Lee 312-185 in 7.62x39

My Baikal slugged .312.
The bullet weighs 185 grains checked and lubed. They are sized .314 with 18 grains of imr4227.
I'll report back with the results.

Barbaroja said:

Good luck! Cast rifle bullets are too much fun. That bullet seems long for the 7.62x39 case, looks like it’s below the neck. Have you had problems with that?

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Haven't pulled the trigger. The gas checks are very tight. So I'm not too worried.

Barbaroja said:

Awesome! Update us when you get the results. Casting for rifle is very rewarding for me.

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2 inch group offhand at 50 yards.
I was using a hydraulic fluid bucket as a target.
It definitely has potential. So I'll do a more formal test at the range.

Swampman said:

That bullet worked well for me out of a 59/66 SKS over Alliant 2400.

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What charge did you settle on? The only powder I can find data for is Leverevolution.

Swampman said:

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

If I recall correctly, it was 13.5 grains. I lost a lot of my data about 20 years ago due to a computer crash (I now keep hard copies as well as thumb drive back-ups).

It ran perfectly in the SKS, but needed almost a full extra grain to cycle my WASR 10.

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That sounds about right for a minimum target load.
I'm using a single shot. So I don't need it to cycle.
I'm going to try getting 1600-1900 fps. So 2400 isn't a great option for me.
I do have a SKS that is hungry though.

A guy on cast boolits tested both 175 and 200 grain bullets with Leverevolution. So I decided to start at 27 grains. Which was the minimum he started to get acceptable accuracy at. I should be around 25000psi and 1900 fps.
My sights needed adjusted after installing a peep and making a new blade for the front. POI is identical to factory soft point ammo. 123s hit about 2 inches higher.

Edit to add: target at 50 yards.

The first bullet was shot into two Def jugs and bounced off the oak back stop.
The second was fired into the oak block and penetrated 5 inches.
Both were fired from 25 yards.

I ran this load across the chronograph. It's averaged 1858 fps. I think I'm going to call it good enough.

GooseGestapo said:

That’ll do!
Provided the alloy is soft enough, that’ll do anything that a 7.62x39 is capable of.
Personally, I have a Lee 150gr FNGC .309” that casts big enough at 158gr that works marvelously from the 7.62x39. I sold my last SKS 20yrs ago, but the .300BO is “close enough”. I prefer my 16” AR to the SKS.

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An AR is a nice platform. I do have an SKS I could test these in as well. But I don't want to chase brass.