reloading 7.62x39 brass - how many times?

scar2112

scar2112

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Quick question for handloaders. How many times can you get away with reloading the 7.62x39 brass? I have got 4 reloads out of 17 casings I have from a box of prvi i bought (haven't touched by bag of 100 yet..but lost 3 from that prvi box).
How many times would it be safe to reload the brass? It has small nicks from ejecting but no holes or serious dents, just small lines/nicks scored on the casing. I would like to get 2-3 more reloads out of them hopefully...they aren't jamming, I just need to trim them at the moment.
Shooting from an sks of course.
 
scar2112 said:
Quick question for handloaders. How many times can you get away with reloading the 7.62x39 brass? I have got 4 reloads out of 17 casings I have from a box of prvi i bought (haven't touched by bag of 100 yet..but lost 3 from that prvi box).
How many times would it be safe to reload the brass? It has small nicks from ejecting but no holes or serious dents, just small lines/nicks scored on the casing. I would like to get 2-3 more reloads out of them hopefully...they aren't jamming, I just need to trim them at the moment.
Shooting from an sks of course.
Click to expand...

Remove the gas tube piston and shoot it as a bolt action, your brass will last longer.
 
scar2112 said:
Quick question for handloaders. How many times can you get away with reloading the 7.62x39 brass? I have got 4 reloads out of 17 casings I have from a box of prvi i bought (haven't touched by bag of 100 yet..but lost 3 from that prvi box).
How many times would it be safe to reload the brass? It has small nicks from ejecting but no holes or serious dents, just small lines/nicks scored on the casing. I would like to get 2-3 more reloads out of them hopefully...they aren't jamming, I just need to trim them at the moment.
Shooting from an sks of course.
Click to expand...

I have a question for you scar2112... How accurate were youre reloads and what was the formula for them. Im curious cause I think we all would like an accurate reload.:D
 
I load brass until I get one or two failures (like split necks) and then I toss the whole box. If you don't load it too hot, you should get 5 more laods, at least.

I have tried to make accurate re-loads as test ammo to compare to the various flavours of milsurp I have. So far the milsurp has been better......

I too would like to hear of a good formula.
 
TERMINATOR101CA said:
Remove the gas tube piston and shoot it as a bolt action, your brass will last longer.
Click to expand...

Sound advice, if you don't mind mortaring the rifle for every shot. The SKS has no primary extraction, so you will not be able to pull back the charging handle easily. Anybody who has actually tried it can tell you that.

As long as there are no visible defects, like split necks or incipient head separations, the case will survive another firing. Minor nicks and scratches won't hurt anything.
 
I have a question for you scar2112... How accurate were youre reloads and what was the formula for them. Im curious cause I think we all would like an accurate reload.
Click to expand...
I actually just got back from the range testing what is damn near the max load according to the hornady book. They shot very nice, I find it better than the surplus as the surplus kept hitting low at 50. I got two bullseye with my own loads aiming at the same spot with no sight adjustment.
Today I loaded up some hornady 123gr sp with 24.3gr imr4198 (max is 24.6), with cci200 primers. I only loaded up 5, here are my results. Iron sights; 100 yards for the red star, 50 for the shoot'n see.
Here are the images.




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Very good shooting... including the blacked out holes.. Very good groups with the sks for 100 yards.:D There may be hope yet!...

I would like to develop or hear of an average load that is reasonably accurate for the many different rifles out there, if thats possible:)...
 
Got a little test load data to share.
CZ surplus ammo showed pretty consistent velocity around 2424ft/sec (2390 low end and 2452 high end) and in my Chinese SKS rifle grouped 1'' at 50 yards (2.5x scope).

When i loaded the test rounds and fired them I didn't have a chronograph with me but found that the test load 5 round groups were approximately 1.5". I ran three groups, 24, 25, 26 grains IMR 4198 respectively all using 125gr Sierra Spitzers 0.311 dia COL was 2.160inch and crimped with a lee factory crimp. All three test loads were low and left compared to the CZ surplus and grouped slightly wider. I did measure the powder with one of those Lee Perfect powder measures which may not be the best for extruded powders like IMR 4198. Measuring the charges after tends to show some variability.

Based on the CZ surplus and how it performs in my rifle the golden velocity i am chasing is 2424ft/sec. I would think that should give me comparable performance to the surplus stuff and allow me to switch back and forth between ammo (hand load vs surplus) without having to do much sighting in.

My next step would be to go back with the chronograph and a few more test loads and try to hit what i think may be that magic velocity.
 
7mmlefty said:
I have a question for you scar2112... How accurate were youre reloads and what was the formula for them. Im curious cause I think we all would like an accurate reload.:D
Click to expand...

24.5 grs. Rel 7 in a Winchester case using Federal match primer, 123 gr. V max bulet. 5 shot group shot at 100 m; group size .914 inches Cases have been reloaded 4 times, trimmed once. Scored some Lapua brass and have some slightly better groups. This group was shot in an AR rifle build with a 16 inch barrel.

AR30calgroup.jpg
 
Rugerman said:
24.5 grs. Rel 7 in a Winchester case using Federal match primer, 123 gr. V max bulet. 5 shot group shot at 100 m; group size .914 inches Cases have been reloaded 4 times, trimmed once. Scored some Lapua brass and have some slightly better groups. This group was shot in an AR rifle build with a 16 inch barrel.

AR30calgroup.jpg
Click to expand...

Very nice groups Rugerman. Ive written down the reload info as well as umcoles'. Im not reloading for it yet, but I understand every bullet likes and performs best at a certain velocity... :D
 
Update on reloads from the range

Update range data.

I chronographed some rounds at the range today. I found that this recipie matched to within 2 ft/sec to the CZ surplus stuff in my SKS rifle. Fired five rounds each of hand load and surplus.

Bullet: Sierra 303cal 3.11 dia 125gr spitzer 2305
Powder: 26gr IMR4198 (max load) loaded by weight not volume
Primer: Winchester large rifle
COL: 2.180 inches
Average velocity 2464ft/sec with standard deviation of 14ft/sec

CZ surplus shot at 2462ft/sec with standard deviation of 25ft/sec

What surprised me is that the test rounds point of impact was higher than the surplus rounds despite being 2 grains heavier. High enough that i was off paper at 100 yards. I don't have grouping data because with being off paper and all the fun to be had shooting and BSing at the range i ran out of time. Wound up doing a sprint back to the truck because i could picture the tapping foot at the door waiting for me! I need more time to test out this load but i hope it will be a good one, or good enough for the does i meet.

Steve
 
7mmlefty said:
I would like to develop or hear of an average load that is reasonably accurate for the many different rifles out there, if thats possible:)...
Click to expand...

In responce to "different rifles," this load is what I've found works best so far in my Baikal.

Winchester brass, Winchester primers, 28 grains of IMR 4895 and 125 grain V-Max bullets.

My groups are not the best, but that's my fault, not the rifle. I did have 3 shot 1 hole groups at 25 yards.
 
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