FAL load question

[daschnoz]

On the FAL files (one of my other regular locations), I found someone that loaded for his FAL using the 190gr Lee boolit and H4831. By using this powder, the pressure at the gas port is still high enough to cycle the rifle without having to change the gas setting from what is used for jacketed ammunition at standard loadings.

I don't have this boolit, so I tried my 155gr Lee boolit for 7.62x39 resized to 0.309" (gas checked). It runs and cycles the gun, but there is unburned powder left behind. During his load development, he encountered the same thing until he increased the powder charge to the point where the pressure was sufficient to burn all of the powder. The charge I am running throws them out of my bolt gun at about 2000fps, so I don't really want to push them any faster.

Here's my question - If I resize this boolit to 0.311, will this provide enough resistance to slow the boolit down, increasing pressure, and burning all of the powder, or should I simply invest in the 190gr mold?

[Larry Gibson]

No, The bullet is sized to groove depth in the first bearing length of travel into the bore. from there on it is just like a bullet sized to the groove depth. The little difference sizing diameter makes in psi between a cast bullet of .309 and .314 is neglageable (the bullets sized .314 actually gave 200 psi less than the .311 sized bullets). I know, I've tried to measure the difference between .309, .310, .311, .312 and .314 sized bullets; all of the same alloy and loaded identically. Get a heavier bullet.

Larry Gibson

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I use the 180 grain GC RCBS in both my FALS (his & hers) and it seems to burn OK.. nothing drastic left in the barrels and it does not cause any accuracy loss.

[daschnoz]

So it sounds like I'm investing in a mold for a 190gr pill. Thanks.

[Larry Gibson]

311299 works very well the .308W/7.62 NATO in M1As and FALs.

Larry Gibson