CB in vz-58 7.62x39

[mkj4him]

Anybody running cast 7.62x39 through a VZ-58? Or any other similar rifle (AK’s, SKS’s?)
I’m casting spire point PC’d + GC rcbs.

Just wondering what molds and powders people are running for these and experienced accuracies. What powders are working for you?

[armoredman]

I did years ago, but I lost my last7.62x39mm rifle right before the divorce.
Reading my old notes, I had one that was marked, "worked well in vz-58";
Mold is the NOE 129gr .314 spire point, sized down to .311. 21gr Accurate Arms #1680, 2.18 COAL, chronoed at 1776 FPS, (no, seriously), with a wide SD of 104.
Another load marked as "excellent" used the Lee 160gr boolit, sized again to .311, on top of 21.5 AA#1680, COAL 2.190, and averaged 1822 with an SD of 34.
Of the ones I tried the best loads usually used the NOE 129gr mold - that cast a spire point so sharp it's would getcha if you weren't watching.

NOE


Lee


Still have that NOE mold somewhere...

[mkj4him]

Wow! Thanks for the info and the picture. Those look nice. Mine are pointy as well but not like that.

If you don’t mind, can you tell me what alloy mixture you used?

Did you have issues with accuracy or pressure signs with higher load charges?

[mkj4him]

Are your NOE spire points plain based or GC’s?

[405grain]

I have used both the Lee 160 grain bullet, and the RCBS 30-165-Sil (both powder coated) in my SKS with several different powders (BLC-2, IMR-4198, 5744, etc.) They work fine, but I don't usually shoot cast loads in my SKS for a different reason. The SKS ejects the empty cases so hard that they practically go into orbit and land in the next county. I like to reload the empty brass, but with the SKS, it puts me on an Easter egg hunt when I shoot those loads in the rifle. I could modify the gas tube for a more mild ejection, but prefer to keep the rifle stock so that it will rock n roll with steel cased ammo. I have experimented with heavy 200 grain cast bullets in the SKS. The long throat in these rifles will accommodate bullets like the Lyman 314299 and 311284, but the length of the magazine becomes the limiting factor there. Such heavy bullet loads are just done for the novelty. I have two different small ring Mauser's that have been converted to 7.62x39 (both with .308" bores). I use these bolt actions for the vast majority of my cast bullet 7.62x39 shooting, mostly because I don't have to chase after the brass. The SKS is an excellent cast bullet gun, but like any firearm that has a gas port, I would recommend using bullets that have a gas check to keep lead vapor buildup out of the gas system, and to inspect for and clean out any buildup once in a while.

Note: If you take a bullet that casts at .310" and powder coat it without doing any sizing, you usually end up with a .312" bullet that's perfect for most 7.62x39's.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

My rifle is a Norinco JW105 (Model 70 copy) with a 1:10" twist and a surperb chrome lined bore. I shoot a 190gn (0.313") over 23gn of 3031 with good accuracy.

[armoredman]

I apologize, I found a harder mixture better with the higher speed 129s. Yes, they were all gas checked. I never really tried for very high speeds due to the fact that I didn't like cleaning lead. I had pictures of shooting it and some target photos, but those were lost in The Great Escape.





With the gas checked powder coated boolits I had minimal to no leading, and they shot in gas guns without any problems. The loads I posted were the ones that gave the best accuracy and that, at the time, was all I wanted. I only used the CZ 527M/CSR hunting once, and that was with the Lee 160gr loads. Didn't get a chance to use it on a dadgum thing.