SKS

[gunfreak]

Does any one here reload for 7.62x39?
And yes I know most of the ammo out there is steel cased but I plan on buying some brass rounds for it.

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[Crazyeye24]

I have a few pieces of brass I found while shooting. It's all yours when I separate it from my pile. I don't reload for that caliber.

 

[RVTECH]

Does any one here reload for 7.62x39?

I did when I had my first (and only) SKS in the early 90's. Then I came to my senses and got rid of it and sold the dies.

 

[Ironbar]

Nope. 7.62x39 is so cheap that it doesn't make sense to reload it.

 

[mwest7575]

I feel the same, not worth it at all. Although I went with a buddy of mine to went to tri-county to break in his new SKS and couldn't find much 7.62x39 on the cheap. We brought some we scored online but he lives near by and well probably be back, know of a good place near by?

 

[Swedish K]

I know a friend did some a few years back and had picked up a load data manual that was dedicated to 7.62x39. Not sure if this is it but looks like it could be : The Complete Reloading Manual for the 7.62 x 39mm: Amazon.com: Books

 

[Bon Sauvage]

I reload the cartridge. If you have any questions as to my components or anything else please feel free to PM me.

 

[Horses are delicious]

Yes, I reload Hornady soft tip Interlock for close range blacktail hunting. Got my initial data from the Hornady book and made some tiny tweeks. Been very good to me so far. Haven't needed to take an SKS hunting in 2 years but still grab it when I know I'll have shots less than 100 yds. Still owe the slim majority of my local deer to it.

 

[deadshot2]

I don't own anything that shoots this caliber but a short comment on reloading it. With the ammo situation as it is NOW, I seriously doubt that there will be any available, both cheap or expensive. Reloading might just be a viable option to insure having ammo to shoot.

There are plenty brass cases out there so if you have or find any keep them. Even if you're like me and don't have anything to use them in, they will make good trade items.

In a pinch, the steel cased ammo CAN be reloaded but be prepared to put in some serious work and make sure that the reloaded ammo is kept dry. The case coating that prevents rust most likely will be compromised in the process.

 

[gunfreak]

I have been slowly building 7.62x39 brass so that I do have that option.
With help found some .310 bullets to order as well.

 

[deadshot2]

I have been slowly building 7.62x39 brass so that I do have that option.
With help found some .310 bullets to order as well.

I would expect a major increase in business for companies like Corbin. More and more will be "making" their own bullets, especially swaged, jacketed, bullets.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

I have been slowly building 7.62x39 brass so that I do have that option.
With help found some .310 bullets to order as well.

I recommend that you slug your barrel before buying bullets. Just a suggestion.

 

[civilian75]

I recommend that you slug your barrel before buying bullets. Just a suggestion.

For cast and plated bullets, yes. But, I don't think slugging is as important with jacketed bullets.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

For cast and plated bullets, yes. But, I don't think slugging is as important with jacketed bullets.

And you may be right. You probably are right. But if he buys a .310 bullet for a .314 barrel (I've seen two such) he might be a little disappointed in the accuracy.

 

[civilian75]

And you may be right. You probably are right. But if he buys a .310 bullet for a .314 barrel (I've seen two such) he might be a little disappointed in the accuracy.

Hmmm, good point. If he's got a .314, I wish him luck. My take, nothing will shoot right. That's even too large for downloaded hard cast with gas checks.

OP, if you choose to slug your barrel, I recommend you do it in two stages: first slug only the first 1/2 of the barrel, from the muzzle; measure the slug. Then, slug the whole barrel. I recommend using two different slugs. If the difference is too big, you might need to counter bore the muzzle to get some decent accuracy.

 

[Horses are delicious]

Gunfreak- give us an idea of the make and model you're reloading for.

 

[nwo]

Be very careful if you handload for the SKS. Commercial primers are soft in comparison to the military type primers the SKS was designed for. Soft primers can make the SKS prone to "slam fire". Not an enjoyable experience...

 

[TCOV]

I have come across a fair supply of 7.62x39 brass and find that some of it is berdan primed so check your brass. I save it not so much for ak or sks as russian ammo is cheap but I also have an old interarms mk x bolt action in 7.62x39. It has problems with the mil-spec steel case ammo hard primers but is a great short action rifle with the commercial brass ammo. I will start loading for it soon as my supply of commercial ammo is getting low and expensive. I scored a couple boxes of .310 hornady 123gr sp bullets at a local gunshow that should be just right for hunting. If you were in northern russia this would be a common big game caliber. As a side note I have a win model 70 in .223 and it also has trouble firing the russian steel case ammo so they must all have hard primers.

