Does the sight of Soviet ammo disturb the old timers? ....bringing them back to the cold war days?
Looking at reloading 7.62 x 39, is it worth it?
- Thread starter 762Ugh
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Does the sight of Soviet ammo disturb the old timers? ....bringing them back to the cold war days?
I reload X39 using #2400 under gas checked cast 150gr lead. Following the published mlisurp load data (16gr MAX) they shoot great out of my Russian SKS and Baical single shot and the cost is almost as cheap as surplus with the cast bullets.
I have pulled the surplus rounds as well and loaded the powder less a bit more than 10 percent into brass and topped it with the same cast bullet with decent results. By doing this the round is even cheaper and I keep the pulled bullets for use later in the SKS or another 30 cal rifle.
IMO, it is worth it if you already reload because the only setup cost is another die set and if you cast, thats another bonus. Keep your eyes on the EE, I got all my X39 brass from here.
It also cuts down on the cleaning time after shooting since there are no corrosives to deal with.
Cactus
I have pulled the surplus rounds as well and loaded the powder less a bit more than 10 percent into brass and topped it with the same cast bullet with decent results. By doing this the round is even cheaper and I keep the pulled bullets for use later in the SKS or another 30 cal rifle.
IMO, it is worth it if you already reload because the only setup cost is another die set and if you cast, thats another bonus. Keep your eyes on the EE, I got all my X39 brass from here.
It also cuts down on the cleaning time after shooting since there are no corrosives to deal with.
Cactus
Cactus the Alliant 2400 load was revised down to 15.0 grs. max from the old Hercules 2400 16.0 gr. data. Here is the revision I found a few years ago on a site Mr. Harris belongs to.
I've found that in the Russian SKS rifle the Alliant 2400 even with a Max. load want cycle the action reliably,however using 18.0 grs. of Reloader #7 will and dumps the brass within five feet of your shooting position. My Chinese SKS cycles every time with 12.5 grs. of 2400 and the Lee .312 TL gas check bullet.
I've found that in the Russian SKS rifle the Alliant 2400 even with a Max. load want cycle the action reliably,however using 18.0 grs. of Reloader #7 will and dumps the brass within five feet of your shooting position. My Chinese SKS cycles every time with 12.5 grs. of 2400 and the Lee .312 TL gas check bullet.
I run 26 gr of WC735 surplus powder under my Lee 312-155 boolits. WC735 costs $16. per pound from Higginsons. Powder works well in .223 as well. Load is accurate and the action cycles just fine. Biggest bonus is you don't have to clean your rifle after each session. The downside is trying to find your spent brass so you can reload it again.
Take Care
Bob
Take Care
Bob
reloading 7.62x39
well, i just got rid of my sks i had, i did reload for it, one load in particular i liked in my bun, my gun was a russian built rifle, dated 1954, my load was 28.2 grns of IMR 4895 and a hornady 123 grn sp, using privi brass, watch out using soft primers, military ammo was made with harder primers to stop the chance of "slam fires" by means the rifles firing pins werent rebounding and when action slammed shut tip of firing pin could poss protrude enough to set shell off, and basically go full auto briefly, happened once to me, so i switched to cc1 primers, i found they were harder than winchester
hope it helps
well, i just got rid of my sks i had, i did reload for it, one load in particular i liked in my bun, my gun was a russian built rifle, dated 1954, my load was 28.2 grns of IMR 4895 and a hornady 123 grn sp, using privi brass, watch out using soft primers, military ammo was made with harder primers to stop the chance of "slam fires" by means the rifles firing pins werent rebounding and when action slammed shut tip of firing pin could poss protrude enough to set shell off, and basically go full auto briefly, happened once to me, so i switched to cc1 primers, i found they were harder than winchester
hope it helps
zippy_the_wonder_chimp
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fraser Valley/Lower Mainland
yes!
"It also cuts down on the cleaning time after shooting since there are no corrosives to deal with.
Cactus"
Finally someone mentions a big plus of NOT shooting surplus corrosive x39-
you don't have to clean the rifle a short while later.
-which is great for a lazyass shooter like me!
"It also cuts down on the cleaning time after shooting since there are no corrosives to deal with.
Cactus"
Finally someone mentions a big plus of NOT shooting surplus corrosive x39-
you don't have to clean the rifle a short while later.
-which is great for a lazyass shooter like me!
Not at all. Buy your projectiles from Henry or Mystic. An easy source of brass, as someone else mentioned is to buy cheap PRVI or S&B ammo and reload it. BTW, these are components, not supplies. IMR 4198 is a great powder for this cartridge.
zippy_the_wonder_chimp
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fraser Valley/Lower Mainland
Henry has x39 brass too..
