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View Full Version : Cast bullet loads for SKS.



msgt1030
04-29-2005, 12:46 AM
Has anybody used the Lee bullet, TL312-160-2R or the C312-155-2R for the SKS? If so, what laods can be suggested? I learned the hard way that one needs to use pointed bullets in the semiauto sks in order to have good feeding in the action. Does anybody sell a multi cavity mold like a 2 to 6 cavity mold for this caliber? I appreciate any help.

StarMetal
04-29-2005, 12:52 AM
Yes quite a few of us have used the Lee 312 155 gr and it's excellent. I use it with two surplus powders one is 844 (which is supposely close to H335) and surplus 4895 (which is like IMR 4895). With 844 I use 23 grs, with the 4895 I use 25 grs. You'll be getting alot of posters telling you this is a great bullet for that rifle and they are in the process of trying to get Lee to make this in a six cavity mould block.

Joe

msgt1030
04-29-2005, 01:14 AM
Can any of the fast burning powders like Green Dot, Unique, Bullseye, etc. be used safely and yet work the action using cast bullets in the sks? I tried this recently starting with 8.0 grs. of Rex-2 powder and worked up to 10.0 grs. (Rex-2 is like Green Dot from what I read in the literature). Even at the top end with 10.0 grs. of powder and a 110 gr. lead bullet with gas check and 1872 fps. it still would not work the bolt. Please bare with me on this. I am new to cast bullet loading in rifles. Any advice? Thank You.

Michael

sc03a3
04-29-2005, 02:09 AM
msgt1030, alliant 2400, and reloader 7 are both good cast boolit powders for the 155gr lee boolit in the sks, i like the reloader 7 in my russian sks.....dick

Buckshot
04-29-2005, 02:32 AM
............I've had only one cast lead outting with my SKS (Romanian). I have a small ring Mauser chambered to 7.62x39 and have experimented quite a bit using different boolits. It's barrel is .300x.308". I've settled on 28.0grs of surp 4895 (tad slower then canister) for 1950 fps with the Lee C312-155R as a favorite load. Recoil is negligable and the accuracy is excellent.

The SKS had one day at the range with cast. I loaded 10 rounds of 4 different powders and the Lee boolit. These were all basicly book loads for jacketed bullets. The operation was as energetic as any SKS might be shooting mil-surp type ammo. While I didn't have my chrono set up, the loads used and the rifles' ejecting indicated velocities had to have been right up there.

In that session I can't claim any one hole groups. Yet for the loads I threw together and their intensity I was happy with what I got. And that was groups of about 3" at 50 yards. I also got no leading. At the performance level these loads were at, I was pretty happy with the results. They weren't wild, no keyholing, etc. I'm confident that sitting down and really looking at loads for it and going about them constructively, that my SKS would be a pretty decent shooter with cast (and cycling the action too).

Getting the rifle to shoot while manually operated would be no big deal IMHO. I've done it with a Swede Ag42B, Egyptian Hakim, and a Garand.

..............Buckshot

Maven
04-29-2005, 10:34 AM
Michael, I've used several powders & CB's in my SKS (Chinese-made) and would advise that you stay away from Bullseye & Green Dot (too fast) and concentrate on 2400, Hodgdon/IMR 4198 or possibly milsurp WC 820 (with a burning rate bet. AA #9 & H 110): 14gr. 2400; 17-18gr. 4198; or 14gr. WC 820 will operate my SKS' action with a clone of the Lee bullet. As Buckshot suggested, it's a small matter to remove the gas piston if you'd prefer not to increase the powder charge. As for CB's & accuracy, you'll have to slug your bore to determine the "size to" diameter of said bullets. E.g., because the Lee product was too small for my bbl., I purchased a custom mold (LBT) and size its bullets to fit (.314"). Accuracy is excellent @ 50 yds., but other bullets may work as long as they are large enough (diameter) to fit your bore. Almost as accurate as the custom mold are the comparatively humongous Lyman #314299 and a heavy, wide Loverin similar to Lyman #311467. Hope this helps, ...Maven

StarMetal
04-29-2005, 12:28 PM
msg

Same yourself the hassle and trouble and buy the Lee 312 155 or use it if you have it already. Yes you can shoot other bullets like the 314299 Maven mentioned, but in all reality it's too long and too heavy for the round if you are just wanting cast ammo to approximate the factory ammo, which the 312155 Lee was originally designed for.

Joe

msgt1030
04-29-2005, 11:28 PM
This site seems to be a great place to learn from a nice, knowledgable, dedicated group of boolit casters. Thanks to all for sharing your advice with me pertaining to the cast boolit for SKS.
Michael

Buckshot
04-30-2005, 08:04 AM
..........msgt1030, just don't overlook the most important part of what Maven said in his post vis a vis the boolit designs mentioned. Slug your bbl. You'll have to deal with what you get for dimensions. Not much sense in shooting a .312" slug when you have .314" grooves or a .316" throat.:smile:

................Buckshot

Maven
05-01-2005, 12:19 PM
All, Buckshot's 100% correct about bullet fit, which was the gist of my post. While I have nothing against the Lee/C.E. Harris C312-155 design (It sure would have been a lot less expensive than the LBT mold!), I already knew what the bore dimensions (fore & aft) were and feared that the Lee mold would cast too small. (It DOES say C312- after all.) Knowing that in advance, I had Veral Smith use the same C.E. Harris design to cut a mold that would match both the bore & throat of my SKS, which it does. The bad news is that it fits no other rifle that I own, even if sized to fit their bores. Then again, it shoots into 1" @ 50 yds. from an entirely "as issued" SKS, "match-grade" trigger and all.

GaugeGreer
09-02-2019, 01:18 AM
Not an sks but my ar15 in x39 does pretty good with sixteen grains of lil gun and the lee 155 powder coated, no gas check and sized to .312. No chrono info but it cycles 11.0 inch sbr and 16 inch carbine without trouble.