7.62x39 Heavies

[bruce drake]

I loaded up a few of these babies this morning while enjoying my day off.

They are 170gr 311291 gaschecked and lubed with Alox 50/50. I have 5.0gr of Red Dot underneath that to propel it.

5.0gr of Red Dot is my usual load for my 155gr Lee TL so I am curious how this loading will work in the 7.62x39 Mauser I have being built. I'm looking for something to teach my boys on while still having some authority when loaded up.

I intend to use 311259 (115gr) bullets for the boys and the heavy loads later.

More to folow as the rifle is completed and I can baptise it with some lead.

Bruce:castmine:

[BruceB]

My 7.62x39 is a stainless Ruger M77 with a Timney trigger added.

To date it has seen upwards of 1500 cast boolits of many designs, from 130 grains up to and including the 210s-220s such as 311299 and 311284. Some loads worked very well, although not quite as well as I'd like (so far).

This little cartridge and its rifle got pushed aside by some other projects, but your post is a timely reminder to get it out and start working with it again.

Still lots of entertaining research ahead.

[C1PNR]

I intend to use 311259 (115gr) bullets for the boys and the heavy loads later.
Bruce:castmine:
It took me a minute to figure out that you meant the 311 359 for the 115 grain boolits. They actually weigh 120 gr with my alloy and should be a real fine "no recoil" loading.:-D

[bruce drake]

Fellow DevilDog,

Just got back form the range and went and checked the mold case. Yep that's the number 311359. Haven't cast many in awhile, number slipped off my braincase.

Bruce

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/CE70DE0136EC5F4/standard.jpg

I did that too, in my small ring 7.62x39 Mauser. However I didn't use a fast pistol powder. That's a Ly 311284. Engraves well, eh?

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

[StarMetal]

Yup, we all have done that probably. Fortunately the 7.62x39 has a fast enought twist to handle heavy weights. If you want to try something more daring try shooint 155 gr bullets out of a M1 carbine, I've got that to work too.

Joe

[Junior1942]

Joe, in the next few days I'll try some 7.62x39 rounds with the fat 311041 group buy we had a few months back. RTL they weigh 181 grs. As cast, nose = .302"; bands = .312". I'll use LLA and push-through size them .311". I'll use 23 grs surplus 4895 and should get around 1685 fps.

[FAsmus]

Bruce,

Where did you locate a Ruger in 7.62X39?

Do you have the specs for rifling twist and chamber throating?

I am interested in buying/building a 7.62X39 myself and so far have not found any bolt guns in this caliber for sale at all.

Good evening,
FAsmus

[StarMetal]

Fasmus,

CZ makes a nice bolter for that caliber, can't you find one of those? J&G would be a good place to start looking for a CZ. CZ sells alot of products in the STates.

Joe

[BruceB]

Right now, there are at least five Ruger 77s in 7.62x39 on www.gunsamerica.com

Search for "7.62x39", and select Page Five of the pages that come up. Scroll down to "Ruger Rifles" and there they are...both blue and stainless rifles are listed. My 77 is one of a 5000-unit run made for Davidson's some years back, and I traded a friend out of it.

I'm not sure about the twist, but it slugged at .3105", which is definitely NOT a standard .30-caliber bore. Nice little rifle, but it sure is squirrely on the bench with its flyweight barrel and light stock. I added a Timney trigger, but I'd already worked the issue trigger down to a rather pleasant level and it wasn't difficult to do (even for me).

[FAsmus]

Joe;

J: Fortunately the 7.62x39 has a fast enought twist to handle heavy weights.

F: What rate of twist is standard in this caliber?

I have gone looking at the Ruger and CZ offerings in 7.62X39 and found them pretty much too light and short in the barrel for my intended use.

Also, neither appears to be designed such that I could mount a receiveer sight on them.

Instead, I am now considering a small ring Mauser project rifle for the caliber. Is there information of a good starting action? If so, what modifications are necessary to make it operate properly?

Good afternoon,
Forrest

[StarMetal]

Forrest,

I believe the twist rate is very fast, I believe under 1 in 10, I knew but forgot. It's definately faster then all american 30 calibers.

Hey you asked the right question about a Mauser project in that caliber. Just pm or post Buckshot, he's done that.

Joe

[Junior1942]

My Yugo SKS 7.62x39 has a 1 - 9.5 twist.

[Bob S]

Forrest:

This one is a Redfield Olympic (modified), but an International, a Palma, a PNW ... &tc will also work.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Ruger243_2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Ruger243_3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Ruger243_1.jpg

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[C1PNR]

FAsmus,
My 98/29 Persian Mauser barreled action with a new 12" twist .300 x .308 barrel is presently with my favorite gunsmith.

I'm sure there are other actions available as donors, and for less $$, but I like the quality of the Czech's work, and I ordered the twist to handle up to about 150 or so weight boolits.

I'm putting a Lyman 57 receiver and Globe front sight on it, primarily to aid teaching the Grandkids to shoot. Later I'll probably add a scope and, maybe, a nice wood stock.

