The Answer
The solution, of course, was a bolt-action carbine. I was sorely tempted when my friend Denis purchased a CZ bolt action 7.62 x 39, however, I didn’t succumb until recently when Ruger came out with the American Ranch Rifle chambered in 7.62x39 and fitted with a sand-colored polymer stock. It is very easy handling and I added to this feature by fitting its threaded barrel with a Ruger Muzzle Brake. The result is a rifle so easy to shoot, with so little recoil, it’s not far removed from shooting a .22. I was also pleasantly surprised how accurate it could be.
One of the “problems” with the Russian 7.62x39mm cartridge is the fact bullets are not standardized in diameter. Most foreign guns are cut for 0.311" bullets while the consensus seems to be American guns and ammunition are tailored for 0.308" bullets. Reloading die sets come with two expander balls for these two sizes of bullets. I called Ruger to ask them what size barrels they used in their rifles and they told me it was 0.310" on the American Ranch Rifle and 0.311" on the Mini-30. Since I had bullets on hand in both diameters, I decided to try both of them.