AIA in 7.62 x 39 bullet choice

[mag44uk]

Greetings guys from almost sunny UK!
I am just about to get one of these australian enfield clones in 7.62 x 39.
Just battling with the paperwork at the moment.
I have read all about them with regard to variable accuracy.....what the hell! I like a challenge!
Have read the sticky about loading for this catridge as used in the SKS.
Obviously I wont have gas op to worry about.
The only 30 cal mould I have is the GB 165 gn which drops booted and suited at 177gn and shoots luvverly in my No4 303.
I will only be shooting paper targets out to 300 yards so not interested in terminal ballistics.
Would probably look at NEI/SAECO/RCBS/LYMAN. Cant be arsed with year plus wait on Lee GB or would be in on current 155gn spitzer.
Looking to keep this a pleasant shooting load to keep recoil down for competitive shooting against the clock.
Big question.....what would be a good starting point boooolit?
Regards,
Tony:castmine:

[Deano]

I hope yours shoots better than mine. The best I was able to get was with, believe it or not, Wolf HPs and they would stay inside 12 inches on a good day. Cast bullet accuracy hovered around minute of wash tub.

[Bigjohn]

I have one of these rifles, use it mainly for timed events with Chi-Com ex-mil ammo.

I have been using it to test some loads in reloaded steel cases. You can check in on that thread for more info. Using mainly the LEE 312-155/160 boolits.
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=46268

John

[mag44uk]

Thanks for replies guys. I believe its luck of the draw as to getting a good one. I have been told the bedding can make a big difference.
I have some factory Privvi to try when I get it.
John,what sort of groups have you been getting?

Tony

[Stoats]

I get 4MOAish with Czech M43 milsurp pulled & reloaded in brass cases. Don't expect it to extract laquered-steel milsurp. Wolf is OK. Expect fliers. What does help is removing the spring clip on the handguard so as to freefloat it, but then you have to secure the rear end of the handguard differently (block of rubber under the rail works fine).

Not tried cast in it yet, but will try some Lee 160gn 312 as cast with something of the order of 5gn Vectan Ba10 (Bullseye equivalent).

Mine's getting a pimp job this summer (308 dia bbl, freefloat etc).

[Bigjohn]

John,what sort of groups have you been getting?

Tony
I posted a copy of the first target shoot in the thread about 3 to 4" at 90 metres. These were the initial tests with more to come.

Jacketed give much tighter groups at this time. Managed to shoot a Red Deer with this rifle last year at somewhere between 90 to 110 metres.

I am still working on the CB load developement for this rifle.

John

[johnly]

I've used 25.0 of BLC-2 with the Lee group buy 311041 sized to .314" in my SAR-1 with good results. This bullet weighs about 170 grains lubed and checked.

John

[superior]

Lee TL312-160-2r over 25gr h4895... My choice

[chrispy]

I get MOA with jacketed at 100m, and about 3moa with LEE 312-155 2R, I put between 14 and 16 gn of ADI 2205. I am still to settle on a working load, but 14.5gn looks the best.

My AIA has the 14.5inch barrel. Barky little thing!

Chrispy

[mag44uk]

Great info...thanks guys.
Getting fired up now,cant wait to get the gun now!
What does yours slug at Chrispy?
Tony

[chrispy]

MIne slugs at 310, so I size mine at 312.

[Stoats]

Right, it is done! Wife thinks it looks awful; I think that form follows function, and this is ergonomically luvvvverly:

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8696/dsc00667h.jpg

Barrel is 18", threaded as SLR. DNTC 308 comp/brake. .3085 throat, .308 groove. Stainless.

Butt is Ramline, the stock set also providing the action cover after much butchery.

Forend is an AR-15 carbon fibre free-float tube from DPMS, bonded to an aluminium offset bushing. Bushing is secured to thick section of barrel by 6 grub screws.

Foresight is original.

Doctor sight mounted to bespoke mount which clamps to receiver & under scope rail.

Not shot it yet; only proof fired.

Original barrel had undersize threads and actually could move (my smith put some gauges on it!)

[EMC45]

Too Cool!!!!!

[Stoats]

Here it is dressed up in all its finery:

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8336/frankenrifledressedup.jpg

[StarMetal]

Pretty cool rifle Stoats. Since is has some AR parts on it I'll tell you how the heavy barrel 7.62x39 shoots on the AR 15 I built. Using the Lee 312-155 sized .313 over a stiff load of 4895 my five shot groups a cutting very close to 3/8 inch. Never fired jacketed out of it. Keep up the good work guys.

Joe

[Stoats]

Frankenrifle shoots.... Frankenrifle scores! (apologies for this being all about J-thingies...)

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6549/frankenriflewithgroups7.jpg

And a closer look:

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/830/frankenriflegroups7aug0.jpg

Top is 100m, 135gn Sierra MatchKing loaded just off rifling, 23.0gn (weighed) VV N130 (actually rounds number 14-19 through rifle - 3 @ proofhouse, 10 gash rds for shooting in, then these).
Bottom is next 5 rounds (with a full cleaning in between the 2 strings), same but 23.5gn (weighed) N130.

Top measures at approx 15mm c-c (0.54MOA), bottom 10.5mm c-c (0.375MOA).

Scope was Leopold 1.5-5x20 set at 5x power.

With original barrel & stock, this rifle would do 4MOA on a GOOD day, IF it held zero... ANd that is a BIG if...

Adding the brake made it shoot about 3-4" high, and the group with 23.5gn N130 opened out to about 1MOA. Can't really grumble, though!

So, this is the proof that there's nothing inherently wrong with 7.62x39, it's just the rifles and cavernous throats they give them. BTW, Lapua 123gn .311 spitzers loaded to mag length WILL NOT chamber in this rifle!!! I think the mil stuff does though; will have to check...