As I mentioned in a post some time ago, if you were to buy either a Ruger or CZ in this caliber, you'll be shooting it a LONG time before mine sees daylight.:)

[NickSS]

I had a 7.62X39 rifle built on a Sako Vixen action about 20 years ago by my Brother's brother in law. He was a noted benchrest rifle builder and he put this rifle together for me as a favor. It has a "warn out" Hart stainless benchrest rifle barrel that was turned down to medium sporter weight, pilar beded in a Mac Millan stock. This little rifle weighs about 6.5 pounds with a scope on it and will routinely shoot .5 MOA groups with Hornady 150 gr bullets off a bench rest at 100 yards. Its my wifes deer rifle that she has been using ever since. It is a 308 groove diameter rifle.

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/D9144255AA6BB46/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/FE01A14EFDF67FA/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/549AB00E306B78F/standard.jpg

............Built on a 1894 BRazilian (FN made) small ring Mauser. Only mods made was to the fillet on the follower, mag blocker and the extension of the ejector. Barrel came from GPC for $99 + ship. The barrel is a sporter wieght, 10" twist and is .300x.308".

Not saying that ALL Mauser claw extractors will grab the smaller rim, but this one has no problem dragging the empty out.

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

[rockrat]

If you are wanting a single shot rifle, you could get one of the NEF guns in this caliber, or possibly find one of the Ruger #1 rifles in this caliber. I haven't had the chance to try lead in my #1, yet, but also plan on the heavies. Will try bullets from 165gr to 210gr and see how it works. A better trigger pull would probably help things out.

[matm0702]

Hi there

I'm just starting into the cast bullet deal and would like to find a starting load using H4895 and a National 155 grain bullet. Bullet is moulded on the NEI design
and is 18 on the Brinell scale according to National bullet co. Rifle is a Yugo sks
scout scoped until bullet testing is completed. Any help with this is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Mike

[StarMetal]

25 grs of H4855 or surplus 4895 is a good starting load. I ended up at 26.5 grs. Buckshot I believe stuffs more then that in his different brass then mine. But anyways start at 25 and go from there. H335 is good also and it's cousin surplus 844. I started at 23 grs with the surplus 844. Both these powders mentioned will move that 155 right along. By the way Buckshot and I used the Lee 312-155 so results should be close. We've also used lighter and heavier bullets. If you type 7.62x39 and/or Yugo SKS in the search you will pull up some of the old threads with loads.

Joe

[bruce drake]

Took my Yugo 59 to the range with the 311291 170gr loads over 5.0gr of Red Dot. It made for a nice accurate no-recoil load that I can use for my kids to move up from 22LR. It didn't cycle the action so I'll work up a different load with a different powder in the next few weeks so that the boys can work on more than single shots.

Olympic 7.62x39 125gr FMJ shot a four inch group at 50 yards with this rifle. I wasn't worried about the overall quality of the group more than I was interested in the Boxer primed brass. It's a small rifle primer that is staked in. A few twists of the reamer and I'll be back in action with the small primer case. I miss Remington's older SR cases.

Bruce

[dragonrider]

This is a barrel I put together for my TR 87 in 7.62x39. Got the barrel for a Mauser project that never happened so made the barrel block for the TCR and stuck that barrel on it. Haven't shot it enough to know much about it and have only used some 311359, 115 grn gc in it so far but do have some 311413 169grn gc that I will try in the future.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/762x39%20tcr%20barrel/TcrBarrel002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/762x39%20tcr%20barrel/TcrBarrel003.jpg
I suppose I should put some blueing on it soon. The scope mount is made of titanium and uses Ruger rings.

Just noticed that bottom pic is upside down. so much for paying attention.:veryconfu

[WBH]

I have been shooting my 7.62x39 with 175 to 220 grain bullets using 6.2 grains of Red Dot for years. I load the bullets backwards to take up case volume and drill out the primer holes to 9/64ths. Velocity is around 1040fps. 1.5" groups at 100 yards. Good out to 250 yards. No recoil. Sounds like a 22 LR. It is a fun round. Devastating on coyotes.

[Lawyerman]

I have been shooting a CZ for three years now. Very fine little rifle. Only thing I did not like about it was the safety is backwards. I fixed that by ordering a replacment that makes it right- off is forward, not back! It is a fine little cast bullet shooter. Have never really tried anything other than the Lee CE Harris 155, had a 6 cavity mould made up for that bullet 10 years ago now when I was messing with Sks's.

[matm0702]

This may sound like a dumb question but I'll ask. The lee 155 bullet doesn't look like a gas check design. Is it? Thanks.

Mike

[Treeman]

Yes it is GC design-I have the TL version-nominally it(CTL 312-160 2R )is a 160 but mine drop at .313+ 165 from WW.

[bruce drake]

Buckshot,

Where did you find the modified ejector or did you fabricate it yourself?

I've got a Mauser Small-ring at the gunshop being reworked and your pics have me curious if the Ejector helps out.

Bruce

[roys101]

"...including the 210s-220s such as 311299 and 311284."

Hi. I would like to buy a 220 gr mold for my 762x39 bolt gun. I built it using a chinese SKS bbl., so I'm guessing I need a .311 or .312 mold. The above quoted numbers are bullet mold numbers? Lee? Help!
I also need to load for my Martini Henry 577 450, need a mold for that too. Thanks. Chris. roys101@presys.com