Hard time getting any accuracy out 7.62x39 reloads

[deadlydelta]

I am having the hardest time getting any accuracy out my 7.62x39 reloads out of my Howa 1500
I am using mixed brass with CFE Black 28.5 grs & then 26.5 grs with berry's 123 gr bullets at 2.15 oal
The rounds are hitting all over the place.
I put up a paper target and i just able to hit the paper in 5 shots at 50 yards.
Hell Suplus ammo i can get 1 inch group at 50 yards without even trying.
What im i doing wrong?

 

[Unholysavage]

What diameter bullets are you running in your handloads? The x39 needs .310-.312 bullets, running .308 bullets have been known to hurt accuracy.

 

[deadlydelta]

What diameter bullets are you running in your handloads? The x39 needs .310-.312 bullets, running .308 bullets have been known to hurt accuracy.

The berry's bullets im using are .311 and there specifically made for 7.62x39.
So im kinda lost on what im doing wrong.
Good question tho.

 

[pipeliner]

Have you made any changes to the optic on the rifle? When bullets start scattering like that I often suspect the mount or rings being loose.

To test the mount, fire 5 shots at 50 with surplus. If those are scattering you’ll know why.

Other than that, are you running your brass through a resizing die?

 

[mbogo3]

Ditch the plated bullets and get regular jacketed .310 bullets. I get under 1/2" groups at 100 yards with PRIVI brass, Fed mag primer ,25.5gr of H4198 and a 123gr PRIVI SP.Mag primers reduced the groups 50% believe it or not. RE#7 is also good consult your manual for data.I am using a CZ527 carbine BTW.

 

[B]

I would also be inclined to blame the bullet. I have pushed plated Campro bullets pretty fast but Berry's seem to have issues.

 

[mbogo3]

Berry's have thinner plating than Cam-Pro. Plinking fine but target bullets NIMO.

 

[B]

Berry's have thinner plating than Cam-Pro. Plinking fine but target bullets NIMO.

Pretty sure their x39 bullet is .008", which is the same as Campro.

 

[howard2]

Try hornandy or berger bullets. As most are used to the level of accuracy from surplus ammo, it is surprising (to me) how well one can make quality handload. Good bolt action rifles available these days make this caliber a great contender for a lot of medium game hunting.

 

[Tyler]

I've had no luck with low cost bulk bullets that weren't for pistols. So I'm for ditching the plated bullets as well.

Why spend the time reloading manually, while using sub-par components? It guarantees poor performance.

 

[deadlydelta]

I've had no luck with low cost bulk bullets that weren't for pistols. So I'm for ditching the plated bullets as well.

Why spend the time reloading manually, while using sub-par components? It guarantees poor performance.

I had really good luck and accuracy with campro 9mm & 223 bullets. Have you try campro?

 

[Ganderite]

I am having the hardest time getting any accuracy out my 7.62x39 reloads out of my Howa 1500
I am using mixed brass with CFE Black 28.5 grs & then 26.5 grs with berry's 123 gr bullets at 2.15 oal
The rounds are hitting all over the place.
I put up a paper target and i just able to hit the paper in 5 shots at 50 yards.
Hell Suplus ammo i can get 1 inch group at 50 yards without even trying.
What im i doing wrong?

2 things:

A light bullet and a ball powder is an ignition problem. Use a magnum primer, BUT

If the Berry's bullet is plated (not jacketed) you are diving them way to fast. I am surprised you can hit apper.

Try loading them with 10 gr of shotgun powder. They will probably plink well.

 

[B]

Plated does not necessarily mean you need to keep velocity low. I have fired thousands and thousands of 2000+fps rounds using Campro plated bullets. Accuracy was fine and no issues at all really. Your concern should be centered on pressure because that is what is going to cause stripping of the plating and piss poor accuracy.

Velocity and pressure are often hand in hand so plenty of "experts" give their unfounded opinions. The velocity figures given by some manufacturers are simply to avoid a million emails from guys asking if their load is gonna be ok.