Winchester, Boxer-primed, $48/100.
Way easier to reprime than the S&B stuff.
-zippo
Winchester, Boxer-primed, $48/100.
Way easier to reprime than the S&B stuff.
-zippo
Thanks for the update, my two Russians cycle fine with 14grs and I am limited to 100 yards so my prefered load is 14.5 grs. The brass lands a couple feet from me and both guns have never had a stove pipe or any other jam.
Cactus
If you're shooting SKSs, great rifles by the way, it's hardly worth reloading considering the price of surplus.
If you're shooting one of the bolt actions chambered in 7.62x39, or a custom AR auto loader that is a different ball game all together.
If you're planning on using your SKS for hunting, not my first choice, only because people try to extend their realistic range beyond their capabilities, then pick up a few boxes of commercial hunting cartridges and hand load those after shooting. For pl inking, stick with the milsurp.
One other thing to consider. I met a young fellow that was hunting moose with an SKS last fall. Smart fellow, maybe 20 years old but someone had taken him under their wing and taught him well. He knew the limitations of the SKS and none of his shooting took place over 100m. He was shooting out of a tree stand and had range blazes on trees and tape on some of the willows. Nothing more than 125 yards off. He had picked his spot well. He shot a cow, on a draw, and put two quick shots into her lungs. She ran a bit, not far and laid down to die. He watched her every move from his tree stand. I watched him from a ridge with a decent 60X Swarovski HD 80. He was very good at what he did. He watched until she laid down completely, about 10 minutes before getting down from the tree stand and going over to her. He had picked up a rock along the way, and when he was appx 15 yard from her, he bounced the rock off her rib cage, ready for a quick shot. Waited a few minutes and went in to cut her throat and bleed her out. I called my partner and we went over to help him out.
I was impressed with the young fellow, not because he found a moose to shoot but at his patience and skill. I was also impressed at how well the SKS, with the puny 123 grain Prvi Partisan performed. Both bullets were recovered and both had penetrated ribs on entry. Neither of them exited the rib cage on the other side. They both came to rest on ribs on the opposite size. They were both perfect examples of what a well expanded bullet should look like. The entrance ribs were both broken and both lungs had large separate wound channels from each bullet. Neither of the ribs on the far side, where the bullets came to rest, were even bruised. That shot was just slightly over 100 yards.
I didn't mean to get off topic but I felt you should know the capability of the Prvi Partisan offering.
If you're shooting one of the bolt actions chambered in 7.62x39, or a custom AR auto loader that is a different ball game all together.
If you're planning on using your SKS for hunting, not my first choice, only because people try to extend their realistic range beyond their capabilities, then pick up a few boxes of commercial hunting cartridges and hand load those after shooting. For pl inking, stick with the milsurp.
One other thing to consider. I met a young fellow that was hunting moose with an SKS last fall. Smart fellow, maybe 20 years old but someone had taken him under their wing and taught him well. He knew the limitations of the SKS and none of his shooting took place over 100m. He was shooting out of a tree stand and had range blazes on trees and tape on some of the willows. Nothing more than 125 yards off. He had picked his spot well. He shot a cow, on a draw, and put two quick shots into her lungs. She ran a bit, not far and laid down to die. He watched her every move from his tree stand. I watched him from a ridge with a decent 60X Swarovski HD 80. He was very good at what he did. He watched until she laid down completely, about 10 minutes before getting down from the tree stand and going over to her. He had picked up a rock along the way, and when he was appx 15 yard from her, he bounced the rock off her rib cage, ready for a quick shot. Waited a few minutes and went in to cut her throat and bleed her out. I called my partner and we went over to help him out.
I was impressed with the young fellow, not because he found a moose to shoot but at his patience and skill. I was also impressed at how well the SKS, with the puny 123 grain Prvi Partisan performed. Both bullets were recovered and both had penetrated ribs on entry. Neither of them exited the rib cage on the other side. They both came to rest on ribs on the opposite size. They were both perfect examples of what a well expanded bullet should look like. The entrance ribs were both broken and both lungs had large separate wound channels from each bullet. Neither of the ribs on the far side, where the bullets came to rest, were even bruised. That shot was just slightly over 100 yards.
I didn't mean to get off topic but I felt you should know the capability of the Prvi Partisan offering.
The Russian I was shooting was a new in box rifle my shooting Buddie owns he purchased form a local guy who had several stashed away from many years ago when you could buy them all day long for $90 apiece. The rifle was probably just really tight being it was new,it was well cleaned and lubed so that wasn't an issue. The rifle shot great just wouldn't cycle with the 2400 load,changing over to Reloader#7 and just starting with the Min. load of 18.0 grs. worked like a champ.
