Reloading 7.62x39 with 303

[Grendelhunter]

Us built ar in 7.62x39, what's your load? Brass,primers, powder,projectiles?

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[po18guy]

303? Do you mean H-335? H-322?

 

[arakboss]

@fstdraw might share some info on this topic?

 

[orygun]

My hunch is he's looking to use bullets for the British 303 as it's .312" just like the 7.62x39. Don't know if there's a 303 bullet light enough, though.

 

[Grendelhunter]

Looking for what others are using for projectiles

 

[The Heretic]

My hunch is he's looking to use bullets for the British 303 as it's .312" just like the 7.62x39. Don't know if there's a 303 bullet light enough, though.

7.62x39 is .310" not .312"

 

[ma96782]

Plenty of reloading info in your re-loading manual. Chance Um'.

Aloha, Mark

PS.....BTW, IIRC.....
My 7.62x39mm die set even came with an extra expander to use with .308" bullets.

 

[Grendelhunter]

I do have info in the manual, just curious what others are trying out.

 

[ma96782]

Well....someone....TRUSTS what people say on the internet.

Aloha, Mark

Of course.....in the end, everything is, "Up To You".

 

[Grendelhunter]

But I saw it on the interwebs!!!!!!!

 

[arakboss]

Us built ar in 7.62x39, what's your load? Brass,primers, powder,projectiles?

I would think the .312 bullets will swaged down if you can get them to chamber. Pressure could increase so I would start with beginning load data for the bullet weight. I purchased some 154gr factory Wolf 7.62x39 ammo before so I would start with 150gr .312 bullets if you have them.

 

[osprey]

The only reason I would use .312 bullets for 7.62x39 is if they were 150 gr and were free or all but free. As far as data, find a published starting load for .310 bulets of he same weight and knock a grain or 2 off for the bigger diameter bullet and work it up. Rarely is there a safe shortcut when it comes to reloading.

 

[osprey]

You also might have to get creative to expand necks out to accept that bigger bullet without undue stress.

 

[orygun]

7.62x39 is .310" not .312"

Not if you read the CIP standards.

Bullet diameter

7.85–7.9 mm (0.309–0.311") SAAMI 7.92 mm (0.312") CIP

It all depends on the rifle being used.

 

[JustShoot]

Just for peace of mind for reloads on the .303 Brit's .
Could you not just use a .311 bullet resize die, ?? . they are pretty cheep , and you can lube-up and do a pile of bullets in quick time .
.

 

[osprey]

If anyone is curious, these load up great in 7.62x39 cases with rcbs .310 expander button used in sizing. Forgot I bought them months ago and finally got around to trying them. .312 pojectiles might be pushing it though.

 

[ma96782]

Last night I looked at my RCBS reloading die set for the 7.62x39mm.

Note what I discovered. Post #45

Expanding case to load non-boat tail rifle pills?

YES.....some folks like mica powder applied, with a case neck brush on the inside of the mouth. I use this. Dip just the neck in it and twirl. It might seem like a PIA, but that's what I went with because it seemed easier than getting in the neck with an applicator of some kind. and the...

www.northwestfirearms.com

Aloha, Mark

 

[po18guy]

Or you can use a VLD (Very Low Drag) inside neck chamfer tool.

https://www.amazon.com/Lyman-7777800-Case-Prep-Multi/dp/B004MCMCYE/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=B004MCMCYE&psc=1

This avoids the (harder) brass shaving (softer) bullet jacket as it is seated. Between the sharp-angle chamfer and the self-centering of the seater plug, the bullets should start without drama. If you are getting buckled case necks, you might be seating too fast, the expander plug may be too small or bullet diameter may be too large. Such tools are used by accuracy/match shooters.

 

[Capn Jack]

I've still got over 1k pre-O'Bummer Wolf 7.62x39 HP. to shoot up before worrying about reloading any.
Don't seem to find those around anymore.

 

[Saladfarmer]

Don't uses 303 British projectiles. You can try to squish them through a Lee .311 sizer or .308. But really, just get some good 110gr or 147gr .308 projectiles and use the .308 pin on your sizer die and load those up with the appropriate powder charge per your powder manufacturers data. AA 2200, AA 2230, AA 1680 and many others are suitable powders. Accurate has data you can print out. If you need to sub, get some .308 200 gr projectiles.
Berrys had some 7.62x39 311"s , but I didn't like how rounded their nose was. Extreme is supposed to be having 125 gr for 7.62 sometime soon according to what they told me a while back. That was a couple months ago, so I imagine fairly soon. They were getting the equipment setup for it.