A quick Google search shows plenty of people doing just fine with proper loads and this bullet, I even found a guy who could barely spell but apparently loves them in his Howa. The OP's problem may be the bullet, it likely is, but just saying he's pushing them too fast is a fallacy.

 

[Deathrawt]

I use 32gr of H335 in my 7.62x39 reloads with a hornady sst and they work really good

 

[boxhitch]

I am having the hardest time getting any accuracy out my 7.62x39 reloads out of my Howa 1500
I am using mixed brass with CFE Black 28.5 grs & then 26.5 grs with berry's 123 gr bullets at 2.15 oal
The rounds are hitting all over the place.
I put up a paper target and i just able to hit the paper in 5 shots at 50 yards.
Hell Suplus ammo i can get 1 inch group at 50 yards without even trying.
What im i doing wrong?

Picking a single powder load and expecting it to work

 

[bearhunter]

My Howa 1500 was finicky with CFEBLK as well.

Nothing like you write about though.

I'm using Hornaday cases

I load mine with three different bullets. Two are .310 and one is .312 diameter.

The .310 diameter bullets are 130 grain spire point, flat base,fmj made for the SKS bores

The 123 grain SST also has .310 diameter

The 150 grain has a .312 diameter, spire point, flat base, soft nose.

These are my loads, loaded as long as the magazine will allow.

130grain fmj over 31.0 CFEBLK, over CCI250 primers = 2600fps. This was the best load for this bullet, around 1.5 moa with the odd unexplained flyer

150grain soft nose over 25.7 CFE BLK, over CCI250 primers = 2200fps. This was the best load for this bullet at slightly over 1moa, no flyers that weren't my fault.

I was hoping for better so went with REL7

123 SST over 30.0 REL7, over CCI250 primers = 2570fps. This load was the most accurate of all. 20 rounds into just under 1 moa at 100yds.

150 .312 flat base soft nose over 25.5 REL7, over CCI250 primers = 2400fps. This load put 20 rounds into 1.5moa at 100yds.

Also tried the 123, .310 diameter SST bullet over 28.5 AA1680, over CCI250 primers =2600fps. This load put 20 rounds into 2.1moa at 100yds.

The Howa action is very strong. You can load the 7.62x39 to higher pressures than you can for the SKS.

All of my loads listed are well over the maximum listed in most manuals for rifles such as the SKS.

I'm not going to recommend that you use them for your rifle.

They are safe in my rifle, without any visible pressure signs. Work up your own loads carefully as I did to get these.

I did try some .308 diameter 125 grain Speer flat base, soft point bullets in my rifle and accuracy was not acceptable, but not as bad as you indicate.

 

[WhelanLad]

im using AR2207 orrrr h4198? from memory.... with a 150gr speer....... sweet accuracy no dramas

 

[mbogo3]

Try hornandy or berger bullets. As most are used to the level of accuracy from surplus ammo, it is surprising (to me) how well one can make quality handload. Good bolt action rifles available these days make this caliber a great contender for a lot of medium game hunting.

Moose drop dead as well.Stay away from the shoulders.

 

[4fifty8]

Probably exceeding maximum 2400 fps mv with that charge of CFE: "Don’t exceed the recommended maximum velocities listed. This creates bullet core separation and accuracy issues."

https://www.berrysmfg.com/product/bp-762x39-312-123gr-sp

Plated about half the cost of jacketed: https://budgetshootersupply.ca/product/prvi-bullet-7-62x39-310-123gr-psp-100-bag/ / https://www.westernmetal.ca/product...-spire-point-berrys-mfg-bag-of-1000-bb-00159/

Fun to reload 7.62x39 I get 2700 fps mv with 130gr from my Ruger No.1. https://i.imgur.com/EFU8lcg.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/wuZ7Bso.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/wAdZdiM.jpg

 

[B]

Again, pressure is the issue in this realm not velocity. I have confirmed it myself with .300BLK and .308W. Very easy to figure out by simply using same load through a gun with a shorter barrel. Drop 400fps but still can't hit paper, it's clearly not the velocity.