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Thread: Shooting 7.62x39 Russian Subs

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Shooting 7.62x39 Russian Subs

    I loaded some 7.62x39 subsonic rounds the other day (haven't in years) and forgot how much fun thay are to shoot. On par with the 300AAC for accuracy and performance.
    Either 180 or 230 boolits at just over 1000fps showed superb 100 yard grouping with miserly loads of Red Dot. Nice to get over 1000 rounds from a pound of powder.

    Anyone else shooting the "Russian Blackout"?
    So many toys........so little time.

  2. #2
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    What gun and what sizing diameter did you use?

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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    I've shot them in AR uppers and SKS's. Needless to say the AR platform with a scope was more accurate. I had to play with the buffer weight and spring to get the AR to cycle.

    .311" in the SKS and .309" in the AR. Though the AR barrels are probably cut for the .311".

    Little to no leading. Jacketed shoot well also.
    So many toys........so little time.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    I will be soon. Gunna load some 150s over trail boss. I have a bolt rifle so dont have to worry about the cycling. I have an ar15 but it was enough work getting it to run on supersonic ammo so not going to attempt subs in it.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    Red Dot is #7 vs Trail Boss is #21 on the burn rate charts.
    For the case size I am using 6.1-7.5gr of RD based on my bullet weight and length I have about 60-85% load density with the bullet seated. My flash holes are drilled out to 9/64" and I use Rem 2 1/2 large pistol primers. I also load the jacketed bullets backwards. Federal LP brass only.

    I have used Trail Boss on occasion in much larger capacity cases (45-70) etc. But 5744 works better in those cases for me.
    So many toys........so little time.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    Ive read about using h110 but its kind of a Scary powder to play with.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master


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    I have a Ruger American Rifle, "ranch rifle" edition. 7.62x39 with a 16" barrel, 1:10" twist.

    A Lee C312-185 with the gas check shank cut out drops at 187 gr. plain base. Powder coated or tumbled with BLL 2x, it shoots better than I can hold it with 5-7 grs Red Dot or 231. Optimum sizing is .313. Difference between bullets sized .312 and .313 is dramatic. .313 = groups. .312 = 'patterns'.

  8. #8
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    My ARx39 works with cast and jacketed just fine so far. I've not tried any subsonic in it but it should function with a heavy bullet at low velocity. I don't think H110 is a good choice here.
    WBH- say what about the backwards jackets?

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy pacomdiver's Avatar
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    hes talking about seating the boat tail bullets backwards, they are supposed to fly better (more stable) subsonic, kinda like a raindrop falling. i tried some with my BO, but honestly i didnt notice a difference in group sizes.

    i use H110 for supers (147g M80) and subs (208 amax) in my BO

  10. #10
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    Ok, thanks. I did that with 8x57 mm FMJ and they only were accurate at close range. There is a sticky about the 7.62x39mm with cast there may be sub loads there. Using the BO load in the larger x39 case may amount to a “reduced load” of H110- bad,bad.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
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    Backwards loading of 147gr and 174gr milsup FMJ's has given me 1.25" groups at 100 yards with 6.1gr of Red Dot and no yawing. Perfect holes like a wadcutter. I have even drilled the bottoms to make some deep hollow points. I drill the primer holes to 9/64"(IMPERATIVE... AND NEVER USE THAT BRASS FOR SUPERSONIC) and I use only Federal Brass with Rem 2 1/2" Primers. Case fill is over 50% on all rounds. Case fill and powder type is critical to prevent SEE. The backwards loadings have feed issues in a semi-auto (AR plarform) though great for a bolt or single shot rifle.
    Last edited by WBH; 12-14-2019 at 02:32 PM.
    So many toys........so little time.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    I had great success with my 7.62x39 sub sonic and high velocity, then I heard about the remington in 300 blackout, so I rushed out and bought a new Remington in 300 blackout thinking that it would be a step forward, well that was an absolute bit junk, I sold it for what I could get, now I am back with the old Norinco with the Ruger stainless barrel, I should have stayed with it in the first place a great little gun in a great caliber

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
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    Not x39 or sub but using cfe pistol in BO pistol, 145 & 170 gr slow. Cycles fine with h2 buffer. Slow low pressure powder.
    Whatever!

  14. #14
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    Shooting 7.62x39 Russian Subs

    The part of this that caught my eye was getting to shoot Russian Subs.
    Chill Wills

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
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    Me too. Can we add Tannerite? Always wanted to do that without causing and international incident! Seems like they kinda shoot their own anyway.
    Actually wanted to point out that the cfe pistol is good to generate enough gas pressure for semis and fast enough to NOT cause problems like H110. 231 & RD won't. 2400 doesn't seem to work well either - for slow stuff. I'm testing BO as an equal to 10mm/357 sig PCC. Good terminal (12-1500 fps and 150-180 gr ish) but low recoil in AR pistol.
    Whatever!

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    Oh forget it.

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy
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    Forget what???




    .

  18. #18
    Boolit Man
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    I think that I may have to try these. Never drank the new 300 cool aide, and since I have a x39 already it sounds like a lot of fun.
    KW
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  19. #19
    Boolit Bub
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    That's awesome to hear 7.62x39 subs working for so many people. I tried delving into casting subsonic .311s from NOE molds for steel cases (primed with flash hole punched and large rifle primer super glued). Didn't have much success in a AR 7.62x39. Gave up on the project all together.

  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by kavemankel View Post
    I think that I may have to try these. Never drank the new 300 cool aide, and since I have a x39 already it sounds like a lot of fun.
    Tons of fun and cheap to shoot as well. I was surprized at the accuracy. I've shot up to 230gr bullets.

    Just remember case fill % and 9/64th's primer holes are the key to preventing SEE. I also only use Rem 2 1/2 large pistol primers in Federal LP brass.
    So many toys........so little time.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check