A Few 7.62x39 Reloading Newb Questions

wjcbsr

wjcbsr

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Edmonton, AB.
I shoot over the winter at a local indoor range. They don't like any ammo that sticks to a magnet for any reason. Case or projectile, if it's got steel in it no-go. Even my local outdoor range has recently banned any steel-core projectiles :-(

I have a dillon 650xl and a lee single stage and reload .45ACP, 9mm, 44mag and 30-30 already.

I've been considering trying to reload some 7.62x39.

Does it make sense? Where would someone get brass? What dies should I get? Is there anyone out there in CGN that does this already that can give me some pointers?

...and yes, I already know it's cheaper to buy and shoot milsurp...

Thanks in advance,

Bill
 
If you reload 7.62x39 make sure you use .312 diameter projectiles and not .308, or you might run into some minor accuracy issues ;)

Otherwise, I'm not sure if any of the dealers carry Golden Bear, but it's Russian made brass cased soft point 7.62x39 and should be available for fairly cheap, though maybe not as cheap as mil-surp.
 
Hirsch Precision, and Prophet River, both sponsors, carry high quality Lapua brass. A bit more expensive than the others, but your going to get way more reloads from it, so cheaper in the long run.
 
Paladin308 said:
If you reload 7.62x39 make sure you use .312 diameter projectiles and not .308, or you might run into some minor accuracy issues ;)
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.312" are a tad big. Most 7.62x39 rifles are meant to take .310" bullets. The .312" are usually for .303 British or worn out 7.62x54R rifles. I've never heard of .312" bullets coming in the usual 7.62x39 weight of 125gr either; just the .310" ones.

thump_rrr said:
I use RCBS dies because they come with 2 expander balls. .308 and .310.
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The Lee dies I just got also come with 2 expanders.

tjsudbury said:
Hirsch Precision, and Prophet River, both sponsors, carry high quality Lapua brass. A bit more expensive than the others, but your going to get way more reloads from it, so cheaper in the long run.
Click to expand...
Lapua brass is more consistent in weight and thickness. I haven't heard of them being more durable without the normal care (neck sizing, annealing, etc.) Out of a milsurp semi like an SKS they will get beaten to crap like any other brand. OP never mentioned rifle type but since he mentions shooting milsurp I kind of assume it's an SKS and not something like a CZ527 bolt action. I'd see Lapua brass as a huge waste in an SKS and would go with the cheapest brass I could find. It's going to get overexpanded and beaten up no matter what brand.
 
LUTNIT said:
.312" are a tad big. Most 7.62x39 rifles are meant to take .310" bullets. The .312" are usually for .303 British or worn out 7.62x54R rifles. I've never heard of .312" bullets coming in the usual 7.62x39 weight of 125gr either; just the .310" ones.


The Lee dies I just got also come with 2 expanders.


Lapua brass is more consistent in weight and thickness. I haven't heard of them being more durable without the normal care (neck sizing, annealing, etc.) Out of a milsurp semi like an SKS they will get beaten to crap like any other brand. OP never mentioned rifle type but since he mentions shooting milsurp I kind of assume it's an SKS and not something like a CZ527 bolt action. I'd see Lapua brass as a huge waste in an SKS and would go with the cheapest brass I could find. It's going to get overexpanded and beaten up no matter what brand.
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My SKS doesn't leave any marks at all on my brass.
I guess I'm just lucky.

If you're shooting at an indoor range you probably aren't the only one shooting non metalic 7.62x39.
I'm sure with a little scrounging you can find some boxer primed brass.

At our club 7.62x39 non metalic sells for around $10.00/20 so maybe buying a few boxes to keep the brass may not be a bad way to go.
 
I load Sierra .311/150gr for deer with 21 gr of IMR 4198 ..............very accurate ...........no problems........Harold
 
LUTNIT said:
.312" are a tad big. Most 7.62x39 rifles are meant to take .310" bullets. The .312" are usually for .303 British or worn out 7.62x54R rifles. I've never heard of .312" bullets coming in the usual 7.62x39 weight of 125gr either; just the .310" ones.
Click to expand...

mbogo3 said:
I load Sierra .311/150gr for deer with 21 gr of IMR 4198 ..............very accurate ...........no problems........Harold
Click to expand...

I also load 150gn .311 for deer and I also load 174gn RN Hornady for close bear hunting. No accuracy problems, no problems at all.
 
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