anyone reload 7.62x39 ?

locknload45

locknload45

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Hi guys
I am really interested in reloading for my SKS due to the fact I need lead core ammo all the milsurp around here
is steel core ,can't shoot that at the indoor range for obvious reasons so stocking up on it is useless
does anyone know
where to get brass ? Got the lead coming from trade x but can't find brass in canada
as well what primers have you found work the best?
thanks for reading
 
The majority (99.999999999999)% of the brass on the ground is both steel cases and berdan primed.

Making it nearly useless to reload. Berdan primers can be reloaded, but not as easily. Just not worth the effort in my opinion.

I got my 7.62X39 brass (partizan) from a guy in fairview Alberta. I dont have his info with me at this time.
 
I have been^picking up reloadable brass at outdoor ranges Have a hundred or more. Good for a bit of plinking without the major cleaning required with corrosive milsurp
 
luke s said:
You can always pull the bullets and re seat with normal fmj
Click to expand...

This might be the economical route if you're just looking to make up a couple boxes of hunting rounds. You might be able to gain a slight accuracy increase by weighing the powder charges and evening them out too.
 
Bruno at Bulleseye in Fairview AB sells brass.

7.62x39 is an incredible round to reload giving excellent results in single shot and bolt action rifles.
One does not reload 7.62 x 39 for the sake of economy but one does reload it to get the utmost out of a rifle.

The attitude at gun stores is interesting too. Mention you reload 7.62x39 and you get the question "why?"
The answer, because factory ammo does not do what I want it to...

And there are other rifles out there other than the SKS that can give excellent accuracy with hand loads.
If I was going to shoot cheap I would shoot steel case surplus....

A subsonic cast bullet of 200 grains would be a very interesting bullet to shoot indeed.
 
I loaded 5 rounds of 7.62 x 39 using PRVI Partisan brass from Budget Shooters Supply. I bought Hornady projectiles. Primers, well that answer is a bit silly. The only ones I had were benchrest primers. All this made for pricey loads. I haven't shot them yet as I want to Chrony them so I can get an idea where they landed. These were loaded at starting loads for H322 powder. I don't have my data handy. I'll update after I shoot/measure them. Why do I reload them? Why not? I do like the idea of just pulling milsurp ammo and putting different projectiles in them. I wonder how the steel cases will be on my dies? I have a couple hundred of the brass. I just need to try to retrieve it when I shoot. Should be easy. Not too much brass 7.62 x39 where I shoot.
 
Well said!

10x said:
Bruno at Bulleseye in Fairview AB sells brass.

7.62x39 is an incredible round to reload giving excellent results in single shot and bolt action rifles.
One does not reload 7.62 x 39 for the sake of economy but one does reload it to get the utmost out of a rifle.

The attitude at gun stores is interesting too. Mention you reload 7.62x39 and you get the question "why?"
The answer, because factory ammo does not do what I want it to...

And there are other rifles out there other than the SKS that can give excellent accuracy with hand loads.
If I was going to shoot cheap I would shoot steel case surplus....

A subsonic cast bullet of 200 grains would be a very interesting bullet to shoot indeed.
Click to expand...


I have been doing all that for years now! Its a great little round to reload!
People also tend to forget the the 7.62x39 is the parent case of the most accurate/decorated, short range benchrest cartridge ever developed. The 6mmPPC.

I am shooting 200grain #311299 cast bullets from my ruger M77 Hawkeye.
I replaced the magazine well, follower, and spring from 7.62x39 size to .308win size.
Now I can load the heavy cast or 150 grain jacketed to rest against the rifling "AND" function through the magazine normally.
Its truely amazing how well this little case, a 200grain cast bullet, and a charge of a slower powder like varget performs!
I dont have my records handy, but the accuracy was around 1.25MOA at 100yds.

The 7.62x39 is a fun/practical cartridge to reload for, "if" you shoot a single shot or bolt rifle.
 
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I ran a test once on handloads vs the various flavours of milsurp and new production ammo. Top row is handloads. All are under an inch.

ammotest10rnds2.jpg
 
I have been reloading the x39 round for years. 220gn Sierra bullet, 4.5gns Unique. Nice subsonic (870fps) round that will not cycle the action of the SKS but will kill a deer at 25yds (don't ask).
Using surplus ammo, I made actual "Bear Deterrant" rounds use a 174gn Hornady jacketed bullet simply pull the bullet, (I pulled 10 bullets, dumped all the powder in the pan and weighed it, divided by 10 for an avg, deducted 5gns because I figured that was more than enough and worked up from there to get 3gn less than the original avg), then charged all cases with the new weight, seat the jacketed bullet, and fired from my SKS. Chronied at almost 2000fps and all within an inch at 50yds.

