reloading 7,62x39 russian with 0,308 bullets

Hi everybody,

I would like to ask you about your experience with reloading 7,62x39

My father wonts something new for his Cz 537 carbine.

He is thinking about 150 gr Sierra FN.

I know that original diameter for 7,62x39 is 0,310. Does anybody has experience with this ? Will it work ?

thx

L.

My Hornady manual shows recipes for 308, but in the text, they indicate .310 or .311 was a common bore. They warned accuracy would likely suffer when using the 308.


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mjcmichigan":a55tu8v5 said:

My Hornady manual shows recipes for 308, but in the text, they indicate .310 or .311 was a common bore. They warned accuracy would likely suffer when using the 308.


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Click to expand...

This.

mjcmichigan,

could you please send me a printscreen of your Hornady manual with mentioned recipes ?

7,62x39 is a good caliber, it deserts to try

I'll share the data tonight, manual is at home


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I presume you want 150g recipes?


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Yes, could you please add 125g as well? . Sierra 125 gr HPFN looks nice

Sure.


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Well. I learned a lot today.
the 7.62x54R and 7.62x53R both work in the Bolt action Mosin Nagant.
the 7.62x39 works in the SKS and AK47.
Most foreign made 7.62x39's are a 3.11 bore and do well with a Hornary 310 bullet.
123g SST #3147, or 123g SP #3140.
The 150g Hornady bullets are 308. # 30370(GMX), #30309(IB), #30302(SST),
#3037(FMJ), #3033 IL-BTSP, #3031(IL SP), #30312 - AMAX
I posted FPS at start and max. (inbetween increments are 100fps)
recipes for 123g bullets (SST and SP)
VIHT N-120, 16.9g/1900, 18.5gn, 20.2, 21.8gn/2200fps
H4198 17.2gn/1900, 18.9, 20.6, 22.3, 24.0gn, 25.7gn/2400
Accurate 1680 20.1gn/1900, 20.8, 22.3, 23.9/2200
IMR4198, 22.0gn/1900, 22.8, 23.7, 24.6/2200fps
RL7 21.9/1900, 23.0, 24.2, 25.4, 26.6gn/2300
Accurate 2015 21.5gn/1900, 22.9, 24.3, 25.7, 27.1, 28.5/2400
H322 25.0/1900, 26.2, 27.3, 28.5gn/2200

The only way to know what your bore really is you need to slug it. I use .315 muzzle loader lead balls. You can use egg shape fishing sinkers .312 diameter or a bit larger. Drive the lead ball through the bore using a wooden dowel rod then measure between the high spots. If you do have a .310 or larger groove you are wasting your time trying .308 bullets. I tried .308 bullets in the 7.62x54R with a .310 groove and got basket ball size groups at 50 yards. Went to .311 bullets and shot ragged hole groups at 100 yards. Best load I ever found for the 7.62x39 is a case full of H322 with Hornady 123 gr .310 soft point bullet. Shoots sub MOA in both of my Yugo SKS rifles. This bullet does a good job on deer size game out to 100 yards which is as far away as I have used it. One tip I will pass on is get you a Lee Factory Crimp Die. The neck of the X39 is short and the shank of most bullets designed for it is short not allowing much neck tension to hold the bullet. The use of a Lee Factory Crimp Die will keep those bullets in place. There are .311 & .312 150 gr bullets but will not expand much if any at X39 velocity.

150g (308 bullets)
same recipes for all the above listed Hornady 150gn 308 bullets.
VIHT N-130 13.4/1700, 16.1, 18.7, 21.4, 24.1, 26.8/2200
H4198 17.4/1700, 18.8, 20.2, 21.5, 22.9/2100
Acc 1680 18.2/1700, 19.4, 20.5, 21.7, 22.9/2100
IMR 4198 18.1/1700, 19.4, 20.7, 22.1, 23.4/2100
RL7 17.9/1700, 19.3, 20.7, 22.2, 23.6/2100
Acc 2015 19.5/1700, 21.0, 22.5, 24.0, 25.5, 27.0/2200
IMR 3031 21.7/1700, 22.9, 24.1, 25.3, 26.5/2100
Acc 2230 21.7/1700, 23.1, 24.6, 26.0/2000

on the previous post the two 123gn bullets mentioned, are 0.310 diameter. (3142-sst, 3140 SP)

here's a web site link on reloading those. I do not know the guy, but the data looks reasonable.
http://www.reloadammo.com/762rload.htm

My Yugo SKS shoots 150 SST's just as good as any .310 bullet. Also use generic 150 FMJ bullets for plinking.

thx everybody for help, I passed info to my father. He tried to load firstly 150 gr Sierra FN 0,308. we will share a feedback how it worked..

Every gun is different,you never know til you try it. If you are using Hornady dies they come with a 310 and 308 expander ball for the right neck tension.

Hi everybody, as I promissed here is a feedback..

In fathers gun 0,308 simply does not work.. at least we have tried..

however hornady 123 gr Zombie max works perfect , less than 1 inch on 100 yards..

thx everybody for help and opinions.

L.

Very cool! Always fun to hit your targets with confidence!


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