7.62x39 130 gr. loads

[budda1954]

Trying to find some loads for my mini30 and sks.

Thanks.

And, BTW, glad to meet you all(finally) I am a long time lurker here. I used to cast and reload, and then I got "busy". So, I haven't done any in years.

Ready to get back in the saddle.

Mark

[budda1954]

Wow. Tough crowd. 50 views and not one post. Not even a "welcome".

I suppose I'll go back to just lurking.

Mark

[HATCH]

its still early and some of those 50 views were bots and lurkers(without accounts)

WELCOME

What powder did you want to use?

[home in oz]

Yep, many look, few comment.

But welcome.

[truckmsl]

Welcome budda!

I'm running a 135 grain checked spitzer sized .314 from a group buy 6 banger mold through my AK. I am very happy using 15 grains of 2400 and Lar's carnuba red lube. This load is minute of pop can at 100 yds , and drops the brass 6 feet away in a pile.

I started out with a mix of IMI and winchester brass and have reloaded this batch of 500 over 10 times, annealing after 5. Brass gets a bit dinged up but it doesn't cause any problems. Rapid firing in warm temperatures may require you to clean the gas block/piston interface occasionally.

Using water dropped berm lead, I have no barrel leading issues.

[budda1954]

its still early and some of those 50 views were bots and lurkers(without accounts)

WELCOME

What powder did you want to use?

Hello Hatch, nice to meet you. I am a forum veteran, but I usually post on political boards, so the response so far isn't quite what I am used to.

As to the powder, I suppose it doesn't make any difference. I had heard that Accurate 1680 was made specifically for 7.62x39's.

But, any powder would do.

Thanks.

Mark

[budda1954]

Yep, many look, few comment.

But welcome.

Hello, nice to meet you.

Mark

[budda1954]

Welcome budda!

I'm running a 135 grain checked spitzer sized .314 from a group buy 6 banger mold through my AK. I am very happy using 15 grains of 2400 and Lar's carnuba red lube. This load is minute of pop can at 100 yds , and drops the brass 6 feet away in a pile.

I started out with a mix of IMI and winchester brass and have reloaded this batch of 500 over 10 times, annealing after 5. Brass gets a bit dinged up but it doesn't cause any problems. Rapid firing in warm temperatures may require you to clean the gas block/piston interface occasionally.

Using water dropped berm lead, I have no barrel leading issues.


Hi truck, glad to meet you. .314 seems a bit large for a mini 30, but, I would consider it for my SKS's.

If I could ask, where did you get the mold from, and what diameter is listed on the mold block?

Mark

[HATCH]

15 grains of 2400 is a decent load
should give you just shy of 2K fps
I don't load 7.62x39 but the book calls for 15.3 grains for a 123grain SP so 15 grains should be just about right

also you might need to slug your mini-30 to see if you have a .308 barrel

[Dutch4122]

Measure the inside of a case neck from a 7.62x39 case that has been fired in your mini thirty. Then subtract .001" from that measurement. The number you get will be the maximum diameter boolit that your rifle will safely chamber and fire without a dangerous increase in pressure. I had a mini thirty years ago and while it's true they had .308" bores the throat was cut to accept fatter jacketed slugs of .312" etc. A lead boolit will just swage down to fit the bore when it is fired.

I would also suggest an alloy of 50% wheelweight and 50% pure lead; water dropped from the mold into a bucket of water. Size, lube and gas check them within 2 days after casting. Wait 2 weeks before firing them so they can age harden a bit.

Hope this helps,

[Rangefinder]

Welcome aboard budda. Don't take it personal if there seems to be a lack of response occasionally. Unlike a political board, most of us will look at a thread and only respond if we have something USEFUL to add :D Otherwise we just read and absorb for later use...

[Maven]

Budda, You can't go wrong with HATCH's suggested load of 15 grs. #2400, 14 grs. if you don't want as much velocity. Also, 13 -14 grs. WC 820 (AA #9 burning rate) was a very reliable performer in my Type 56 SKS.

