Casting 7.62x39

[braol]

I have been reloading for several years and have really enjoyed it. Just started casting, should have done this a long time ago. Nothing like reloading with your own boolits. So anyway, I want to start casting for my AK47s. I have slugged the barrels, Russian and Romanian barrels including 1 virgin barrel are .302 bore and .314 groove diameter. Also have a Green Mountain Barrel that measured .302 bore and .312 groove diameter. Not really worried about it, it is on an underfolder and I dont get it out much.

Hoping to get in on this group buy
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?167692-MiHec-311410-Brass-Cramer-HP

But dont know how long that is going to be so in the meantime I was thinking of getting this mold
http://noebulletmolds.com/orders/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=263
Seems similar to the lee 155gr mold, to my untrained eye, so I think it should do well. I guess I could get the lee mold and try to lap it out but 4-5 thousandths seems like a lot to lap, but I dont know.

Hoping to get a few opinions on these 2 molds. Thanks

[HARRYMPOPE]

The 155 lee has shot very well for me as is in a few SKS's.Buy it and try it.

George

[braol]

My barrels are .314 and the lee mold is advertised as .311, I was under the impression that it would be to small, without lapping, and would cause leading.

[Maven]

My barrels are .314 and the lee mold is advertised as .311, I was under the impression that it would be to small, without lapping, and would cause leading.

I was in the same boat as you, braol when I purchased a new (in the grease...in spades!) Type 56 SKS. The bore was at least .313" (That was 20 yrs. ago and I don't remember the exact dimension.) and according to their literature, neither the Lee nor the Lyman designs would cast large enough to fit it. My solution was to have Veral Smith/LBT cut a C.E. Harris designed* mold that dropped ~.315" gas checked CB's. I sized those to .314" and was extremely pleased with their performance.


*Harris had an article, complete with plans for thatCB in "The American Rifleman" years ago.

[res45]

I shoot the Lee GC .312 160 gr. TL bullet in all my SKS rifles which have a groove dia. of of .312". The mold actually drops boolits right at .314" instead of .312,I apply the gas check with the Lee .314 push through sizer. It shoots great in my SKS and Mosin rifles as well.

I like the NOE 316 155Gr. FN,if it will chamber sized .315 or slightly larger it should be good to go. You may have to get Lee to make you a custom sizer or hone out a .314 sizer yourself.

[braol]

Thanks res45, I may just buy another Green Mountain barrel and build the other kit I have and cast for it. Plus it looks like the freebore is a little shorter on the Green Mountain barrel. To load a .310 FMJ bullet .030 off the lands the OAL is 2.250 for the GMB, but the bullet is seated about .130" into the case for that OAL. For the Saiga OAL would be 2.320" and for the Romanian barrel OAL would be 2.340" to be .030" off the lands. Of course those OAL are a little long for that bullet.

[FAsmus]

Braol;

There are ways to increase the diameter of a cast bullet without re-working the mold.

I forget the name for this, but the deal is that you get some shim stock from the auto parts store. Thin stuff, like a selection of thicknesses running from 0.0010, 0.0015, 0.0020 ~ and so forth. Then you place the shim between the mold blocks and presto! You will have a bigger bullet -egg shaped sure but they will shoot just fine. The key, if there is one, is to install the GC with a die that fits your groove size - like 0.014 in your case.

Good evening,
Forrest

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Go to the Stickys and, there are threads that address using high temp tape to beagle the mold....no lapping or enlarging the mold cavities...good luck

[braol]

OK, new question. My 7.62x39 sizing die sizes the neck to .310 inside diameter, that is not going to work with .314-.316 lead bullets. So I am going to need a neck expander die, closest thing I can find is RCBS has a .311 expander, Lyman has a 31 caliber expander for 303 british and a 31S expander for 32-20 WCF, and then there is the Lee universal expander. Are any of these going to work for me? Or will I have to have something made? Thanks

[FAsmus]

Braol;

Just drop down to the local hardware store and buy yourself a tapered punch of correct size to fit inside your case mouth. Then, before charging each case simply force it into the case by hand, belling the mouth just enough to accept the bullet base and carry on!

Good morning,
Forrest

[Wayne Smith]

The Lyman 31 should work for you and with that case the short die may be the right one. The Lyman expanders come in either a long die or a short die. Thus the 31S is the short die for the 32-20, a short case. I have die bodies both long and short and change out expanders as needed.