7.62x39 first time reloader looking for tips

[mbogo3]

Hey mbogo3 ,
Looking for reloading info and tips on 7.62x39 handloads. Yer taking my thread off on a hard left tangent.

Sorry I was getting bored.

 

[SP641]

WIth a bolt gun, Hornady #3140 with 28.5 gr of CFE BLK average 2485 fps.

 

[medvedqc]

i have loaded for 2 bolt guns in this caliber a 527 CZ and a sweet Zastava, both love Reloder 7 powder,,,./... a lot....FS

yes rl7 is a great powder for the little 7.62x39 ...

 

[mb571]

Got mail during the week with dies and pills. Processed 200 brass cases. Resized, trimmed, tumbled. Primed 40.
Got my PRVI PARTIZAN - BULLET - 7.62X39 (.310) 123GR PSP.
Will load 20 with CFE BLK and 20 with BL-C(2)
Now just to decided what to do for loading.
The Hodgdon site only has 125 gr projectile weights. CFE BLK 27.5 - 29.7 gr BL-C(2) 30.0 -31.5 gr
Suppose I could chrono groups of 3 of each charge weight and look for some speed nodes. Am I looking for about 2300 fps?
CFE BLK 28.0, 28.5, 29.0, 29.5, 30.0
BL-C(2) 30.0, 30.5, 31.0, 31.5, 32.0

That's kinda the plan unless you folk have better suggestions.

 

[mb571]

PRVI PARTIZAN - BULLET - 7.62X39 (.310) 123GR PSP.
CFE BLK 28.0, 28.5, 29.0, 29.5, 30.0

I started reloading tonight. There doesn't seem to a great deal of neck tension.
What is the experience you folk have had with crimping? Is it necessary for a semi-auto like the SKS?

 

[350 Mag]

I use Lee FCD on the Hornady SSTs as they have a cannelure.

 

[LawrenceN]

yes rl7 is a great powder for the little 7.62x39 ...

I tried a lot of different powders in my attempt to find the best accuracy for my Howa. I wanted a bullet with good knock-down power for deer and the ability to place my shot with confidence. I tried different factory ammo (PPU, Federal, etc). and different bullet/powder combinations. I get acceptable accuracy with 123 gr. Interlocks, but both my Howa and my brother's CZ absolutely love the 123 Gr. Hornady Z-Max or SST on top of 25.5 Gr. Reloader 7.

 

[bibatoad]

AA1680 is probably the best powder for this cartridge, volume is correct and ballistics are dead on with factory ammo.

 

[saskcop]

Got mail during the week with dies and pills. Processed 200 brass cases. Resized, trimmed, tumbled. Primed 40.
Got my PRVI PARTIZAN - BULLET - 7.62X39 (.310) 123GR PSP.
Will load 20 with CFE BLK and 20 with BL-C(2)
Now just to decided what to do for loading.
The Hodgdon site only has 125 gr projectile weights. CFE BLK 27.5 - 29.7 gr BL-C(2) 30.0 -31.5 gr
Suppose I could chrono groups of 3 of each charge weight and look for some speed nodes. Am I looking for about 2300 fps?
CFE BLK 28.0, 28.5, 29.0, 29.5, 30.0
BL-C(2) 30.0, 30.5, 31.0, 31.5, 32.0

That's kinda the plan unless you folk have better suggestions.

Something tells me that BL-C2 won't touch the CFE BLK for velocity.

 

[mbogo3]

I started reloading tonight. There doesn't seem to a great deal of neck tension.
What is the experience you folk have had with crimping? Is it necessary for a semi-auto like the SKS?

What dies are you using and did you FL size your new brass first along with inside/outside chamfering? Hornady dies come with two expander buttons .308 + .310

 

[jethunter]

I started reloading tonight. There doesn't seem to a great deal of neck tension.
What is the experience you folk have had with crimping? Is it necessary for a semi-auto like the SKS?

.310" bullets with a .310" expander might be a poor mix. Try the .308" expander button if you have it.

 

[4fifty8]

Interesting round to handload. Lee 7.62 x 39 die set includes 2 expanders using .308 expander for .308 or .310 projectiles. Accuracy ok using .308 in my .310 groove diameter barrel.

 

[ReverendX]

Personally I don't reload for my SKS as surplus ammo is still way cheaper than what I can reload for.

I do reload for my CZ 527. 123gr Hornady SSTs and I cant recall the powder charge. It was in the Tenth Edition Hornady Reloading manual though..

I did pull a bunch of FMJ bullets off some Chinese Surplus ammo and used the projectiles on some hand loaded brass. I use these as my 527 plinking ammo. .311 123gr FMJs are decently accurate.

 

[VICIOUS]

Hi; Bought some Geco brass cased FMJ ammo. These shot poorly so pulled the FMJ bullet and sold them, replaced with Hornady 123 grain SST bullet. Brass reloaded well after sizing and trim to length, 1.518. Using Federal primers and IMR 4198. NOTE; IMR4198 is NOT the same as H 4198 from Hodgen.

 

[mbogo3]

Many times .308 sized bullets work just fine in a .310 barrel.I've used them in 150gr SP loads in both an SKS and a CZ527 carbine.Deer nor paper could tell the difference.

 

[jethunter]

Hi; Bought some Geco brass cased FMJ ammo. These shot poorly so pulled the FMJ bullet and sold them, replaced with Hornady 123 grain SST bullet. Brass reloaded well after sizing and trim to length, 1.518. Using Federal primers and IMR 4198. NOTE; IMR4198 is NOT the same as H 4198 from Hodgen.

Not only IMR4198 and H4198, also D4198 available and yes, they are all different and data is not interchangeable even though they are similar. The same is true of the various brands of 4350, 4064, 4895, 4831, 8208, 5744 - each of which are made by at least 2 different sources and require separate load data.

So I'm not the only one who has trouble spelling Hodgdon, I struggle with it and I still get it wrong half the time.