7.62 x 39 reloading

[IMR4320]

I'm working on a project building a bit more accurate and most of all consistent 7.62 x 39 round. I'll be using brass cartridge F210 primed, haven't picked a powder yet but that's minor. The issue here is the manuals call for .310" bullets, which aren't exactly in a surplus on the reloading market. Would it be possible to use a standard 125 gr. .308" bullet instead ? Or would it make the projectile too loose in the barrel ?
Thanks for any info

 

[Ganderite]

Hornady and Speer make 123g bullets in 310 for that caliber. others may, too. Buy the correct bullet.

 

[yomomma]

People have used them but if you are going for accuracy swage your barrel and pick appropriately sized bullets.

 

[45ACPKING]

I remember some years ago I got my hands on some reloads from a friend that were 150gr .310 black hills bullets.
It's really too bad we can't get those anymore. I stopped hunting with x39 when I ran out of those

 

[Suther]

I remember some years ago I got my hands on some reloads from a friend that were 150gr .310 black hills bullets.
It's really too bad we can't get those anymore. I stopped hunting with x39 when I ran out of those

You should try slugging your bore, because there are a few 150grain .311 bullets, and they might be suitable for your needs. Of course you can't find any right now...

 

[gewehr76]

308 bullets will work fine as long as you size your brass for 308 diameter bullets. Flat base 150 gr bullets are ok to use and you'll need less powder as well. Depending on the die you use it may come with 308 expander, just for such occasion.

 

[dthunter]

308 bullets will work fine as long as you size your brass for 308 diameter bullets. Flat base 150 gr bullets are ok to use and you'll need less powder as well. Depending on the die you use it may come with 308 expander, just for such occasion.

X2

this!

I have used the flat base .308 cal, 150 grainers to take a few bears, and deer. They worked flawlessly.

 

[K-C]

Hornady # 3143 Z-MAX (7.62 CAL .310 123 GR) is a cost effective choice. They are packed in boxes of 500.
If you can't find a site sponsor selling them, Higginson Powders in Hawkesbury, ON may have them. They cost $170.00 (34 cents each)

 

[sunray]

A great deal depends on what rifle you're loading for. An SKS, for example, wasn't made for accuracy. So spending time on a load might not be worth the effort. Other rifles can be a different story though. Slug the barrel. Then like Ganderite says, use the right bullet.
Consistency is mostly about your loading technique. Foremost is weighing each powder charge after ensuring the brass is all the same. Really no different than loading match grade .308, et al, ammo. There are no 125ish match grade bullets though.
A .308" bullet out of a .311" barrel won't shoot worth beans. It has nothing whatever to do with the brass.
Hodgdon's data is for a .311" bullet.

 

[mbogo3]

Funny..........my son's Chinese SKS [26] shoots .308 dia bullets just fine.Will try them in my CZ527 as Hornady encloses both a .310 + .308 expander button in their dies.A lot of guys use .308/200gr Partitions in their .303 British and the moose don't seem to be able to differentiate?On a claybird at 100 yards not going to the Olympics. Harold

 

[Ganderite]

I'm working on a project building a bit more accurate and most of all consistent 7.62 x 39 round. I'll be using brass cartridge F210 primed, haven't picked a powder yet but that's minor. The issue here is the manuals call for .310" bullets, which aren't exactly in a surplus on the reloading market. Would it be possible to use a standard 125 gr. .308" bullet instead ? Or would it make the projectile too loose in the barrel ?
Thanks for any info

If you want accuracy, the cartridge can deliver excellent results if the rifle is set up for the job.

I wanted an accurate rifle so I could test various types of ammo, so built one using a very stiff action (Rem 788) and a heavy match barrel. The barrel is 308, so it shoots handloads with 308 bullets and factory ammo with .310 bullets just fine.

 

[Polar_Hunter]

I have just started reloading for my SKS. Still in the development stage but all of my test loads have grouped better than the S&B factory ammo. Another consistency is that the Sierra 150 gr round nose boat tail produce the tightest groups. The last test loads were pushed with 27 gr of H335 and both groups were tight but a bit lower than the S&B at 50 yards. This next batch is a bit hotter.

 

[mbogo3]

I've loaded 21gr of IMR 4198 and a Sierra 150gr .311 that shot nice from a Type 56 SKS..........Harold

 

[doc25]

What are you shooting it in. As stated earlier some rifles have a regular 30 cal barrel. I believe the mini 14 does. What are you trying to do with them hunting? Or just punching paper? If its paper or varmints the z-max would probably suit your needs.