Practical Dope on the 7.62X39

[Danderdude]

I've done some fooling around as of late with my Saiga, as well as purchased the Lyman CBH #4 with some 7.62x39 loads (not enough, not worth the money imo) and 18gr RL7 is a nice plinking load for any boolit from 150 to 170gr. I've been feeding it Ranch Dog 311 165gr wide meplat boolits and Lee C312 155gr and 160gr without fail, all sized to .312. I will be working that load up a little hotter until I burn through all this powder, then using all the H322, then investing in pulldowns, both WC 844 and 846.

[leadloader]

have any of you guys tried the new 300 aac black out mold by lee? its a 220 gr mold with a boat tail design that doesnt require gas checks considering that there sub sonic ... im on a mission to make my 7.62x39 ar upper function as well as a 300 aac to show a buddy it can be done.. ive used 170 gr rnfp so far and havent been able to reach sub levels and have cycleing. my powder was x terminator by ramshot and it left all kinds of unburnt powder at 18.5 gr(1300 fps ) .. i had read that a 44 mag load could be used but i dont know... i have pistol powders unique and 2400 thought of useing the 200 gr load data from the 44 mag to see if that could yeild enough power to cycle the action yet stay sub sonic. any ideas or suggestions?

[gamma50]

I found over 500 Lee 160 gr. GCTL bullets in a plastic bucket I made about 15 years ago, they are .312 unsized without GC, I sized some and they come out .310 on a Lee .311 sizer, cant figure that? anyway I started out trying a 200 .310
Lee bullet in my AK, now I have these 160s and their 312, my barrel slugs out about .3115 so the .310 bullets keyholed like crazyand never on paper, seemed to work at first before I sized them to .309,I'll use the 200s in my 1917 30-06,I'm using Unique in the 06 12 grs, and real fun to shoot, now I want to try unique with the 160 .312 bullet , tryed 6 grs today and them shoot ok but no distance or consistant accuracy 12 inch groups maybe, does anyone use unique with ak or sks? Im going to buy another 2 cavity mold 160 or 155, this mold I have now is a single caity mold, and also Ive been trying 50 grs of H-450 with 200 GC bullet and it is a excellent past 200 yards, its not a reduced load and I plan to hunt with it this winter, some leading if I fire more than 10 rds fast, but hunting should be a one shot deal, I also have H-110, can this be used as 2400 is used? I thought this was used in the whisper rd, I figure the 7.62x39 is close to a whisper rd or 300 BO, H-110 or unique? any help please?

[savage1r]

Hey guys, getting ready to order these boolits ( Lyman 314299 200gr round nose) to start load testing. I've got some H4895 left over from some .308 loads and I'd like to use that. Going over the different data I've seen here and other boards, I'm thinking I can start at 16.5 gr and work my way up to 18. I don't have access to a chrony, but I'm guessing that'll take me in the 1500-1700fps range. I'm going to be using a yugo SKS, so there is some room in the barrel for the powder to burn, so I'm hoping that will work, but I'd appreciate your opinions and recommendations for this load. Thanks!

P.S. I found some data for the 300 whisper that could work as well possibly?
http://www.quarterbore.com/300whisper/supersonic.html

[Abendicum]

Newbie Question...

I have never reloaded Cast Boolits, before... but reloaded, jacketed bullets in 7.62x39 for my SKS and 6ppc, on a Ruger Mini-30, build, I sold a few years ago...

Been getting the urge to get back into the SKS Accuracy and I have a few questions:

I found some .311 dia., 155 gr cast lead bullets, I can't remember who made them, they have 3 grooves, in them with some beeswax or such in one, that I used for slugging my SKS and some other odds and ends:

set of Redding Deluxe Die Set in 7.62 x 39
A whole bag of weighed, trimmed, shot, Lapua Brass, for my rifle.
4 boxes of various wt. sierra bullets, 125gr spitzers, 174gr Boat Tails, 180gr spitzers (even some 303 Woodleigh 215gr MONSTERS !!!
I sold my Dillon Press with my 6ppc project, but I have an old RCBS single stage press
Some IMR 4198 powder...
All I need is some primers and another reloading book and I can experiment again...

Are there any on line, reloading guides for 7.62 x 39mm ???

Any hints on loading or cleaning with the cast lead, boolits ???

What and where do you get the red XXX you guys speak of for cleaning barrels, actions, gas systems on SKS'S ??? Or is it a mix of ATF, MobilOne and Hoppes#9 (1/2qt-1/2qt-8oz), that I read on your forum ???


Thanks, Ab

[markshere2]

Newbie Question...

I have never reloaded Cast Boolits, before... but reloaded, jacketed bullets in 7.62x39 for my SKS and 6ppc, on a Ruger Mini-30, build, I sold a few years ago...

Are there any on line, reloading guides for 7.62 x 39mm ???

Any hints on loading or cleaning with the cast lead, boolits ???

Thanks, Ab

read this thread starting at page 1 for load data...

[BackWoods Billy]

Ok guys.I have read this whole thread and I want to use 2400.I shooting the Lee 155s GC sized .311. This is going to be used in my AK. I read 17grs and CCI LMP. Is this a good load and do I want to use the mag primers with this ? ( Fed Brass, WW heat treated to about 20-22 BHN )

Thanks...