[acl864]

... Unlike a political board, most of us will look at a thread and only respond if we have something USEFUL to add :D Otherwise we just read and absorb for later use...

Exactly why I stay away from the political boards...

Welcome budda1954!

I'm just learning my way around casting and loading for 7.62x39 but I'll share what little bit I've learned so far...

I've been casting 160 gr. tumble lube bullets out of a Lee Mold using straight WW's and water dropping them. With a gas check and JPW Tumble Lube they are working great in my Russian SKS's. I started out with 2400 powder but with the max load of 16.0 gr. I couldn't get one of the SKS's to cycle. I tried the start load of 18 gr. of Reloader 7 and it works like a champ in both guns. Very accurate load and doesn't dirty up the gun unduly. I'm going to develop some loads with j-word bullets at some point in time but I'm having so much fun shooting my cast loads it will be a while. Good luck!!!

[94Doug]

Ok, welcome from the same area.

Doug

[truckmsl]

Budda - you're right about the .314 being too big for the min 30. It works great for my AK and my buddy's russian SKS, which both slug out to .312-.3125. The mold was a group buy from this site and I don't recall any numbers on the mold. I think the nominal design was .314 diamer at 140 grains.

[budda1954]

15 grains of 2400 is a decent load
should give you just shy of 2K fps
I don't load 7.62x39 but the book calls for 15.3 grains for a 123grain SP so 15 grains should be just about right

also you might need to slug your mini-30 to see if you have a .308 barrel

I give the powder a try. Thanks for the tip.

Mark

[budda1954]

Measure the inside of a case neck from a 7.62x39 case that has been fired in your mini thirty. Then subtract .001" from that measurement. The number you get will be the maximum diameter boolit that your rifle will safely chamber and fire without a dangerous increase in pressure. I had a mini thirty years ago and while it's true they had .308" bores the throat was cut to accept fatter jacketed slugs of .312" etc. A lead boolit will just swage down to fit the bore when it is fired.

I would also suggest an alloy of 50% wheelweight and 50% pure lead; water dropped from the mold into a bucket of water. Size, lube and gas check them within 2 days after casting. Wait 2 weeks before firing them so they can age harden a bit.

Hope this helps,

Hello Dutch. Well, I cast the slugs I want to use years ago. As of right now, I am not really sure as to the make up of the lead I used to cast the slugs.

So, I figure they are gonna be plenty hard. :p

I'll try your other tips.

Thanks.

Mark

[budda1954]

Welcome aboard budda. Don't take it personal if there seems to be a lack of response occasionally. Unlike a political board, most of us will look at a thread and only respond if we have something USEFUL to add :D Otherwise we just read and absorb for later use...

Hello RF, nice place you guys have here.

Mark

[budda1954]

Budda, You can't go wrong with HATCH's suggested load of 15 grs. #2400, 14 grs. if you don't want as much velocity. Also, 13 -14 grs. WC 820 (AA #9 burning rate) was a very reliable performer in my Type 56 SKS.

When I am able to get my hands on some of the 820, I'll give it a try.

Thanks.

Mark

[budda1954]

Exactly why I stay away from the political boards...

Welcome budda1954!

I'm just learning my way around casting and loading for 7.62x39 but I'll share what little bit I've learned so far...

I've been casting 160 gr. tumble lube bullets out of a Lee Mold using straight WW's and water dropping them. With a gas check and JPW Tumble Lube they are working great in my Russian SKS's. I started out with 2400 powder but with the max load of 16.0 gr. I couldn't get one of the SKS's to cycle. I tried the start load of 18 gr. of Reloader 7 and it works like a champ in both guns. Very accurate load and doesn't dirty up the gun unduly. I'm going to develop some loads with j-word bullets at some point in time but I'm having so much fun shooting my cast loads it will be a while. Good luck!!!

Hello ac, and thanks for the tips. The more choices I have, the better.

Mark

[budda1954]

Ok, welcome from the same area.

