M43 7.62x39 Chinese to reload .303 Brit

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Halifax1977

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Hi all,

In an effort to make some mild plinking loads for my no1mk3 I pulled 7.62x39 m43 Chinese surplus and reloaded into .303 s&b cases.
I put 25 grns of the m43 powder and the 123 projectile and cci large rifle primer.
Sized to 2.965 Col.
As a new reloader are these rounds safe to shoot?
Your advice is appreciated.
 
How much powder came out of the x39?

Lots of people do exactly what you talk about without issue. I tend to use x54r to make something closer to the real deal.
 
I have done the 7.62x39 to .303 without issue, makes a nice plinking round. Note if using chargers it can cause them to not feed into the action properly as it doesn't have the OAL required for the magazine to work with the chargers properly.

I have also done the 7.62x54r to .303 British. You should reduce the amount of powder from the 54r as it is a larger case and .303 British isn't generally loaded into the strongest action firearms.
 
Eaglelord17 said:
I have done the 7.62x39 to .303 without issue, makes a nice plinking round. Note if using chargers it can cause them to not feed into the action properly as it doesn't have the OAL required for the magazine to work with the chargers properly.

I have also done the 7.62x54r to .303 British. You should reduce the amount of powder from the 54r as it is a larger case and .303 British isn't generally loaded into the strongest action firearms.
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Thanks
 
There have been several threads on this over the years and it could probably be worthy as a Sticky.

As is usually the case there is lots of "controversy" of course - those who say it makes no sense, the usual "it's dangerous" crowd, and those offended by some who use the term "Mexican Match" for this process.

The discussion seems to gravitate towards this IMO:

- for 7.62X39 to 303 Brit - use the bullet and all of the powder, typically ~ 25.0 grs; and
for 7.62X54R to 303 Brit - use the bullet and some of the powder. The bickering seems to centre on how much to use. My own approach when I do this is to base that on how much powder was in the 7.62X54R case, the weight of the bullet (i.e. 150 or 174 grs) and to use a Chronograph. Close to 100% of the people who want to try this do not own a Chronograph and just want to know how much powder to use. Answers seem to gravitate towards an amount of powder that is typically about 80% of what was in the 7.62X54R case, and a Chronograph reading that depends on the bullet weight, about 2600 fps for a 150 gr bullet and 2400 fps for the 174 gr bullet.
 
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Andy said:
There have been several threads on this over the years and it could probably be worthy as a Sticky.

As is usually the case there is lots of "controversy" of course - those who say it makes no sense, the usual "it's dangerous" crowd, and those offended by some who use the term "Mexican Match" for this process.

The discussion seems to gravitate towards this IMO:

- for 7.62X39 to 303 Brit - use the bullet and all of the powder, typically ~ 25.0 grs; and
for 7.62X54R to 303 Brit - use the bullet and some of the powder. The bickering seems to centre on how much to use. My own approach when I do this is to base that on how much powder was in the 7.62X54R case, the weight of the bullet (i.e. 150 or 174 grs) and to use a Chronograph. Close to 100% of the people who want to try this do not own a Chronograph and just want to know how much powder to use. Answers seem to gravitate towards an amount of powder that is typically about 80% of what was in the 7.62X54R case, and a Chronograph reading that depends on the bullet weight, about 2600 fps for a 150 gr bullet and 2400 fps for the 174 gr bullet.
Click to expand...

Great stuff Andy Thanks
 
Craig0ry said:
Do you swap the full powder charge? I might like to try it
Click to expand...

As Andy pointed out, don't use the whole charge. The last x54r I had came with about 44gr powder. I just use one scoop full, using the dipper that came with my 303 Lee loader, which worked out to 38.something grains. (or about 85% of the x54r powder)

As Andy also pointed out, I'm too poor for a chronograph, so I have no idea how fast they're going.
 
Suther said:
As Andy pointed out, don't use the whole charge. The last x54r I had came with about 44gr powder. I just use one scoop full, using the dipper that came with my 303 Lee loader, which worked out to 38.something grains. (or about 85% of the x54r powder)

As Andy also pointed out, I'm too poor for a chronograph, so I have no idea how fast they're going.
Click to expand...

I also don't have a Chrono, I rely on my buddy who has one, to be honest the milsurps don't make it out much these days, probably haven't shot a round of .303 in 2 years but have plenty sitting around. But I like reloading and have a ton of milsurp ammo so I may tinker around.
 
Ive done quit a few over the years. Had a couple with incomplete burning of powder and ended up with bullets in the bore. Only happened once and it was -15. I blamed it on the cold.
 
Andy said:
There have been several threads on this over the years and it could probably be worthy as a Sticky.

As is usually the case there is lots of "controversy" of course - those who say it makes no sense, the usual "it's dangerous" crowd, and those offended by some who use the term "Mexican Match" for this process.

The discussion seems to gravitate towards this IMO:

- for 7.62X39 to 303 Brit - use the bullet and all of the powder, typically ~ 25.0 grs; and
for 7.62X54R to 303 Brit - use the bullet and some of the powder. The bickering seems to centre on how much to use. My own approach when I do this is to base that on how much powder was in the 7.62X54R case, the weight of the bullet (i.e. 150 or 174 grs) and to use a Chronograph. Close to 100% of the people who want to try this do not own a Chronograph and just want to know how much powder to use. Answers seem to gravitate towards an amount of powder that is typically about 80% of what was in the 7.62X54R case, and a Chronograph reading that depends on the bullet weight, about 2600 fps for a 150 gr bullet and 2400 fps for the 174 gr bullet.
Click to expand...

+1 for making a sticky on Mexican reloads, can't wait to try this
 
They work. I was shooting at 50 metres amd grouped about 3 inch horizontal spread with iron sights.
No extraction problems or feeding issues and a very mild recoils to boot. Now to make 45 more.
Side note. Fpr a 102 year old rifle my no1mk3 worls as well as the day it was made. Amazing.
 
Halifax1977 said:
They work. I was shooting at 50 metres amd grouped about 3 inch horizontal spread with iron sights.
No extraction problems or feeding issues and a very mild recoils to boot. Now to make 45 more.
Side note. Fpr a 102 year old rifle my no1mk3 worls as well as the day it was made. Amazing.
Click to expand...

Awesome! I loaded a few to try this weekend, happy to hear you got some good results. I also put together 10 rounds using some Bulgarian surplus x54r. I'll let everyone know how they shoot.
 
What are you using to pull bullets? (I only have a kinetic puller)
Can you use any surplus 7.62X39 or does it have to be this chinese M43?
I'm heading for the reloading bench------I've never heard of this-----must be my sheltered life!
 
snooker said:
What are you using to pull bullets? (I only have a kinetic puller)
Can you use any surplus 7.62X39 or does it have to be this chinese M43?
I'm heading for the reloading bench------I've never heard of this-----must be my sheltered life!
Click to expand...

Any x39 ammo will work.

I use a kinetic bullet puller. They don't come out easy. I hit my puller on a brick, I started with a 2x4 but it wasn't working very well. I kinda feel like it's going to break every time I go at it, but so far with 160ish pulled down x54r it hasn't broken yet. (mine is by Frankfort arsenal BTW)
 
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