When will 7.62x39 get any (new) love?

[Fox]

The biggest draw back of that cartridge is its lack of accuracy.

The lack of accuracy is not the cartridge but rather than ammo and the gun.

I have a Savage model 10 chambered in 7.62x39, with Geco factory it is a tack driver, with Norinco Non-Corrosive it is not too shabby, similar to Winchester grey box.

In the SKS I took a bunch of the Norinco, pulled the bullets and took the powder, then loaded up the primed steel cases with surplus powder and a 123gr SST for hunting, thing is a 2in rifle at 100 yards with the irons and my eyes. I did not want to run my nice brass cases through the SKS, they beat the crap out of brass, and I have a stash of Norinco Non-Corrosive so 100rds to break down for a nice supply of hunting ammo was a no brainer.

 

[Mo.smart]

If anyone could accurize the SKS to make it a 2 moa rifle that would be great.

Also wouldn't you be able to put an AR-15 7.62 bolt head, barrel and magazine in a makasi? Or maybe just go to 300 blackout?

On the US website a 7.62x39 Mk-15 is listed using AR mags, would be cooler if it was AK mags

 

[CaribooBC]

Hi s so


Would you like to share which ammo you used,
or your reloading recipe,
and the firearm used in this performance?

CZ 600 Alpha with handloads. Using RL7 and Hornady SST, 123gr.

 

[Murray 3-D]

The lack of accuracy is not the cartridge but rather than ammo and the gun.

I have a Savage model 10 chambered in 7.62x39, with Geco factory it is a tack driver, with Norinco Non-Corrosive it is not too shabby, similar to Winchester grey box.

In the SKS I took a bunch of the Norinco, pulled the bullets and took the powder, then loaded up the primed steel cases with surplus powder and a 123gr SST for hunting, thing is a 2in rifle at 100 yards with the irons and my eyes. I did not want to run my nice brass cases through the SKS, they beat the crap out of brass, and I have a stash of Norinco Non-Corrosive so 100rds to break down for a nice supply of hunting ammo was a no brainer.

Been tempted to try this for years.

 

[Fox]

Been tempted to try this for years.

I pulled the decapping pin and just touched the neck with the die to reset the neck tension, then dropped the powder and bullets in, crimping works the same.

I took the average powder weight of 10 cases and dropped that by 10% to start working up my loads. I then tested for velocity to get similar to military velocity, which would be similar in pressure.

The Norinco is actually not that bad for consistency, I am sure they are better than the military surplus stuff.

The FMJ Norinco bullets then work great for plinking in the 303

 

[mmattockx]

On the US website a 7.62x39 Mk-15 is listed using AR mags, would be cooler if it was AK mags

Possibly, but the AR mags give us the ability to use 10 round LAR mags instead of 5 round AK mags.


Mark

 

[Murray 3-D]

I pulled the decapping pin and just touched the neck with the die to reset the neck tension, then dropped the powder and bullets in, crimping works the same.

I took the average powder weight of 10 cases and dropped that by 10% to start working up my loads. I then tested for velocity to get similar to military velocity, which would be similar in pressure.

The Norinco is actually not that bad for consistency, I am sure they are better than the military surplus stuff.

The FMJ Norinco bullets then work great for plinking in the 303

Great info! I was wondering if pinching the neck again would help considering its a steel case.

 

[Fox]

Great info! I was wondering if pinching the neck again would help considering its a steel case.

The mild steel cases are made to work the same way as brass, so not surprising at all.

How boxer primed steel cases would hold up to reloading? I have no idea.

I also have a pile of steel cased military surplus corrosive primed cases, they are in the prepper corner though, no need for them yet.

 

[05RAV]

The lack of accuracy is not the cartridge but rather than ammo and the gun.

I have a Savage model 10 chambered in 7.62x39, with Geco factory it is a tack driver, with Norinco Non-Corrosive it is not too shabby, similar to Winchester grey box.

I agree. The notion that the 7.62x39mm cartridge is inherently inaccurate is complete rubbish. I have three rifles chambered in 7.62x39mm caliber: the Howa 1500 mini action with a standard stock, the Howa 1500 mini action with an EXCL LITE "tactical" chassis and the Ruger Ranch. With ammo like the Barnaul, MFS, PMC Bronze and Sellier&Bellot, all three rifles shoot average 0.8-1.6MOA, every day (depending on the temperature, wind etc.). Even relatively crappy Norinco red box gives me about 2MOA on average without any problem.​

 

[Buck1950]

^ My R-Ranch G1 w-R-mags also gets1-2 depending on ammo, same as above. My FT-SKS would get 3-4MOA, and Russ for 5-6. . . if I had a target I could see clearly w- the SKS Irons I put a scope on my R-Ranch.