[pilot]

Ok guys.I have read this whole thread and I want to use 2400.I shooting the Lee 155s GC sized .311. This is going to be used in my AK. I read 17grs and CCI LMP. Is this a good load and do I want to use the mag primers with this ? ( Fed Brass, WW heat treated to about 20-22 BHN )

Thanks...

Why .311? What did your barrel slug? Most AK rifles slug bigger.

[BackWoods Billy]

Why .311? What did your barrel slug? Most AK rifles slug bigger.

That's what size sizer I have for now. I'm more concerned with the gun functioning at this point and if need be I will have to go bigger with the sizer. My question was if I needed to use LFM primers. I don't want to go to hot.This Is going to be my first loads for this gun..I have loaded a lot for the .44 .454. .45LC .357 handguns before but never loaded for a rifle before. Thanks for bring the sizing up pilot.Slug out at .3135. Going to open up my Lee sizer.

[armoredman]

Data needs to be updated, as Accurate has redone all their data for 1680. The 24 grains that was normal for 123 grain jacketed bullets is now below minimum load. Will be experimenting with the Lee 160 grain out of a harder alloy, hard lubed in the 527 CSR once the new stock gets finished.

[historicfirearms]

I've been using 15.4 grains of 2400 behind the lee 155, or noe 155. This has worked great in my AKs and SKS. I picked up a new toy, one of those yugo m92 pistols and now my favorite load won't cycle in the new guy. The bolt only moves back about half way, too bad. Ive got some more experimenting to do to get a load that all my 7.62x39's like. Gonna try WC 844 and H4895.

[DEVERS454]

historicfirearms,

My first guess with your m92 is that it might be the gas ports or your spring is too heavy for the loads.

Another thing is that you might need either a faster or slower powder. The m92 and draco pistols tend to be more sensitive to burn rates. I would also see about which primers you are using. H4895 might actually do it.

[badbob454]

had to share my new go to load
i shot some 314-175 saeco clone gas checked bare unsized @ 179 gr weight .(made by NOE. and 15 gr 4227imr great load drops brass 1-2 feet from my rifle works action 99% of the time if not all ..never had a failure but was a little too close for comfort .i would like it to throw brass a little further so i wont exp a stovepipe jamb .. accuracy was great for no gas check @ 1foot6'' open sited old man eyes @ 400 yds / next jumped up to 16 grains 4227 Imr same boolit 314-175 clone only these were plain base unsized @183 gr. weight , wow power increase accuracy 1 foot @ 400 yards in my sks , this is good enuff for hog hunting .. so 16 gr 4227imr in a 7.62x39 in a russian sks , yugo owners may need another .3-.5 grains to work in theirs' they have a stronger recoil spring roughly same point of aim for the factory 154 gr soft point made by tula @ 400 yds, maybe a couple '' lower

[historicfirearms]

I've had a chance to do some more experimenting with the M92 pistol and wanted to share my results. As previously stated my go to load of 2400 wouldn't cycle in the pistol. I tried wc844, H4895, and RL7. They all worked and cycled semi-auto, using loads from they Lyman cast bullet book. Problem was I was getting a lot of unbounded powder from all three of these powders. The wc844 was also EXTREMELY loud with an enormous (versus huge) fireball. I picked up a can of IMR 4198 and gave it a try. Bingo. 20.5 grains works great in the pistol, with just a few tiny unbounded powder kernels. Accuracy is better than Wolf ball. It's still been too cold here to drag the chrony out, but recoil is mild to medium and the spent casings eject about 5 feet away.

[badbob454]

That's what size sizer I have for now. I'm more concerned with the gun functioning at this point and if need be I will have to go bigger with the sizer. My question was if I needed to use LFM primers. I don't want to go to hot.This Is going to be my first loads for this gun..I have loaded a lot for the .44 .454. .45LC .357 handguns before but never loaded for a rifle before. Thanks for bring the sizing up pilot.Slug out at .3135. Going to open up my Lee sizer.

billy you may not want to size at all .. how big does the mold cast , if its smaller than .315 i would not size at all

[LukeLewis]

I've been reading these forums since last winter and remember seeing a post about a good powder choice for reloading both .223/5.56 and 7.62x39 but can't seem to find it again. My dad reloads .223/5.56 and I reload 7.62x39 and we'd like to use the same powder if there is an option that would work well for both. We also plan on using military surplus once shelves start being stocked again, so anything goes. Any suggestions?

[ncbearman]

4227 or 5744 both work great in either unless you are talking competition. If so that is where I yield to those older and wiser. But for punching holes in paper and ringing steel............IMR4227 or 5744 work great in both rounds. I am able to get the 4227 fairly regularly (1#'s of course) so that is my choice.

[LukeLewis]

Okay what about H335 and AA1680? I believe my dad is using H335 right now but could be mistaken (I'm not at home). And I've heard countless people suggest 1680 for the 7.62x39. I cast the Lee 312-160-2R for an SKS.
Also, I'd still like to know of surplus powders that would work well for both?

[craig61a]

I've had good results using H4895 powder in my 7.62x39 loads, never reloaded .223, but it might not be a bad choice.

I load 29 grs of 4895 over 110 gr .32 cal XTP for one of my SKS, that's the best accuracy load for that particular rifle. For a few others with little wear I just use surplus.

I've tried other powders but for me H4895 is the best. YMMV

[turtlezx]

i use the 335 you mentioned
surplus wc820 = to h110 also

lee 312 155 boolit