Replacing bullets in Czeck 7.62x39
- Thread starter mark k
- Start date
Hi Mark,
My first instinct was to treat you as a complete newb and try to sort you out, then I decided to take a look at your account again and it seems you have been around here for awhile.
That being the case, and the fact that your sig line states that you are a gun whore, I know you are aware of the fact that this is a Czech surplus round. I have pulled hundreds of these and replaced them with simple Hornady or Sierra bullets, they are almost exactly the same size. I didn't see any big change in accuracy, so the next time it did it, I pulled 20 bullets and weighed the powder charge in each. They varied almost 2gn in weight!!
I now pull 50 at a time, dump all the powder in a container, weigh the whole mass, divide by 50 and load that charge into each case, then throw a regular bullet in it.
I get 1" groups with one SKS, 2.5" with another, and I was getting 4" with the third ( I found that that was a rifling problem that has since been corrected and I now get 1.25" groups with it).
Although you can load this round with a Barnes Premium bullet, I have to ask myself, Why? Why spend the money on a premium bullet when I do not believe that it will significantly change the accuracy in an SKS? Is this a case of "because I can"? If so, then by all means do it.
I don't shoot Barnes anything so I am no expert on that end and can't really say, just speculating. There are however two thing's I would watch for:
1. I am not sure what the soft copper will do in your barrel as well.
2. I would watch for feeding problems as well, since the bullet is shorter.
My first instinct was to treat you as a complete newb and try to sort you out, then I decided to take a look at your account again and it seems you have been around here for awhile.
That being the case, and the fact that your sig line states that you are a gun whore, I know you are aware of the fact that this is a Czech surplus round. I have pulled hundreds of these and replaced them with simple Hornady or Sierra bullets, they are almost exactly the same size. I didn't see any big change in accuracy, so the next time it did it, I pulled 20 bullets and weighed the powder charge in each. They varied almost 2gn in weight!!
I now pull 50 at a time, dump all the powder in a container, weigh the whole mass, divide by 50 and load that charge into each case, then throw a regular bullet in it.
I get 1" groups with one SKS, 2.5" with another, and I was getting 4" with the third ( I found that that was a rifling problem that has since been corrected and I now get 1.25" groups with it).
Although you can load this round with a Barnes Premium bullet, I have to ask myself, Why? Why spend the money on a premium bullet when I do not believe that it will significantly change the accuracy in an SKS? Is this a case of "because I can"? If so, then by all means do it.
I don't shoot Barnes anything so I am no expert on that end and can't really say, just speculating. There are however two thing's I would watch for:
1. I am not sure what the soft copper will do in your barrel as well.
2. I would watch for feeding problems as well, since the bullet is shorter.
I pulled bullets from .308 Winchester 150 grain hunting bullets, readjused the powder as if using an accuracy load for 4895, and used Hornady 168 grain match bullets as replacements with excellent results. 2 - 4 inch groups shrucnk to under and inch.
I have also pulled the surplus bullets and got the weight of each charge. The 3 boxes I did all had the same charge 22.4 grains, I was a bit superised.
I reduced the charge to 20 grains ~10% and loaded in brass with a ww cast gc 155gr bullet and they amake a great plinking round. I don't like the corrosive primers so I gave the primed steel cases to a buddy.
The cost is almost as cheap to shoot as standard surplus and I keep the fmj bullets for use in other .30 cals or when I don't have any cast bullets ready to go.
These have shot fine from my sks and Baikal single shot.
I reduced the charge to 20 grains ~10% and loaded in brass with a ww cast gc 155gr bullet and they amake a great plinking round. I don't like the corrosive primers so I gave the primed steel cases to a buddy.
The cost is almost as cheap to shoot as standard surplus and I keep the fmj bullets for use in other .30 cals or when I don't have any cast bullets ready to go.
These have shot fine from my sks and Baikal single shot.
I have done this with Hornady and Sierra spitzer points as well as the RN. I found that I had to remove 2gn of powder for best results in my rifles.
That's because the SAAMI rules and legal eagles in commercial ammo, causes it to be a little wimpy. They have to make it safe for ALL rifles chambered in a given calibre, whereas, the military makes it for themselves and one chamber. I have fired commercial Remington and Federal x39 in my Remington 799. They were close to each other when chronied, the Wolf soft points were close to 150fps faster, but I now have PRVI Partisan ammo I am using and they are chronied at a good 200fps faster than the commercial loads.
- Location
- Vernon, BC
Gentlemen:
A most excellent post!!
I have been reloading for a while and know my way around a press pretty well.
I would like to start using my Cz-858 at an indoor range, but steel jacketed/cored bullets are not allowed as they are too hard on the back stop.
I too would like to pull the bullets and re-seat some Hornady 123 grainers.
I see that some are neck sizing steel cases to ensure proper neck tension, which make sense.
My question is, to you find the steel cases particularly hard on the die. I am not aware of any production carbide neck sizing dies, and I am some curious as to what the wear is like on standard dies.
Thank you very much and look forward to further constructive responses.
regards
AbH
A most excellent post!!
I have been reloading for a while and know my way around a press pretty well.
I would like to start using my Cz-858 at an indoor range, but steel jacketed/cored bullets are not allowed as they are too hard on the back stop.
I too would like to pull the bullets and re-seat some Hornady 123 grainers.
I see that some are neck sizing steel cases to ensure proper neck tension, which make sense.
My question is, to you find the steel cases particularly hard on the die. I am not aware of any production carbide neck sizing dies, and I am some curious as to what the wear is like on standard dies.
Thank you very much and look forward to further constructive responses.
regards
AbH