I have been "mexican matching" bullets for the SKS for years. Too hard to find brass in the bush, rifle too hard on the brass, etc. Several deer taken with the SKS and 123gn bullets (I still use the same process to determine the avg load, reduce and work up from there, and re-use the original bullet until I determine my best load. Then I simply make up a batch with those specs and a hunting bullet, sight it in, and go hunting.
Now I use a 150gn bullet for better effect in my bolt guns, and they are reloads on a brass case. I have some (30) Remington cases that use a small rifle primer, but most of my new cases are Winchester I bought from Wholesale years ago. Lots of "once-fired" cases I picked up of various brands and I bought 200 PRVI rounds for the brass. Since I bought them for the brass, I just pull the tips while pointing at animals, so they don't get wasted.
 
"...pick it up after themselves..." Kids or kid-like adults who think their mommy folows them around cleaning up after them. These rectal orifi are the direct result of Trudeau the Elder's 'cradle to grave' socialist government policies. They think it's somebody else's job.
"...Got the lead coming..." Best to buy components locally. Shipping cost will negate and savings found on-line. Make sure it's .311" diameter and not .308". Brass shouldn't be terribly hard to find. Rummage around the site sponsor pages.
 
So far my limited experiences reloading for SKS have mirrored other opinions found online... here and elsewhere. It seems to beat up the brass a little much.
(Yes, I've done the gas tube mod, drilled out for less violent ejection. Yes, I've done the ejection window mod for more consistent ejection direction. Still beats it up on the case head and side of the casing).

I've turned to Mexican matching using non-corrosive for my SKS. I've found the Chinese copper washed non-corrosive I bought a couple of years ago to be quite consistent for velocity, so I don't even bother equalizing the powder loads. I just yank bullets using my Lee press and a pair of side cutters, seat a new bullet and crimp it in. (The steel core FMJs won't be resused anyways, so it saves time not having to funnel the powder back in, since I'm not equalizing it anyways). I put a live round on the shell holder, push the press handle down until the bullet protrudes over the top of the press, grab the bullet with the side cutters and then cycle the handle up. Bullet yanked, charged case remains. I keep a spare breech lock bushing for this process to prevent any marring of the aluminum press frame by the side cutters.

I'm planning on building a bolt action Savage with a .310 barrel and 3-9x40 scope, which I will reload for with brass casings and Reloder 7.

I do know some people avoid beating up the brass by pulling the gas piston and operating the SKS as a straight-pull bolt action. Haven't tried that myself, but with the general rarity of 7.62x39 bolt actions, it seems like it might be a good idea. However, my wants for a 7.62x39 include a 22" barrel, detachable mag and standard scope mounting options, these things aren't offered by the SKS, unfortunately.

Not trying to discourage you (I own an SKS and love it), just sharing my experiences; and quite frankly I was a little disappointed with how beat up the brass got even after just one shot. One of those things that you might not think about until you try it.

HTH
 
When you build th bolt rifle, use a 308 barrel with a throat long enough to handle 155 match bullets. This throat will digest the milsurp bullets just fine.

Here is mine. I used an old 308 match barrel and a 788 action.

ammotestsetup.jpg


Savage makes a bolt head for the 7.62x39, so that is a bonus.
 
A question-I have a Rem. 788 in .243, is it the triple locking lugs that attracted you for your build?


Ganderite said:
When you build th bolt rifle, use a 308 barrel with a throat long enough to handle 155 match bullets. This throat will digest the milsurp bullets just fine.

Here is mine. I used an old 308 match barrel and a 788 action.

ammotestsetup.jpg


Savage makes a bolt head for the 7.62x39, so that is a bonus.
Click to expand...
 
The rifle was used as a 308 F-class rifle (very accurate). I built a pair of them for my kids to shoot. They worked well. What attracted me to using 788 actions was that they were best suited for accuracy. A single stack magazine meant a small opening on the bottom = more bedding space. A short stiff action and very fast lock time.

All I had to do was cut off the 308 chamber and re-chamber in 7.62x39 match. I use it mostly as a ammo test rifle.

The 22-250 magazine is the correct size to cycle the 7.62x39 round.
 
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