7.62/39 recipe

i dont wanna use fmj ,,,, planning on using it for deer on treestand ,,, im gonna load up hornady v max n see how well the bullet holds up . u cant go past 130 grain, because i will lose to much case capacity as the bullets get to long
 
flu_byu said:
i dont wanna use fmj ,,,, planning on using it for deer on treestand ,,, im gonna load up hornady v max n see how well the bullet holds up . u cant go past 130 grain, because i will lose to much case capacity as the bullets get to long
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Not so. 160 Hornady FTX can be effectively loaded in 7.62x39 and they still expand very well. 150 grain loads can easily be done too.
 
I shoot 123 grain bullets. They can be SST or soft point. With CFE Black Hodgson powder you can get some real velocity out of the 7.62x39. My Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 does 2550 fps with my hunting load. This out of the short Ruger barrel. Research this powder and look for some loads to try you will be impressed. I found that PRVI 123 grain soft points run @2450 from my Ruger so reloading is not required for performance on deer sized game. The Hornady V max is NOT a deer bullet. It is just too fragile.

Darryl
 
123gr SST seated and roll crimped to cannelure.
H4198 powder 25.5gr in Winchester brass.
2350 fps from a 18.5" barrel.

I tried the Dominion D4198 powder as an alternative and it was overpressure and caused violent overgassing in my semi-autos. Might be ok to work up a load with this economy powder in a bolt-action though.

Lots of gel tests on youtube if you want to see the performance, quite deadly.

I would keep shots under 200yds as the bullet may not perform at lower velocities and it doesn't go as fast as a conventional hunting cartridge like a .308 or .30-06.
 
saskcop said:
Not so. 160 Hornady FTX can be effectively loaded in 7.62x39 and they still expand very well. 150 grain loads can easily be done too.
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that's a great idea.With the proliferation of the 7.62 x 39 bolt actions in recent years its time to work more on handloads. I found with the semi auto's it just didn't matter beyond a certain point for handloads for accuracy. Now with what's out there I think it will be interesting where things go.
 
BlackHorn said:
I have good results with Sierra Prohunter 125 and CFE Blk in my 20’’ Howa Mini-action.
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I too have the Howa "mini-action" and I love it! I'm getting phenomenal groups with 123 gr. Hornady SST or 123 Hornady Interlocks on top of 25.5-26 gr. Reloader 7. Three yrs. back, I nailed a nice 6 pt. buck with the 123 gr. bullet at about 50 yds. He didn't go but 10-12 ft. and nosed down, dead as a doornail. Made a convert outta me!
 
LawrenceN,
what diameter lead are you using? A friend of mine just picked up a Howa mini, and now wanting to reload for it, but what I have read is some people use .308 lead. I'm not sure what or how that works with the reloading dies..because wouldn't you have to change the expander ball in the die? So this 7.62 is making me over think maybe?? I have been reloading for 30-35 years and never came across this issue.. since some people say all dependant on the rifle manufacturer to what bore diameter they use..
 
I use 25.5gr -H4198/123gr SP/Privi brass/Fed LRM primer in a CZ527 getting 1/2" groups instead of the 1" groups with standard primers.I also load Sierra 150gr SP 150gr same components with 29gr -H335..........chicken load 3.5gr Bullseye /Fed LRP/ CamPro71gr plated .32 ACP bullet .311
 
Loading 123gr Barnes TSX with RE7 here but I haven't had a chance to hit the range and try it with a bolt gun yet
 
I really like my Howa 1500 and load it to the nuts, with Re7, under both 125 and 150 grain bullets.

For the 125, I load 30.0 grains of Re7 over CCI250 primers, for excellent accuracy and 2600fps.

For the 150, I load 25.5 grains of Re7 over CCI250 primers, again with excellent accuracy and 2400fps.

These loads are compressed, a condition that Re7 works well with and over all length is about .050 shorter than the length of magazine.


I was trying to develop a good load with AA1680 and was achieving similar velocities with the 125 grain bullets, around 2600fps. Velocities weren't nearly as consistent with this powder and accuracy wasn't as good.

I have more Re7 on the shelf than AA1680, so that prompted me to quit while I was ahead and stick with what was working.

Don't even consider these loads for an SKS
 
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