Vietnam, the actions were sourced from India and the barrels from wherever they could get them.......

Mine shoots fine the only thing you need to bear in mind is that the bullet is not .308 it is nearer .311 for the 7.62x39 mine shoots badly with .308 but if you use the correct size bullet they are all in the ten ring as long as the nut on the but does his thing.
It shoots really well with cast but I dont have the time to stoke the furnace up so I am still looking for that magic formula for full metal jackets.
I bought some SB bullets from Henry Kranks but he only had 90 left and he isnt expecting any more in till Jauary so I dont want to waste them. I am hoping to be able to use one of the Vitavouri powders maybe N120.
I fired the rifle at 100 and 200yds just a week ago with excellent results.
I think its a cracking little rifle great fun.

Are you using flat base condon bullets Dave or are they boat tail?

You should get better results with flat base.

What weight were they?

They are flat base Adam.
Problem is dont know when I will get any more.
The best results I have had with it so far have been with some cast bullets that I was given by Adam.
I have molds but I just do not have the time to cast.

This is a link to an interesting 4-page article called "7.62x39: Improving the Military Standard".

http://demigodllc.com/articles/7.62x39- ... ndard/?p=1

Some time ago I was tempted to buy a CZ527 carbine chambered in this popular cartridge but ended up with a 1953 Polish M-N M44 carbine chambered in 7.62x54r. I got bored with it fairly quickly because it didn't really suit me and sold it on. That will teach me for being rash because it pays to be patient!