 

[HappyRoman]

short answer = yes... dillon style

 

[jjackffrost]

Handloads With Midway* Cases, Winchester Large Rifle Primers
Ctg. OAL 2.19"
Source: C.E. Harris

Vel @ 15' Pressure Remarks
(f.p.s.) (c.u.p.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

123-gr. Lapua FMJ 2325 52,080 Maximum,
26.5 grs. RL-7 18 Sd 1450 Sd do not exceed

125-gr. Sierra .308 2167 43,170
24.5 grs. H4198 27 Sd 2730 Sd

125-gr. Sierra .308 2220 43,240 Compressed
28.0 grs. H322 13 Sd 740 Sd charge

123-gr. Lapua FMJ 2181 42,240
27.5 grs. H322 13 Sd 890 Sd

* Cases manufactured by Brass Extrusion Laboratories, Ltd.


Handloads With NEI 52A or Lee 312-155-2R/TL312-160-2R Cast Bullet
Source: C.E. Harris

Starting loads:

Powder Charge
---------------------------------
2400 15.0 grs.
IMR or Hodgdon 4227 16.0 grs.
IMR or Hodgdon 4198 20.0 grs.
RL-7 21.5 grs.

Miscellaneous:

Powder Charge Vel (20.5" Remarks
bbl SKS)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.5-15.5 grs. 2400 Cast of wheel weights, sized
.312", good "I want to shoot NOW"
load. Consider 15.5 grs. Max.
16 grs. AA1680 1420 fps
18 grs. AA1680 1630 fps
20 grs. AA1680 Maximum load
18 grs. Olin 680** 1810 fps
19 grs. Olin 680** 1930 fps Maximum load
21.0-22.0 grs. RL-7 1900-1950 fps

28 grs. AA2230 around 2000 fps
28 grs. AA2460 "
28 grs. H335 "

** Discontinued

162-gr. cast from wheel weight alloy, no gas check:

Powder Charge
---------------------------------------------
4227 12-14 grs.
AA1680 15.0-16.0 grs.
4198 or RL-7 17.0 grs.
4895 18.0 grs.

Bullseye No more than 5 grs.
WW231 "
SR-7625 "
Green Dot "
Red Dot "
700-X "

Unique No more then 6 grs.
PB "
Herco "
SR-4756 "

------------------------------

Subject: 10. Handloads With Accurate Arms Powders

Source: Accurate Arms
Gun: SKS
Bbl Length: 24"
Primer: Fed. 210
Case: IMI

Powder Charge Vel
Bullet Type (grs.) (fps)
-------------------------------------
100 (L) 2230 27.0 1966
2460 27.5 1950

100 1680 28.5 2614
2015 28.5 2138
2230 30.0 2312
2460 30.0 2300

110 1680 28.5 2561
2015 28.5 2149
2230 30.0 2313
2460 30.0 2272

123 1680 26.5 2350
2015 28.5 2188
2230 30.0 2281
2460 30.0 2172

130 1680 26.5 2313
2015 28.5 2176
2230 30.0 2247
2460 30.0 2231

135 1680 26.5 2332
2015 28.5 2189
2230 29.5 2226
2460 30.0 2203

------------------------------

Subject: 11. Handloads With Hercules Powders

Source: Hercules
Case: Federal
Primer: CCI 200
Bbl Length: 20"

Min OAL Powder Charge Vel Pres
Bullet (inches) Type (grs.) (fps) (cup)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Speer 100gr Plinker 1.830 2400 16.5 2240 44,900

Sierra 110gr HP 2.055 2400 16.0 2115 44,800
Reloder 7 26.5 2330 38,300

Hornady 123gr SP 2.155 2400 15.3 1915 44,900
Reloder 7 25.5 2330 45,000

Sierra 150gr JP 2.000 2400 14.8 1800 45,000
Reloder 7 24.8 2145 44,600

------------------------------

Subject: 12. Handloads With Hodgdon Powders

Source: Hodgdon
Bbl Length: 24"
Max Case Length: 1.525"
Trim To Length: 1.520"
Note: Hodgdon recommends reducing listed charges by 6%
rather than 10%.


Bullet Wt. Powder Charge Vel Pres
(grs.) Type (grs.) (fps) (cup)
------------------------------------------------------
123-125 BL-C(2) 31.5 2349 38,800
H335 31.5 2408 40,900
H4895 29.0 2249 33,600
H322 29.0 2323 35,400
H4198 26.5 2378 40,400


150 BL-C(2) 29.5 2090 40,400
H335 29.0 2132 42,500
H4895 28.0 2154 39,300
H322 28.5 2192 40,400
H4198 24.5 2122 39,800