Cheap surplus isn't an option down here in the states,we get all the Russian and American and other import commercial offerings but there not that cheap. I started reloading for my SKS rifle backs 7 years ago,components were cheap then and I bought up more than enough FMJ and SP bullets and brass to last me plus I bought a few thousand rds. of Brown Bear HP and SP ammo then as well I just keep it stashed for a rainy day and now that I cast my own bullets I basically shoot for ten cents a rds.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
Keep in mind that what we consider "cheap surplus" is almost the same price that you pay for new, non-corrosive ammo, about $225 per 1000. The stuff that Americans consider to be "cheap surplus", like $90 per 1000 for Turkish 8x57mm, is absolutely unheard of in Canada (or any other developed country outside the U.S.).
You are right, casting the bullets makes all the difference for cheap plinking and shooting. The surp we have up here runs between .20 and .30 cents per round depending on the quantity and where you buy.
The X39 round is one of my favs and I shoot it out of my Sks and Baikal rifles. I don't like to shoot the corrosive ammo and by taking the rounds apart and measuring the powder which has been a pretty consistent 22.5gr and then loading the brass cases with 20gr of the recovered powder and 155gr cast bullet I get two extra rounds per 20 pack and the FMJ bullets are stored for future use in the X39s or even .303 Brit for plinking. By doing this I am shooting more for less than the cost of the surplus.
The added bonus for me is giving the primed steel cases to a buddy who doesn't mind the corrosive primers, he works at a tire shop and gives me wheel weights. It's a win win all around and once you start casting for one cal you will cast for as many as you can. It's part of the hobby.
Cactus
Surplus here in the states at least where I live is hard to find,the Yugo surplus is really all that available but it comes and goes and has to be ordered online,it runs about .20 cents per rd. with shipping cost included,I have small stash of that stuck back plus it came with some nice stripper clips.
The Chinese surplus was banned from importation to the US in 1994 I have 100 rds. of the Yellow Box steel core I bought several years ago for $5 per 20 you used to could buy 20 rds. for less than $2,I mainly got it to just shoot a few rds. and put the rest in my SHTF ammo stash.
Factory new Russian ammo runs anywhere form .20 to .30 cents per rd. just depend on what gun shop you buy it from. Casting and reloading my x39 ammo has really helped cut down the cost of ammo as well as improved the quality of my x39 ammo and I don't have to depend on imports or local availability for my ammo needs.
The Chinese surplus was banned from importation to the US in 1994 I have 100 rds. of the Yellow Box steel core I bought several years ago for $5 per 20 you used to could buy 20 rds. for less than $2,I mainly got it to just shoot a few rds. and put the rest in my SHTF ammo stash.
Factory new Russian ammo runs anywhere form .20 to .30 cents per rd. just depend on what gun shop you buy it from. Casting and reloading my x39 ammo has really helped cut down the cost of ammo as well as improved the quality of my x39 ammo and I don't have to depend on imports or local availability for my ammo needs.
I reloaf for the527 not the sks and use Rem brass for the small primer,Accurate 1680 powder because I can't get enough4198 or 748 (bl cs)in the cases for the bolt and siera pro hunter 311 dia bullets in 125 gr. I found the hornady and rem 123(125) soft points to light, The will disintergrate on a gopher whereas the sierra's open and hold to to-gether well enoigh for a large exit. Never recovered any bullets but they did thr jobSierra .311 will also work abd you might be able to build the pressure up to a resanable number with them. I never tried .312 or .313 bullets in mine because the barrel checks at .310 like it is supposed too.
This is a highly accurate fun rifle to shoot and will only let it go if I can convince someone to bring in a left Zastavia in 7.62x39 preferably with a full stock or a barrelled action in the same.
Neil
This is a highly accurate fun rifle to shoot and will only let it go if I can convince someone to bring in a left Zastavia in 7.62x39 preferably with a full stock or a barrelled action in the same.
Neil
Just a random comment , but I've found that the 7.62x39mm case fits kinda well in the # 2 Lee shell-holder that comes with the .45ACP dies ?
I was actually wondering about that
, and maybe the .30-30 Lee Loader might do it , but I'd have to test it out first before speaking anywhere near conclusively ! 
, but I've found that the 7.62x39mm case fits kinda well in the # 2 Lee shell-holder that comes with the .45ACP dies ?I was actually wondering about that
, and maybe the .30-30 Lee Loader might do it , but I'd have to test it out first before speaking anywhere near conclusively ! 
