7,62x39 in .303"

h.letourneau

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Has someone ever tried to dump the powder charge of a 7,62x39 round in a .303" caliber brass and top it with the .311" bullet of the 7,62x39.
It looks to me it would make a nice cost saving way of making holes in paper at 100 yards or for plinking.Enough pressure?
 
Yes, i dont know how it all works out but this topic comes up quite often. Not sure if you searched but you should be able to find something. if not one of the guys on here will chime in.
 
Lots of guys have done it. Seems to ignite reliably even though it's a very low pressure load.

You'll get about 24.0 grs of powder with a burn rate very close to H4198 out of the 7.62x39, and in the 303 Brit, you could use up to 36.0 grs of it with that 123gr bullet. That means two 303 Brit loads out of three (and have an extra bullet), if you wanted a full load. I've done it and got right near 2700 fps - not accurate though, as the bullet was quite undersized.
 
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Well whaddaya know...whomever said that the 303 is not a versatile cartridge! See now it can make some good of the ubiquitous 7.62x39. :)
 
I have got to ask. Why would you do that. It seems a waste of time. If you are reloading why wouldn't you just do it right from the start.

Use proper .303 projectiles and if you want a light load just reduce the powder.

If the 7.62 round is not the correct diameter you are going to get lousy accuracy.

Guess I just don't understand. Don't be mad.
 
I do it because it is cheap, and I have tons of x39.

the x39 is about right, at .310-.311

+1, besides, why not? especially if you even out the charges instead of just dumping them into the .303 case. They make great, cheap, plinking rounds. Besides, you are pulling the bullets and dumping the powder from the x39 cases to make accurate hunting rounds out of them anyway. Gotta do something with the powder and ball, might as well have some fun.
 
daym!!!! thats cheaper for the powder and bullet than a bullet alone, gonna have to give it a try, that is if my sks or cz will give up a couple rounds for the brit
 
accuracy will depend on your 303 bore size. the 7.62 that i pulled from surplus ammo shot better than the 303 hornady 174gr interlocks.
 
I weighted the powder of 3 rounds of 7,62x39 and they all came out at 23 grains. So I loaded some test rounds: 24gr, 25gr, 26gr and 27gr. I'll go on like that till I've found what's the best in my NoI markIII*.
I'll come back with and update when the test is over.
 
"...dumping them into the .303 case..." Dump it anyway. You have no idea what powder it is.
There's 125 grain load data on .303british.com.
"...the x39 is about right, at .310-.311..." Not so much with a .313 or .314 inch barrel.
"...If the 7.62 round is not the correct diameter..." 7.62 x 39 uses a .311" bullet. Nominally, so does the .303 British. Lee-Enfield barrels aren't always .311" diameter though.
 
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