 

[howard2]

Ruger American here. Have shot sub 1" groups with VV N120 and H4198. Hodgson CFE BLK has been close. Hornady SST, Speer Gold Dot. Barnes TSX has given me some great 6-10 shot groups while working uo loads. BLK is great for speed

I agree. With the SKS it was kinda pointless to reload as brass ejected everywhere. For the SKS I was able to make workable hunting rounds by pulling steel cored bullets and replacing with soft points, this on non corrosive berdan "steel case" ammo. For the bolt guns very good accuracy can be obtained by handloading. Lots of good 120-130 grain bullets available these days For those without much data, On archive.com search "Complete Reloading Manual For The 7.62x 39" for a small reloading manual. Hornady has usually been the go to for reloading 7.62 x 39 but Barnes make good bullets that work well.

 

[BwanaDave]

I've loaded 7.62x39 for years in two howa mini's and both shoot sub moa with the 20 inch heavy barreled rifle delivering 2550 fps with a 123 grain interlock/Privi sp and the 22 inch barreled version just over 2600 fps, no pressure signs and multiple reloadings. For Haida Gwaii deer its all that's needed. The secret recipe 31.2 grains of CFE Black.

 

[Suther]

Possibly, but the AR mags give us the ability to use 10 round LAR mags instead of 5 round AK mags.


Mark

And no last round hold open on AKs.

If Ruger or CZ made the Ranch or 600 in a lefty Id buy one regardless of what mags it takes though.

 

[Mo.smart]

Possibly, but the AR mags give us the ability to use 10 round LAR mags instead of 5 round AK mags.


Mark

Personally I’d prefer AK mags but that’s just me. I get the LAR mag thing but I don’t have an LAR 5.56 mags either. I also think a short Mk-15 with AK mags would look really cool.

 

[Joel]

I've loaded 7.62x39 for years in two howa mini's and both shoot sub moa with the 20 inch heavy barreled rifle delivering 2550 fps with a 123 grain interlock/Privi sp and the 22 inch barreled version just over 2600 fps, no pressure signs and multiple reloadings. For Haida Gwaii deer its all that's needed. The secret recipe 31.2 grains of CFE Black.

Thats a spicy meat-a-ball!

Had seen the Rifleshooter guys get there with their Howa but never went that high myself

https://rifleshooter.com/2017/04/re...load-development-with-125-and-150-gr-bullets/

 

[bearhunter]

as the 7.62x39 is usually a "surplus" ammo gun. I cant see any new guns coming till good ammo is plenty. It seems like a good deer round, sure it would smack a yote lmao

There have actually been several pretty good "deer rounds" offered by different manufacturers, such as Hornady, with their Superformance offering.

Many want the ubiquitous and excellent 7.62x39 cartridge to do more than it was ever intended.

If you don't hand load the cartridge for a good bolt action rifle, you're going to be disappointed.

I sold off my last bolt action rifle chambered for the 7.62x39, that was capable of handling 65K psi as a steady diet.

With RL7/CFE223 and similar powders, over magnum primers, I could "safely" get velocities that were right around 2500fps quite easily.

The pressures and loads would likely cause some damage to the SKS in issue milspec form, but they've been converted to, or purpose built for 5.56 Nato, which were once meant for the US market, which was denied to the Chinese, so they never made it here.

People just don't make an effort to check out the capabilities of this great little cartridge.

I guess that's a good thing thing though.

 

[Suther]

Thats a spicy meat-a-ball!

Had seen the Rifleshooter guys get there with their Howa but never went that high myself

https://rifleshooter.com/2017/04/re...load-development-with-125-and-150-gr-bullets/

A quick Google search suggests Saami spec is like 45k psi. I see no reason you couldn't safely push that to 60k psi in a modern bolt action, unless the case itself can't handle such pressure but I would think it's not an old enough cartridge for that to be an issue.

 

[Joel]

A quick Google search suggests Saami spec is like 45k psi. I see no reason you couldn't safely push that to 60k psi in a modern bolt action, unless the case itself can't handle such pressure but I would think it's not an old enough cartridge for that to be an issue.

Probs not. I looked into it, and the CIP which is much less lawyer averse, says 51,400 PSI or so. Thats pretty high alright.

 

[bearhunter]

I've loaded 7.62x39 for years in two howa mini's and both shoot sub moa with the 20 inch heavy barreled rifle delivering 2550 fps with a 123 grain interlock/Privi sp and the 22 inch barreled version just over 2600 fps, no pressure signs and multiple reloadings. For Haida Gwaii deer its all that's needed. The secret recipe 31.2 grains of CFE Black.

If you want to go to a heavier bullet, say a 150 grain round nose, you can get well over 2400fps, out of a 20 inch Howa, and more with longer barrels.

 

[Joel]

2400 fps with a 150 gr is actually surpassing some 20" barreled 30-30s! Whats the load data on that one, bear?

I'd found the Rifleshooter guys in the link above were not scared of crankin it, and didn't get above 2259.


That said I hear you on round nose bullets. I have no idea why hunters all seem to load pointed 150s that are probably meant for a 308 Win, at like 2150 fps, instead of round nose bullets meant for the 30-30 velocity window which must expand much more consistently at those velocies.