Sks reloading?

7mmlefty

7mmlefty

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I was wondering if anyone has tried reloading hotter loads for the sks.

I've read posts where some will switch out the steel jacketed bullet for a hunting bullet.... but has anyone tried bumping up the pressure for more velocity, and to what level,... with a bullet in the 130 to 150 grain class for big game, or simply for accuracy at the target range?

How does it shoot, and what are the pressure signs that say whoohww!! on the pressure?...
 
I would never exceed what military ammo is loaded at. Playing with pressure in a semi auto is asking for trouble. Re7 and any good 123-125 grain bullet is golden, but with the price of brass, your best bet is to just stock up on PRVI.
 
That depends one how you do it.

If you take the powder already in the cartridge and just add more from another cartridge I would say not a good idea since it is an unknown powder.

If you take a known powder and follow reloading data available (for that bullet weight) go for it. I wouldn't test out my own handload based on just pressure signs on a casing.
 
7mmlefty said:
I was wondering if anyone has tried reloading hotter loads for the sks.

I've read posts where some will switch out the steel jacketed bullet for a hunting bullet.... but has anyone tried bumping up the pressure for more velocity, and to what level,... with a bullet in the 130 to 150 grain class for big game, or simply for accuracy at the target range?

How does it shoot, and what are the pressure signs that say whoohww!! on the pressure?...
Click to expand...
Given the small case capacity, not much more velocity can be gained and increase load will likely cause harsh ejection or extraction problem. The 7.62x39 is home with 122-125 gr bullet. The benefits dont worth the trouble in my opinion.
Jocelyn
 
There are very few powders out there that will improve on the 7.62x39 ballistics due to the case capacity - as already said. I think if improvements are to be gained, it will come through using heavier bullets.
 
Thanks for the replies... I have not taken a mil surp bullet apart yet to see what it has in it for powder, but "thought" it might take a bit more of the same to keep the costs down.

Im only asking to maybe increase accuracy, as most bullet/rifle combinations like a certain velocity with certain weight bullets for best accuracy, and my sks is not doing it with mil surp, but theres hope when the right velocity is found.:D

Im looking for that sweet "velocity spot" that the rifle likes, to improve its accuracy.

Im taking a bullet apart now... and see what I find.:nest:
 
We need to invent the 7.62x39AI, then we'd get some velocity ;)

Think of it, so long as the rounds would still fit in the magazine and feed, you could have your AI rounds for hunting and accurate target shooting, while still being able to use the surp rounds. A chamber reamer and some reloading dies, is all that would really be needed, you increase powder capacity without excessive pressure increases, so velocity goes up, while still not abusing the gas system.
 
curtmg said:
We need to invent the 7.62x39AI, then we'd get some velocity ;)

Think of it, so long as the rounds would still fit in the magazine and feed, you could have your AI rounds for hunting and accurate target shooting, while still being able to use the surp rounds. A chamber reamer and some reloading dies, is all that would really be needed, you increase powder capacity without excessive pressure increases, so velocity goes up, while still not abusing the gas system.
Click to expand...

Great idea curt... maybe one day someone will figure a way.
Untill then I guess the 308 Win is the next best thing..lol.;) Im not trying to make a 308 out of a x39, but thought some might have done some experimenting for better accuracy.

Im going to take Sask cops advice (thanks) and simply equalize the same powder and reload 130 grain bullets.
I dont think 5 extra grains of lead will make a big difference to increase pressure to a dangerous level.
Hopefully she'll be more accurate with the 130 grain copper bullets..:D
 
saskcop said:
There are very few powders out there that will improve on the 7.62x39 ballistics due to the case capacity - as already said. I think if improvements are to be gained, it will come through using heavier bullets.
Click to expand...
So, that being the case, why is it that the PRVI ammo, with 125gn bullets, is almost 300fps HOTTER (across my Chrony) than the Czech stuff I have and all without pressure signs and using a heavier bullet?
I'm pretty sure that constitutes an improvement.
 
rookie wildcat said:
So, that being the case, why is it that the PRVI ammo, with 125gn bullets, is almost 300fps HOTTER (across my Chrony) than the Czech stuff I have and all without pressure signs and using a heavier bullet?
I'm pretty sure that constitutes an improvement.
Click to expand...

Modern powders account for a bit, using brass cases, with greater powder capacity likely accounts for more however. Military rounds, are made firstly to be as cheap as possible, performance comes next, but only enough performance for effective use in the intended role. So long as you can hit a capitalist at 300y, they really didn't care if he was hit in the guts or the brains. PRVI ammo, would be loaded in a much more modern facility, with much higher standards. If you took the same gun, same shooter, they'd almost invariably shoot better groups with the commercial stuff, and better yet with handloaded ammunition tuned to the gun. This of course means, commercially you can load up to the top end of the spectrum, safely, as your variations would be kept very small. If the Military rounds were to be loaded up to the top end of the spectrum, given the variations of powder levels, they'd likely have to increase greatly their tolerance for exploded guns.
 
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