Cast and load 7.62x39..?

[Marcus the Cat]

Does anyone here do it and if so are there any tricks to be had..?

I have always heard that lead casting and loading a bullet for this caliber was useless because a lead bullet couldn't handle the velocity. But then I see that Lee makes a mold and die set for this round, which makes me wonder why. Why would Lee make a mold and die set for a round that is going to be to fast..?

Which makes me think now, that I must have been misinformed.

If a lead 7.62x39 round is doable then this would save me a TON of money and I would be able to shoot my 7.62 AK's in competition instead of just my AK74's with the cheap 5.45x39 ammo.

Not that there's anything wrong with my 74's, I would just like to have the "option".

:Fire:

[MT Gianni]

My Handi-Rifle does real well with a 311466 and OK with the Lee 155. Both are over 4198 which works the action in an sks. Do a search there is a ton of info in the archives.

[KYCaster]

Boolits work fine in my CZ and I've heard that the SKS's handle them pretty well also.

Jerry

[Marcus the Cat]

Are you talking about one of these..?

http://www.empirearms.com/A01041-1.jpg



Boolits work fine in my CZ and I've heard that the SKS's handle them pretty well also.

Jerry

[bruce drake]

20gr of IMR 4895 with Lee's 155gr Gaschecked boolit used to function my SKS fine. I've since switched to a Bolt action 7.62x39 because I wanted a more accurate rifle for this caliber.

The focus on shooting lead through an AK or an SKS is to keep the velocity within the limits of your bullet lube. You try to load up those cast bullet rounds to the speed of a jacketed bullet and you are going to lead up your barrel fast. Keep them under 2000fps and you'll do just fine and still be within the accuracy limits of those Russian rifle designs.

Do some research on this forum and you'll see a lot of us have already done the casting and loading work for you to learn how to be successful in shooting the 7.62x39 or as some of us call it the "7.62 Russian Short"

Bruce

[Marcus the Cat]

That's great news thank you..!


20gr of IMR 4895 with Lee's 155gr Gaschecked boolit used to function my SKS fine. I've since switched to a Bolt action 7.62x39 because I wanted a more accurate rifle for this caliber.

The focus on shooting lead through an AK or an SKS is to keep the velocity within the limits of your bullet lube. You try to load up those cast bullet rounds to the speed of a jacketed bullet and you are going to lead up your barrel fast. Keep them under 2000fps and you'll do just fine and still be within the accuracy limits of those Russian rifle designs.

Do some research on this forum and you'll see a lot of us have already done the casting and loading work for you to learn how to be successful in shooting the 7.62x39 or as some of us call it the "7.62 Russian Short"

Bruce

[jdgabbard]

There are also some break overs that shoot the x39 now... Those guys are loving cast from what I hear...

[HORNET]

Of course, you could always get frisky and try working up a cast load for that 5.45 x 39...:evil: [smilie=w: REF: .223 data for the AR's ought to get you a starting point. That's been discussed a bunch of times.

[Larry Gibson]

I use the Lee C312-155-2R over 27 gr of H4895 or 25.5 gr of milsurp 4895 for 1870 fp in IMI or WW cases with WLR primers. Alloy is WWs + 2% tin and WQ'd. GCs are Hornady or my own. Accuracy out of my Russian SKS is about as good as it's going to get. I also modified the gas tube to soften ejection. A couple years back the local club had a M1 Carbine/SKS/AK match out to 200 yards. We fired 220 rounds in sustained and rapid fire events. I won.

Larry Gibson

[mag44uk]

If you wander down to CB loads/Military rifles check out the sticky on 7.62 x 39.
The Lee 155gn mould was designed for this cartridge.
Get the NOE 129 sks mould. Its available as a 5 cavity GC and drops nearer 140 gn.
I am using these in a AIA Enfield clone. I have a heap of Winchester 296 powder which I am using.
HTH
Tony

[truckmsl]

I'm casting for an AK using a 135 grain group buy mold. I'm sizing at .314 with gas checks. 15 grains of 2400 drops the brass in a pile 6 feet away and cycles the action every time. Very little brass growth. I've tried different powders and keep coming back to this load. 100 yard accuracy is good for an AK, much better than Wolf. For an economical plinking load it just can't be beat. Barrel leading is non existent, and gas piston, bolt, fouling is not an issue. I'm up to 6 reloads on the same brass, and will probably anneal at 7.

[KYCaster]

Are you talking about one of these..?

http://www.empirearms.com/A01041-1.jpg




No Marcus, one of these:

18661

[Marcus the Cat]

Is that the same caliber as the one I posted, 7.62x45..?


No Marcus, one of these:

18661

[KYCaster]

Is that the same caliber as the one I posted, 7.62x45..?


Wrong again, [smilie=p: ....7.62X39.

Jerry

P.S.....The load I used on the ground hog was a Lee C312-155-2R, ACWW with a HP drilled 1/8" dia X 1/4" deep. WLP primer and 19.0 gr SR4759 for 2030 fps.

I hit it in the base of the neck just above the shoulder. The exit was about 3/4" dia and I found the boolit about nine inches deep in the dirt behind it. The nose was gone to about the base of the HP cavity and the remainder weighed 102 gr and expanded to about .45 cal. She was DRT!

I was well pleased with the performance.

.....Oh yeah, 45 yard shot.