7.62x39 Mold Size Question

[Erik]

If I want to cast 7.62x39 bullets for my AK-47, which size should I use? .312? .311? .310? Also, what bullet weight should I use?

Thank you for your expert advice!

[Leftoverdj]

If I want to cast 7.62x39 bullets for my AK-47, which size should I use? .312? .311? .310? Also, what bullet weight should I use?

Thank you for your expert advice!

The bullet to use is Lee's C312-155-2R. The diameter to size it is less clear. You really should slug the barrel and size .002 over. However, either a .312 or a .314 sizer will probably work and if you happen to have both around, you are good. Nominal diameter is .310, but actual diameter is all over the place. .312 is right for barrels near spec. Larger barrels call for .314 because that's about as large as you can hope for that mould to cast.

[handyrandyrc]

I use the 160-grain tumble lube version. I push it through a .314" die just to get the gas check crimped on. A boolit from my mould doesn't get sized going through a .314".



All lubed with Alox and ready to load... I dipped these using the Ranch-Dog method.



You can see how much better these fill the throat of an AK or SKS. I got great results at 75 yards with the AK... used 15 grains of 2400 powder.



This is the AK that made that group. I rolled my own AK as well... Romy G built on a Tapco flat.

[yodar]

The Lee 311-155-2R is a NOMINAL .311 but a significant number whill come out one or two mils larger, and if you WANT it larger, like for a SMELLIE or 91/30 which need .315-ish bullets, add 1 lb magnum shot to your pot and the bullets will come out hardernell, with many in the .315-.318 range and shiny as a new dime

yodar

[jdgabbard]

And, if you need it a little larger, you can always gently lap the mold.

[johnly]

I run mine through a .314 sizer as well. I use a 311466 mold that casts fat bullet bear .314" and a NEI mold that is designed to drop at .316"

John

[Leftoverdj]

The Lee 311-155-2R is a NOMINAL .311 but a significant number whill come out one or two mils larger, and if you WANT it larger, like for a SMELLIE or 91/30 which need .315-ish bullets, add 1 lb magnum shot to your pot and the bullets will come out hardernell, with many in the .315-.318 range and shiny as a new dime

yodar

Odd.

Lee designates it C312-155-2R.

[jdgabbard]

You know. I've always wondered why Lee and some of the other manufacturers don't just make their molds drop oversized boolits. That way when everyone sizes, they get exactly what they want.

[vonnieglen]

I am using homemade aluminum gas checks with the Lee 155gr mold. I put a drop of 3 for a dollar super glue on the base. Then I put the point of the bullet in a small hole in my bench and tap the gas checks on with a mallet. After that I pan lube with carnuba red purchased from the Lars45 Stuff link at the bottem of the page. http://www.lsstuff.com/lube/index.html

Mine are coming out about .312" using wheel weight lead dropped in water. My Lee hardness tester shows they are about a 20 on the brinnel scale. I don't size them at all. That could soften them a little and I think it might be counter-productive unless you heat treat them afterwards. I am using 24gr of Hodgdon 4895. They are more accurate than factory rounds at a 100 yards. The barrel on my AK is chromed and brand new. I am not getting any noticable leading in the barrel.

[sleeper1428]

I use boolits from 2 different moulds in my SKS and my Mini-Mauser chambered in 7.62X39. The first is the Lee 312-155-2R-GC while the other one is an NEI mould done for me by Walt Melander. He designated this boolit as 311-145-DD-GC and I must say it is amazingly accurate (sorry, no targets to show), especially in the Mini-Mauser, when propelled with 15gr of 2400. I've included photos (apologies in advance for my poor photography) of both boolits - in 'just cast' as well as lubed and gas checked versions. Also a photo of a loaded round using the NEI boolit. Both boolits are run through a 0.313 size die to seat the gas checks, lube and size. I'm probably going to get a 0.314 size die in the near future so that I can just seat the gas checks and lube without doing any sizing.

I'd suspect that NEI still carries this boolit mould but you have to request the extra bore riding nose ring as it's not standard and isn't shown on NEI's charts. But from what I've heard, NEI moulds may no longer be of the same quality that they were when Walt was alive and doing them himself.

sleeper1428

[20nickels]

Sleeper,
What does the bore riding nose do for you?
1st post

[inuhbad]

Nice picks, Sleeper!

I can't wait for my Group Buy Lee 6-cav 7.62x39 mould arrives.

[sleeper1428]

Sleeper,
What does the bore riding nose do for you?
1st post

Walt always claimed that the DD (Double Dimension) nose band helped to stabilize the boolit and thus increase accuracy. And I must say that in side by side comparisons between the NEI boolit and the Lee boolit using the same rifle, virtually the same load and shooting from the same bench rest position, the NEI boolit tended to yield much tighter groups. Not one hole punchers but noticeably smaller. I'm sorry, but I don't have any targets to demonstrate the difference but it was/is definitely there. Walt hadn't been doing these DD moulds for too long when I had him make up my four cavity mould but obviously I'm not the only one who appreciated the added benefit of that second nose band since it's still available on many of NEI's offerings.

sleeper1428

[Erik]

How do you put gas checks on?

[mooman76]

Run the bullets through a sizer and it crimps them on in the process.

[Erik]

If I have a .312 bullet, could I just stick a .309 gas check on there or does it also have to be exactly .312?