Doug

Hi Doug. Hell, another Wisconsinite that reloads. Who woulda thought...

:kidding:

Mark

[budda1954]

Budda - you're right about the .314 being too big for the min 30. It works great for my AK and my buddy's russian SKS, which both slug out to .312-.3125. The mold was a group buy from this site and I don't recall any numbers on the mold. I think the nominal design was .314 diamer at 140 grains.

OK truck. Thanks.

Mark

[markshere2]

I've loaded up some 155 grain gas check spire point boolits from a lee mold sized thru a .311 die and tumble loobed.

I used 19 grains of I 4198 and they shot as good as my crappy eyesight from 3 different SKSs
YMMV

[plumber]

I load a NOE 314-129SP, sized to .314 over 26.5 grains of AA1680. It is the most accurate load I've put together for my AK, and if you have a Yugo Sks you might have to try this load. I used to use 2400 as I do for most of my rifle loads, but it wouldn't cycle the sks.

[1mauser]

Budda 1954
I been using 15.5 gr of 2400 with my mini 30with the RCBS 7.62mm 130SPL mould sized at .311 it is an accurate load for the 100 yards range and an average speed of 1973 fps. I use a mix of 70% wheel weights and 30% linotype, lubed with carnauba red.

[cigarman454]

I want to thank all of you for sharing your recipes.

[hicard]

I just tried some max loads using IMR 4198 and none of them worked my AR-15 action. I'm about ready to give up and have that upper rebarreled to 358 Gremlin or Delta or maybe, 7.62X39 USA. Tired of dealing with the overly tapered cases.

[Tony65x55]

I've been playing with the Saeco 150 gr for the last year. It's a flatpoint .30-30 bullet that casts fat. I use water quenched WW, anneal the noses to make 'em soft, size it .313" and load over 25 gr RL-7. Knocks the bejeebers out of deer and shoots pretty accurate too. 15 gr/2400/ same bullet for practice in my Mini-30.

[MakeMineA10mm]

Hi budda, and welcome.

You didn't mention the exact boolit you have, but you did mention you cast them up many years ago. Would they happen to be from Lyman mould #311410?

If they're smaller diameter than you need, keep in mind that, combining the undersize boolit with the lack of a gas check, you might be risking some issues with leading. I'd be inclined to try slightly faster than normal powders (such as the 2400 and AA#9 suggestions above) at close-to-max loads, but I'd like someone more experienced at rifle-loading to chime in. It would probably be preferable to try to use a single-base powder also. IMR-4227 might be ideal.

[Recluse]

The most FUN load I have for my Chinese SKS is 11.0 grains of Blue Dot pushing a 155 gr SP (the Lee CE Harris boolit). This thing is incredibly accurate, but what I like best is that it doesn't cycle the action, so it's almost like shooting a bolt gun :) and. . . I don't have to chase my brass.

I also load up 16.0 of 2400 pushing the same boolit, and it has zero trouble operating the action. In fact, I'm in the process of using BruceB's method to tame the wild brass-throwing/brass-beating action of this gun. It's a slow process, but we're getting there and pretty soon, I won't have to chase ANY brass.

:coffee:

[lawboy]

Bubba, read this thread.
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=81943&highlight=7.62x39
I am the OP on the thread. There is some good info. and some good photos. I am shooting much heavier boolits out of a CZ527. Seeing as how you have a mini 30, you may decide to go that route. If so, you will not look back in terms of the light boolits. The heavy cast boolits are the way to go in this cartridge.
BTW, WELCOME!

[HighHook]

Hello budda i have been lurking and not posting for years myself.

The mini 30 is great for cast in the lee 155 gas check. 17 grains of 2400, wc680, wc820, 4227 all work great. The trick is to cycle action and drop the brass next to you. they all seem to be nicely accurate.

[Artful]

I use 680 or AA1680 as well as AA5744 but I have been loading full house J word projectiles. I haven't started to use the NOE 129 grainer I bought yet.