Reloading 7.62x39

[Cmiller82]

Most will think I'm crazy with all the cheap milsurp ammo available, but the problem is it's too cheap and not as accurate as I'd like.

I'm looking for a place near Toronto, or north of it, to get bullets, and brass. Powder should be easy. I'm thinking primers may be an issue depending on the brass...

Any other tips and tricks would be appreciated. I'm not new to reloading, just this caliber.

Thanks.

 

[f55]

Most will think I'm crazy with all the cheap milsurp ammo available, but the problem is it's too cheap and not as accurate as I'd like.

I'm looking for a place near Toronto, or north of it, to get bullets, and brass. Powder should be easy. I'm thinking primers may be an issue depending on the brass...

Any other tips and tricks would be appreciated. I'm not new to reloading, just this caliber.

Thanks.

Try taking suplus pulling the bullets and using hornady v-max see if you accuracy improves before you reload, if its no better then try reloading but brass not cheap for this cal unless you get it from range but then you not sure how many times its been fired

 

[saskcop]

There is just no cheap way to do this caliber. All I can suggest is using PRVI factory ammo and then reloading it. Not sure it will be worth it though as the PRVI stuff is extremely good ammo and reasonably priced for soft points.

 

[Suputin]

Brass is not easy to find. Everything else is easy. However it won't make a difference to the accuracy. I could never get that caliber to shoot decently even in bolt guns.

 

[mkrainc]

I found reloading for the 7.62x39 no different than reloading for the .303. New brass is available, just not every where. The variety of bullets is kind of limited, but it's out there also. Primers are no issue at all. The brass I use, uses large rifle primers. Plus I found it no more expensive than loading for the .303.

A small amount of searching will be nessessary. Instead of looking for a local dealer, try the sponsers on the top of the page. Budget Shooter Supply is a good source for what you're after. He sells the components for reloading and factory loaded ammunition for the 7.62x39, as well as the surplus. Henry is a great guy to deal with and you'll have your supplies at your doorstep.

Accuracy factor? I think alot of accuracy issues with this round are more related to the rifles used to shoot it. There are some shooters here on CGN, that have great accuracy. Search around here on CGN. You'll be mildly surprise. Pay particular attention to their shooting irons.

I'm still experimenting with different guns myself. So far I've totaly illiminated using the JW 103.

 

[rookie wildcat]

this cartridge is fine to reload for. However, if it is in an SKS, you will need to make changes in your rifle for accuracy. Bedding, crowning, removing fouling, smoothing the trigger, etc. However, you will rarely get MOA out of it. I have a Remington 799 that does get that, but barely. I love the round, hunt with it every year.

 

[Cmiller82]

Right now I'm shooting it out of an SKS. With a trigger job and the stock iron sights (and freezing my butt off) I was able to get 4 inch groups at 100 yards. I was surprised also that I could get 2"-3" groups at 25 yards, standing unsupported.

I plan on getting a bolt-action in this round, and I plan on using the same bench to reload for .308 Win.

I'm one of those nut-bars that just refuses to use factory ammo, and I enjoy reloading just as much as I enjoy unloading.

As useless as the process might be, I'm actually going to do load development in the SKS to find out what the rifle likes

When I'm done I'll share my info.

Thanks for input and advice.

 

[uchi]

ill be honest with you my russian is fairly accurate. we have a gone at our range at 200 yards and i rang it 8 out of 10 times with iron sights with surplus ammo. i put in non corrosive ammo and might have hit it twice out of ten. for the cost its hard to say no. but as stated above try pulling the old bullet and putting in some new ones and see if it improves anything. also for the cost it probably isnt worth reloading brass. i think the last gun show i was at i bought 10 packs for 2 or 3 bucks so i bought all the guy had. you may break even with the cost but its hard to say. 100 primers are 5 bucks, you need your own cases. i bought 100 30 cal a max hornady bullets for 40 bucks, and the primer for it was 30 bucks. should be enough powder for 200-250 bullets we figure. so you gotta figure out what it would cost to reload the 7.62 ammo and if its worth doing especially compared to buying better ammo off the shelf for it.

 

[SKS50]

The 7.62 x 39 is a easy cartridge to load for I had full intentions of reloading for my SKS rifles from day one. I read all the stories on the net about how inaccurate these rifle were suppose to be 4" to 6" groups at 100 yds. were with surplus or Russian and commercial ammo but I'm not everyone else and they don't shoot my rifles I wanted to find out for myself.

Since I've loaded for nearly 30 years now and reload for everything I shoot it was no problem to pick up a set of Lee dies,a couple hundred Win. and Prvi case at the local gun shop and some .310 dia. bullets. Nobody around here even had an SKS when I bought mine so when I went to the local gun shop to pick up some components I hit the mother load I ended up getting my dies,cases and bullets for about half the cost they are now. I also swapped out lots of range brass for X39 brass nobody was using. I'm also on about 15 different boards so I find good deals on things I need cheap.

Anyways an SKS rifle in good to excellent condition is not inherently an inaccurate rifle the majority of the issues are with the shooter and the ammo used in the rifle or both,I don't care how good of a shot you are you put crap through your rifle your get crap results. Granted all SKS rifle are not in the best condition but both of mine I would classify as excellent,my Yugo is a refurb be has a new barrel and my Chinese /26\ I bought NIB I don't know if the triggers are bad I have many different weapons for many different countries all with there own individual trigger pulls so I just learn to shot them as is.

I will say one thing for the SKS the front sight sucks it pretty much fills up the rear sight notch.it's good enough for minute of man or paper plate shooting but that can be easily fixed with the addition of a $5 Techsight target post,if you want to shoot small you have to be able to aim small. That the only modification I've seen fit to have to make to improve accuracy right off the bat. Don't get me wrong I shoot steel case ammo like everyone else tried them all and found few that are really accurate in either rifle,Golden Tiger is the best I have come across but it's not even that great and varies from lot to lot. The steel case ammo I has stashed away is main for last ditch use when nothing else is available.

Here is my batch cost to reload X39 using Win. cases,Wolf Primers,Reloader #7 and Hornady FMJ or SP .310 dia. bullets I bought it bulk. I save my FMJ,SP and V-MAX bullets for more serious work and shoot mainly cast bullets for plinking and small game shooting although I would suspect a 170 gr. cast lead bullet would do sufficient damage at 2K fps.

FMJ & SP loads

Cast plinker/small game loads gas checked 170 gr. cast bullet,Wolf primer,12.5 grs. Alliant 2400 Win. case MV 1450+ fps.

Cast load with 15.0 grs. Alliant 2400 MV 1950+ fps.

I live in the states so my cost and availability of components may not be as readily available to my brothers in Canada,but you can improve on the accuracy nonetheless if thats what your after.