7.62x39 reload advice.

[fstdraw]

I'm pretty fussy about my reloads. This time it's 7.62x39. I've been reloading 7.62x39 for several years and am always trying to make the round more accurate. I went to a favorite shooting place and set up targets at 60 yards. I did 5 round groups of three different bullet types and brought 3 other proven loads form my stock. 5 loads were steel case Berdan primed and one Boxer primed brass Winchester reload.

All the rounds hit the bullseye or on the edge of it but all seemed to shoot well at that distance. I wasn't surprised because I was using my AR 47 with a 3-9 power scope. Scope was set on "6" so it was like shooting at a bowling ball almost. I recently switched powder from AA-1680 to WC 680. I was really testing to see if 25.5 gr. of WC680 was equivalent to my standard load of 25.5 gr. of 1680. It appears the loads are the same, at least by ear and felt recoil. The real surprise was my last 5 round test, Chinese steel insert bullets (Norinco factory load), you know the copper washed ones. Damned if all 5 went thru the same ragged hole! A dime would have covered all 5 shots! Now I've got a lot of Chinese and Russian ammo. I do only shoot my reloads in the woods. Should I tinker more with my reloads or leave well enough alone?

Thank you for the feedback.

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[canikfan1944]

Hello I have 3 spam cans if milsurp polish 7.62x25 ammo for sale looking to get 650 a can located in snohomish county.

 

[Knobgoblin]

 

[Mikej]

View attachment 1994253View attachment 1994254

Looks like it might fit?

 

[fstdraw]

Oh crap, I was trying to force the wrong cartridge into my semi-auto!

Eat out jackasses.

Thanks

 

[Dozer99]

try to pull one of the Norinco rounds. the neck tension on those badboys is incredible.

How are you crimping you loads?

I would only mess with your loads "a little" if your like me, you'll do it just because you have this "idea" or hunch. But maybe look at your crimp first.

 

[Knobgoblin]

Oh crap, I was trying to force the wrong cartridge into my semi-auto!

Eat out jackasses.

Thanks

My post was for the guy trying to sell Tok food on your reloading thread.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

I load that cartridge for my son who has a Ruger ranch bolt rifle in that caliber. The best loads for that rifle came after much testing.

Not sure of your motivations. If I had your experience, I would be curious and try to understand why those rounds performed so well. Pull a bullet, measure and weight it and determine how far it jumped to the lands. Then I would shoot those rounds you mentioned over a chronograph. 1680 is probably the best place to be, until proven otherwise. The main obstacle will be finding a quality .311 bullet(if that is how your Norinco bullet mics out). I expect those steel case rounds are very tight at the neck so neck tension is your friend. With a brass case I would try at least .005 of neck tension. More if the case doesn't resist(bulge).

I would try N120 as most of my benchrest guns like Vihtavuori best and N120and 130 are in that burn rate grouping.

If this very time consuming and expensive process isn't interesting and rewarding, I wouldn't bother. To each his(or her) own

If this insanity is exciting for you, I recommend you get a bolt rifle.

Cheers

 

[fstdraw]

Thank you both/all for the good advice. I think I'm just going to leave everything as it is and view the 7.62x39 for what it is, close quarter and fun target shooting. Thank you again for the intelligent comments.

 

[deadeye]

Thank you both/all for the good advice. I think I'm just going to leave everything as it is and view the 7.62x39 for what it is, close quarter and fun target shooting. Thank you again for the intelligent comments.

I loaded hunting rounds using Hornady 123gr SST's, 24gr IMR 4198 and used a Lee factory crimp die. Makes for a one shot and down in a mini 30.

Are you using a factory crimp die or ?

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

The main obstacle will be finding a quality .311 bullet

*Some* guns actually do quite well with .308 bullets, but there is no way to tell until you try them

 

[fstdraw]

Great question, I am not because these are steel cases. They fit so tight while seating them I didn't feel the need. I could be wrong and maybe I should try a crimp. I do use a Lee FCD on all my brass cased 7.62x39. Bullets are .310, 123 gr. Most of these bullets are pull-downs.

 

[ksjayhawk]

Man I think you've pretty much nailed your reload. I've been at it for a while now on X39 reloading as well. I'm using a similar charge. 25.5 grains H4198. Pushing them thru a Gen 1 Galil Ace with a PA 3X Prism scope. I get quarter size 5 shot groups at 100Y using Hornady SST's and probably 50cent piece sized groups using hornady FMJ's. I've had zero luck tuning a varmageddon 123, Remington 9 1/2 and Cci 200's and 34's seem to produce the most consistent loads for me so far. I don't own a bolt gun in X39 to really test them out. It's On the "to acquire someday" list.

 

[ksjayhawk]

My next up reload event is to fill some Turkish Sterling nickel plated steel cases I've shot. They are boxer primed. It seems several people I've chatted with have had great success reloading them. All my X39 spitters really like them as factory ammo.

 

[Texmex247]

I've chased accuracy in the x39 and always came up well short of the steel cased offerings out there. Also used mostly AA1680. All my loads were PRVI or Hornady .310 bullets but through an AR, VZ-58 and Howa, never did exceed the accuracy of the commie fodder. The wolf 125gr SP and 123gr HP were always hard to beat.

 

[ksjayhawk]

Never shot a HOWA. How's it run for you??

 

[osprey]

In my AR carbine chambered in 7.62x39. I have equalled the best factory loads with my reloads but not surpassed. While my reloads have bullets better suited for certain tasks that is the extent of the improvement. Factory 124gr hp wolf military classic routinely prints just over an inch at 100yds. I sure wish it was readily available again at .18/round.

 

[ksjayhawk]

Agreed. Wolf poly performance HP's routinely stack the best at 100 yards for all my platforms. I've had the same reloading experience. I can match but not surpass them.

 

[osprey]

When I chrono the Wolf Mc I get around 13sd and 30 or less for es over a 10 shot string which ain't too shabby.

 

[ksjayhawk]

Well I loaded a few of the Sterling nickel plated steel cases I had. They did fine. They seem to require about another 1/8 turn of crimping. Interesting to note. None of the cases required any length trimming, as they were all under max case length. The target presented was fired from my prism scoped frankengun SKS at 100yards. The flyer to the left was my fault. I knew it immediately when I shot it. For comparison you'll see some various factory loads. Still VERY difficult to beat wolf polyperformance HP's. The target is 50' slow fire pistol silhouette.

I used 25.5 Grains of H4198. REM 9 1/2 LRP. COL 2.185". Using up the last of the Covid purchased Hornady 123 Gr FMJ Rejects I scored. Trust me, they are rejects for a reason.