Making surplus 7.62X39 into HP

Striker33

Striker33

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Location
Central Alberta
Hey guys, I searched this and came up empty, sorry if this is a repost. I have been buying my surplus cheap, and stacking it deep. Now I was looking at getting some hunting rounds for my JW-103. I don't expect this to ever become my primary hunting rifle, but I wanted cheap hunting rounds. I was looking at the LCW HP at canada ammo, but I only need about 100 rounds. So I was wondering if anyone has Hp'd their surplus stuff? I tested 40 rounds of the Norinco copper washed, and 20 rounds of the Sellier & Bellot stuff. I filled down the tips until I started to see the inner core, then I took a 1/16 drill bit and drilled out about a mm until I hit the softer core. They are seem fairly consistent, and I hope they would be adequate in a SHTF situation for hunting. I would like to test expansion, but I am not sure the best way to do this.

I guess what I am asking is.... Has anyone else done this? How were your results? I am not expecting phenomenal accuracy, but I would hope to have 4-5 MOA at least. I worry that these things will break up on impact though. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
 
There is the risk that the core will squirt through the opened nose, leaving the jacket behind in the bore. The next shot will result in a bulged or burst barrel.
Hollow and soft point bullets have a jacket that covers the base of the bullet. FMJ rounds are open at the base.
You may or may not experience a catastrophic failure; it is your decision if you want to risk it.
 
otherwise, pull the bullets and replace it with a soft point bullet after combining the powder from all the rounds you pull and dividing by the amount you pull. eg. 10 rounds pulled gives you 450gr of powder, each round would get 45gr of powder.

you can do it with minimal tools, but it's quicker to already be setup for reloading.
 
Thanks for the responses. I personally reload my own 308 for hunting. I was thinking more of a SHTF/ extreme ammo shortage situation. I was curious about performance. If this has the potential for catastrophic failure I am not interested. I was thinking hoping that if things got bad I could fall back on these, but I guess not! I have read about Mexican reloads, but it seems like more work than it is worth.
 
"adequate in a shtf situation, for hunting", so would a couple boxes of good commercial ammo. ;)

$90 will get you 3 boxes of Federal Fusion 123 sp. By the numbers, they're the round to beat, for hunting with x39.
 
Or go the "mexican match" approach.

Seat the existing projectile a bit deeper to crack any sealant.
Collet puller to remove the old projectile
Seat a replacement expanding projectile.

If there isn't enough neck tension, use a collet neck-only die with the mandrel pulled,
or use a crimp die when seating the new projectile.

ht tps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-0Tm0eVPpg - partial explanation.
 
As long as you have a solid base, you are good to go. Otherwise take tiriaq's warning to heart. I have seen more than one bulged barrel on Lee Enfields and Mausers from doing what you suggest.

The problem with a lot of 7.62x39 surplus is that is has steel cores.
 
Mexican Match is your way to go. I have mex matched or loaded tons of stuff with the little 7.62x39mm round. 220gn Sierra Game Kings, 7gn Unique, ~900fps. 125gn Game Kings, original powder (just avg weighed), 2400+fps. 150gn Hornady Interlocks, original powder charge -2gns, ~2300fps. 174gn Hornady interlocks (reduced original powder charge), ~1970fps .

This is not nitroglycerin and needs to be handled delicately. I have done this with 7.62X 54R as well as 7.62x 51mm.
 
bearhunter said:
As long as you have a solid base, you are good to go. Otherwise take tiriaq's warning to heart. I have seen more than one bulged barrel on Lee Enfields and Mausers from doing what you suggest.

The problem with a lot of 7.62x39 surplus is that is has steel cores.
Click to expand...

That part. The vast majority of our 7.62x39 surplus is Steel Jacket, Steel Core ammo. No amount of hollow point will make these effective or ethical hunting rounds. Don't be a cheap ass and just buy some proper SP/HP rounds.
 
tiriaq said:
There is the risk that the core will squirt through the opened nose, leaving the jacket behind in the bore. The next shot will result in a bulged or burst barrel.
Hollow and soft point bullets have a jacket that covers the base of the bullet. FMJ rounds are open at the base.
You may or may not experience a catastrophic failure; it is your decision if you want to risk it.
Click to expand...

Ellwood Epps store has (or had) a display of burst barrels. At least one of them (303 British) was from a separated jacket where someone tried to "make" a hollowpoint.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom