Another good article by Mr. Harris. Worth making a sticky for guys shooting and reloading for these rifles.
Take Care
Bob
Practical Dope on the 7.62x39
By C.E. Harris—Updated 3-27-94
I have reloaded thousands of rounds of 7.62X39 ammunition with both cast
bullets and jacketed, in the AK and the SKS. I got frustrated with the AK as
accuracy of these seems is generally poor, at best about 5-6" at 100 yards.
The SKS is more reasonable, about 3-4" and is still a real bargain these days.
Most SKS rifles group better with cast bullets than they do with ball
ammunition. If you are new to cast bullet shooting or not inclined to do a lot
of experimenting, I recommend 14.5-15.5 grs. of Hercules #2400 with the
Lee .312-155-2R bullet, cast of wheel weights and sized .312". With this load
the rifle functions like the proverbial pony trotting, and dumps the cases right
at your feet! You can also try 18-21 grs. of 4198 or 16-18 grs. of 4227 with
any bullet from 122-125 grs.
The gas ports on these guns are larger than they need to be for reliable
functioning. Lead fouling of the gas port is not a problem, but the gas piston
and cylinder will foul, which can affect functioning if neglected. The gas
piston should be removed and cleaned with Break Free, Marvel Mystery Oil or
Dexron IIe ATF and 000 steel wool after each use, and the gas cylinder
scrubbed with a shotgun bore brush. Liberally lubricating with Break Free,
Marvel Mystery Oil or Dexron prior to reassembly eases the fouling problem.
You can fire several hundred rounds between cleanings if you avoid super
heating the rifle with rapid fire so that the barrel becomes too hot to hold in
the bare hand. If you do so, and let the rifle cool without stripping and
cleaning it immediately it will be difficult to disassemble!
I have not found lead fouling to be a problem in ordinary National Match
Course style firing, but only in factory endurance tests of the Ruger Mini
Thirty when I was at Ruger.
Ruger does not recommend handloads of any type. Therefore, they don't
recommend cast bullets at all. However, in my experience cast loads about 1
grain heavier than the minimum which cycle an SKS or AK will work in the
Ruger. These pose no real functional problem as long as the gas piston and
its recess in the slide handle are kept clean and well lubricated. The only
common cast bullet designs which are correct for the my original NEI designs
for this caliber and the Lee .312-155-2R and TL.312-160-2R. The latter two
are adaptations of my original NEI design with minor changes to suit Lee's
manufacturing process, and to change the appearance slightly so the Lee
version would have a distinct "product identity." Now that NEI is back in
business (51583 Columbia River Hwy., Scappoose, OR 97056) Walt Melander
can provide my original 52A design with its 1-1/2-degree tapered forepart or
a stepped-diameter design similar to Lee's adaption, but with a blunter nose
shape which is better for hunting. Accuracy-wise there is no difference
between them.
I designed these bullets with the intent to have the heaviest bullet which
could be loaded without the GC poking into the powder space, and which
would be big enough on the forepart to fill the large throats on the AK and
SKS, as well as in the 7.62x54R Russian, .303 British, 7.65 Argentine, 7.7
Jap, etc.
Use of a heavier bullet is also better suited for the typical 10-inch twist rates
of 7.62x39 barrels. These bullets have only one grease groove, (which is
enough) and a substantial crimp groove .26" from the base. The rear driving
band casts .312", the front band .310" and the forepart ahead of the crimp
groove is .308." The ogival radius starts from this point in order to maximize
bearing length.
These bullets have proven very accurate in a variety of military rifles for
target work at up to 200 yards. They out shoots ball ammo in the SKS or AK
with any reasonable load. In a bolt- action target rifle they are capable of 1-
1/4" 10-shot groups at 100 yards, and in a 2-groove 03A3 Springfield or
M1917 Enfield they average around 2 moa ten-shot groups at 200 yards with
iron sights, with refined loads.
I use 1 part of linotype to five parts of wheel weight metal for competition in
my .30-'06 M1917 Enfield and M1903 Springfields up to 200 yards with 16
grs. of #2400, 20 grs. of 4227, 13 grs. of Red Dot or 12 grs. of 700-X.
Accuracy of these light cast bullet loads is far better than Ball M2 service
ammunition. I use the same charges in the .303 British and 7.62x54R
Russian as well. I fill the grease grooves with 50-50 Alox beeswax (Lee
brand) then tumble Lee Liquid Alox on for a light golden overcoat. These
loads don't lead for continuous use over the National Match Course, even
over double-strings of rapid-fire.
Above 1800 f.p.s. I use the same alloy, but cast the bullets "hot" until they
are uniformly frosted, then quench them directly from the mould. The heattreated,
double-lubed bullets will stand 2000 fps. in wheelweight alloy
without leading, if shot straight from the mould without sizing, being GC'ed
in a .313" die. A caseful (28 grs.) of Accurate 2230, 2460, or H335 gives
around 2000 f.p.s. in the 7.62x39.
Accurate Arms 1680 is very similar to the Olin 680 Ball powder, though
slightly slower. Both of these powders are used in 7.62x39 ball ammunition,
with a charge of 24 grs. being correct for service velocities with 123-gr.
jacketed bullets using the Accurate-IMI propellant, and 23 grs. for the
slightly faster Olin powder. For a full-power load approximating service
ammunition you can also use 26.5 grs. of RL-7 or 25.0 grs. of IMR or H4198.
With cast bullets the minimum load with 1680 which functions the SKS with
the Lee .312-155-2R is 16 grs. In the SKS this produces about 1420 f.p.s.
and 3" groups at 100 yds.; 18 grs. gives 1630 f.p.s. and 4" groups in the
SKS. I did two strings with the Olin 680 for comparison with the NEI 155-gr.
cast bullet at 18 and 19 grs., respectively, which gave 1810 and 1930 f.p.s. I
would not exceed 19 grs. of Olin 680, or 20 grs. of Accurate 1680 with the
155-gr. cast bullet, as these are both full loads.
The following tables provide additional test data on the 7.62x39.
Jacketed bullet handloads for 7.62x39- Lapua cases, Fed. 210 primers, Ctg.
OAL 2.19" from CEH article in Handloader's Digest 12th. Edition, 1990,
p.125.
20" P/V on Univ. Receiver. Vel. 24" Sako
123-gr. FMJ
24.5 H4198 2264 fps 48,170 cup 2377 ;
26.5 RL-7 2325 fps 52,000 cup 2451 ;
28.0 H322 2180 fps 42,300 cup 2287 ;
150-gr. SP 28.5 BLC2 2030 fps 40,000 cup 2140 ;
23.0 RL-7 2050 fps 52,000 cup 2162 ;
Accurate Arms 4th Edition for 7.62x39, SKS with 20.5" barrel
START MAXIMUM ;
123-gr. FMJ
24.0 A1680 2233 fps
26.5 A1680 2350 fps
26.5 A2230 1840 fps
29.5 A2230 2086 fps
PS Ball for comparison, velocities from SKS with 20.5" barrel Chicom 101-71 2415, 11 Sd East German 04-77 2448, 11 Sd
Take Care
Bob
Practical Dope on the 7.62x39
By C.E. Harris—Updated 3-27-94
I have reloaded thousands of rounds of 7.62X39 ammunition with both cast
bullets and jacketed, in the AK and the SKS. I got frustrated with the AK as
accuracy of these seems is generally poor, at best about 5-6" at 100 yards.
The SKS is more reasonable, about 3-4" and is still a real bargain these days.
Most SKS rifles group better with cast bullets than they do with ball
ammunition. If you are new to cast bullet shooting or not inclined to do a lot
of experimenting, I recommend 14.5-15.5 grs. of Hercules #2400 with the
Lee .312-155-2R bullet, cast of wheel weights and sized .312". With this load
the rifle functions like the proverbial pony trotting, and dumps the cases right
at your feet! You can also try 18-21 grs. of 4198 or 16-18 grs. of 4227 with
any bullet from 122-125 grs.
The gas ports on these guns are larger than they need to be for reliable
functioning. Lead fouling of the gas port is not a problem, but the gas piston
and cylinder will foul, which can affect functioning if neglected. The gas
piston should be removed and cleaned with Break Free, Marvel Mystery Oil or
Dexron IIe ATF and 000 steel wool after each use, and the gas cylinder
scrubbed with a shotgun bore brush. Liberally lubricating with Break Free,
Marvel Mystery Oil or Dexron prior to reassembly eases the fouling problem.
You can fire several hundred rounds between cleanings if you avoid super
heating the rifle with rapid fire so that the barrel becomes too hot to hold in
the bare hand. If you do so, and let the rifle cool without stripping and
cleaning it immediately it will be difficult to disassemble!
I have not found lead fouling to be a problem in ordinary National Match
Course style firing, but only in factory endurance tests of the Ruger Mini
Thirty when I was at Ruger.
Ruger does not recommend handloads of any type. Therefore, they don't
recommend cast bullets at all. However, in my experience cast loads about 1
grain heavier than the minimum which cycle an SKS or AK will work in the
Ruger. These pose no real functional problem as long as the gas piston and
its recess in the slide handle are kept clean and well lubricated. The only
common cast bullet designs which are correct for the my original NEI designs
for this caliber and the Lee .312-155-2R and TL.312-160-2R. The latter two
are adaptations of my original NEI design with minor changes to suit Lee's
manufacturing process, and to change the appearance slightly so the Lee
version would have a distinct "product identity." Now that NEI is back in
business (51583 Columbia River Hwy., Scappoose, OR 97056) Walt Melander
can provide my original 52A design with its 1-1/2-degree tapered forepart or
a stepped-diameter design similar to Lee's adaption, but with a blunter nose
shape which is better for hunting. Accuracy-wise there is no difference
between them.
I designed these bullets with the intent to have the heaviest bullet which
could be loaded without the GC poking into the powder space, and which
would be big enough on the forepart to fill the large throats on the AK and
SKS, as well as in the 7.62x54R Russian, .303 British, 7.65 Argentine, 7.7
Jap, etc.
Use of a heavier bullet is also better suited for the typical 10-inch twist rates
of 7.62x39 barrels. These bullets have only one grease groove, (which is
enough) and a substantial crimp groove .26" from the base. The rear driving
band casts .312", the front band .310" and the forepart ahead of the crimp
groove is .308." The ogival radius starts from this point in order to maximize
bearing length.
These bullets have proven very accurate in a variety of military rifles for
target work at up to 200 yards. They out shoots ball ammo in the SKS or AK
with any reasonable load. In a bolt- action target rifle they are capable of 1-
1/4" 10-shot groups at 100 yards, and in a 2-groove 03A3 Springfield or
M1917 Enfield they average around 2 moa ten-shot groups at 200 yards with
iron sights, with refined loads.
I use 1 part of linotype to five parts of wheel weight metal for competition in
my .30-'06 M1917 Enfield and M1903 Springfields up to 200 yards with 16
grs. of #2400, 20 grs. of 4227, 13 grs. of Red Dot or 12 grs. of 700-X.
Accuracy of these light cast bullet loads is far better than Ball M2 service
ammunition. I use the same charges in the .303 British and 7.62x54R
Russian as well. I fill the grease grooves with 50-50 Alox beeswax (Lee
brand) then tumble Lee Liquid Alox on for a light golden overcoat. These
loads don't lead for continuous use over the National Match Course, even
over double-strings of rapid-fire.
Above 1800 f.p.s. I use the same alloy, but cast the bullets "hot" until they
are uniformly frosted, then quench them directly from the mould. The heattreated,
double-lubed bullets will stand 2000 fps. in wheelweight alloy
without leading, if shot straight from the mould without sizing, being GC'ed
in a .313" die. A caseful (28 grs.) of Accurate 2230, 2460, or H335 gives
around 2000 f.p.s. in the 7.62x39.
Accurate Arms 1680 is very similar to the Olin 680 Ball powder, though
slightly slower. Both of these powders are used in 7.62x39 ball ammunition,
with a charge of 24 grs. being correct for service velocities with 123-gr.
jacketed bullets using the Accurate-IMI propellant, and 23 grs. for the
slightly faster Olin powder. For a full-power load approximating service
ammunition you can also use 26.5 grs. of RL-7 or 25.0 grs. of IMR or H4198.
With cast bullets the minimum load with 1680 which functions the SKS with
the Lee .312-155-2R is 16 grs. In the SKS this produces about 1420 f.p.s.
and 3" groups at 100 yds.; 18 grs. gives 1630 f.p.s. and 4" groups in the
SKS. I did two strings with the Olin 680 for comparison with the NEI 155-gr.
cast bullet at 18 and 19 grs., respectively, which gave 1810 and 1930 f.p.s. I
would not exceed 19 grs. of Olin 680, or 20 grs. of Accurate 1680 with the
155-gr. cast bullet, as these are both full loads.
The following tables provide additional test data on the 7.62x39.
Jacketed bullet handloads for 7.62x39- Lapua cases, Fed. 210 primers, Ctg.
OAL 2.19" from CEH article in Handloader's Digest 12th. Edition, 1990,
p.125.
20" P/V on Univ. Receiver. Vel. 24" Sako
123-gr. FMJ
24.5 H4198 2264 fps 48,170 cup 2377 ;
26.5 RL-7 2325 fps 52,000 cup 2451 ;
28.0 H322 2180 fps 42,300 cup 2287 ;
150-gr. SP 28.5 BLC2 2030 fps 40,000 cup 2140 ;
23.0 RL-7 2050 fps 52,000 cup 2162 ;
Accurate Arms 4th Edition for 7.62x39, SKS with 20.5" barrel
START MAXIMUM ;
123-gr. FMJ
24.0 A1680 2233 fps
26.5 A1680 2350 fps
26.5 A2230 1840 fps
29.5 A2230 2086 fps
PS Ball for comparison, velocities from SKS with 20.5" barrel Chicom 101-71 2415, 11 Sd East German 04-77 2448, 11 Sd
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