Help. I Need Your Successful Load Data for Lee CTL312-160-2R 160 gr AK-47 Cast Bullet

[Liberty1776]

First, I DEEPLY apologize for asking this question, as I'm sure it's been answered here somewhere, but I've searched without satisfaction and found very little info. Please don't belittle me due to my inability to search this site's tens of thousands of posts.

I have a Lee CTL312-160-2R 6-cavity mold for the AK-47 round. Bullets for the 7.62x39R round are very hard to locate, if they even exist. So I want to cast some boolits, as we like to do around here.

There is ZERO official load data from ANYONE concerning a 160-gr Lee cast boolit. Lyman, Lee, Hodgdon, Hornady, LoadData -- Nothing for the 160gr cast bullet.

Heck, Lee's own website links to a posting here at Castboolits for goodness' sake! Lee makes a mold, but even their own loading data book does not list their own cast bullet. The reloading data that comes with Lee reloading dies does not list the 160 bullet. Go figure.

So, how do I load a 7.62x39 brass case with large rifle primer with the 160 grain Lee CTL312-160-2R cast bullet?

I purchased 480 rounds of brass, boxer-primed cartridges from LuckyGunner, so I'll have a supply of 7.62x39 brass. It came with "standard" 123-grain bullets. https://www.luckygunner.com/7-62x39-123-grain-fmj-belom-480-rounds

I plan to powder coat the Lee cast bullets and size to .311, unless you guys think a different sizing is called for.

I look forward to your wisdom. Thanks.

[jaysouth]

google is your friend. You could try this:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?13453-Practical-Dope-on-the-7-62X39

Somewhere in those 12 pages is exactly what you seek. Hint: Except at the extreme top of loads, powder data for the C-312 155 is the same as your C-312 160.

[Liberty1776]

This is the exact post that Lee Precision links to on its website.

This is really sad.

Why make a bullet mold, but not publish any official data for it?

So we're on our own: "Be sure to load according to published data for your safety!"

"Sorry, no published data except for some enthusiast on Castboolits.com."

Sounds legit, huh?

Postscript: some users report that the 160 Lee actually drops closer to 170. So it's a crapshoot, I guess.

[Driver man]

What are you going to shoot them in

[charlie b]

Lee has never published load info for their bullets. They get data from all the other mfgs to compile the info that they provide with their reloading dies. The data they do have for cast bullets, eg, ,357 158gn SWC, is not from their bullets. It came from one of the other mfgs, probably Lyman. FWIW, only Lyman has current published load data for their molds (Cast Bullet Handbook).

I would consider the information from Harris to be the 'book' loading information for those bullets.

[AndyC]

I use the Lee C312-155-2R (only 5 gr difference from yours) and have run 23.5, 24.0 and 24.5 gr CFE-BLK successfully (indoor range wouldn't allow my chronograph, so no velocity figures yet) - all 3 loads cycled/ejected just fine.

https://i.imgur.com/1x9sMY0.jpg

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

SNIP>>>

There is ZERO official load data from ANYONE concerning a 160-gr Lee cast boolit. Lyman, Lee, Hodgdon, Hornady, LoadData -- Nothing for the 160gr cast bullet.
That is incorrect, Lyman has plenty of data for the Lee 160gr. (as well as the 155)

If I were loading for an AK, I'd probably start with Lyman's published starting charge of 18.0gr of Reloder 7 and work up, until I was happy with the results ;)
I've found that Reloder 7 is a excellent powder for cast boolits in cartridges that size.

As to the Lee 160 dropping heavy. Lee 2 cav molds older than 2013 were a bit of a crap shoot, that's true. But in 2013 Lee changed their block design and started cutting them with CNC and are much more consistent now. My Lee 160gr drops a 161gr with COWW alloy...and measures .3115 so almost no sizing needed. Also, I wouldn't waste time using PC, I'd just put the GC on, then tumble lube them with BLL.

But honestly, there is lots valuable experience on this website, that I wouldn't hesitate using...many other powders out there that will work.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?332585-lead-bullet-for-7-62x39

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?221569-7-62x39-Favorites

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?31196-7-62x39-with-cast-bullets

Junior has some good info too:
http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/sks.htm

[Liberty1776]

That is incorrect, Lyman has plenty of data for the Lee 160gr. (as well as the 155)

If I were loading for an AK, I'd probably start with Lyman's published starting charge of 18.0gr of Reloder 7 and work up, until I was happy with the results ;)
I've found that Reloder 7 is a excellent powder for cast boolits in cartridges that size.



Thanks for the info.

My Lyman 44th, and Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook (1973) do not even list 7.62x39. Sometimes they mention 7.62x54R. The Lyman 50th lists 7.62x39, but no bullet weights above 130 grains.

I thought the big Lyman 50th would cover everything, including cast bullets, but apparently I need to acquire the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 4th Ed (2010). (Although a reviewer at Midway said the 3rd Edition was twice as big, and was disappointed in the 4th Edition.)

The big and expensive Hornady manual mostly lists Hornady bullets and hardly any cast bullets.

292918

Don't get me wrong: I asked the question because I know men here have worked up successful loads for cast AK47 bullets.

I wasn't let down.

[Liberty1776]

I use the Lee C312-155-2R (only 5 gr difference from yours) and have run 23.5, 24.0 and 24.5 gr CFE-BLK successfully

I have a supply of CFE-BLK. Will give it a try.

Do you run gas checks or just powder coat without GC?

[gwpercle]

Thanks for the info.

My Lyman 44th, and Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook (1973) do not even list 7.62x39. Sometimes they mention 7.62x54R. The Lyman 50th lists 7.62x39, but no bullet weights above 130 grains.

I thought the big Lyman 50th would cover everything, including cast bullets, but apparently I need to acquire the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 4th Ed (2010). (Although a reviewer at Midway said the 3rd Edition was twice as big, and was disappointed in the 4th Edition.)

The big and expensive Hornady manual mostly lists Hornady bullets and hardly any cast bullets.

292918

Don't get me wrong: I asked the question because I know men here have worked up successful loads for cast AK47 bullets.

I wasn't let down.

That reviewer is not quite right ... a lot of new cartridges , new powders and boolits , not only Lyman designs but a lot of other mould makers in there ... which is great !
What you need is both the #3 and the #4 editions ... the 25th anniversity addition is light on the cast boolit loads but the #4 Manual makes up for it ... get one !
Gary

[AndyC]

I have a supply of CFE-BLK. Will give it a try.

Do you run gas checks or just powder coat without GC?
You're most welcome. Mine are gas-checked/sized after coating (but you could get away without GCs if you just wanted to test the loads).


What you need is both the #3 and the #4 editions ... the 25th anniversity addition is light on the cast boolit loads but the #4 Manual makes up for it ... get one !
Gary
Just ordered the 4th Edition via Amazon - thanks for the tip

[Liberty1776]

There is a boat load of cast boolit info over at LoadData, but you need to subscribe to view the loads.

https://loaddata.com/Cartridge/762x39-762x39mm-Russian-Cast-Bullet-Loads/464

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Thanks for the info.

My Lyman 44th, and Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook (1973) do not even list 7.62x39. Sometimes they mention 7.62x54R. The Lyman 50th lists 7.62x39, but no bullet weights above 130 grains.

I thought the big Lyman 50th would cover everything, including cast bullets, but apparently I need to acquire the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 4th Ed (2010). (Although a reviewer at Midway said the 3rd Edition was twice as big, and was disappointed in the 4th Edition.)

The big and expensive Hornady manual mostly lists Hornady bullets and hardly any cast bullets.

292918

Don't get me wrong: I asked the question because I know men here have worked up successful loads for cast AK47 bullets.

I wasn't let down.

I like Chevy trucks better than Ford, I think Ford's have half the power.
That's all I hear when I read one negative review about any product I am interested in enough to research.

My first cast boolit manual/data source was the #4.
As the years went by, I have acquired about all that are readily available, and a couple that aren't.
I still go to the #4 first and prefer it...maybe it's better?, or maybe I go to it first, as that was the manual I got first?

7.62x39 didn't really become common in USA, until the late 80s and surely in the 1990s with the fall of USSR and the flood of their surplus rifles on the USA market. China flooded the market with SKS's at that same time. Lyman's #3 came out in 1980...that is why no AK data. Also, I suspect Lee was not yet making the two molds (155gr and 160gr) previously mentioned, in 1980.

Anyway, Get the #4

[AndyC]

Mine arrived today via Amazon - interesting reading so far.

[armoredman]

I used it quite a bit back in the day, but I don't own anything in that caliber anymore.
Here is what I have in my notes, between 19 and 20.5 grains of AA#1680 worked well, the higher numbers for a harder alloy, and set at a COAL of 2.185/2.19. With the Lee 155 I have slightly different data, with 21 grains of H335 with a shorter COAL of 2.16. Why the different COAL? I have no idea - I did those tests years ago. All boolits were sized to .311.

[AndyC]

Shot 24.5 gr CFE BLK under the Lee 155 gr cast today:

https://i.imgur.com/78veRPb.jpg

[MT Gianni]

Part of the joy of this discipline is that we are frequently off the charts.