Reloading 7.62x39

Try these guys:
https://www.diamondkbrass.com/7.62x39.html

currently out of stock for once fired, but they do have new Starline

Bellm out of Serbia I believe is brass reloadable ammo for roughly 40c a round. I use some of that brass for bolt action reloads for my CZ. I just buy ammo and shoot it up for brass...

Until I lost my last rifle in this caliber, I reloaded 7.62x39mm for a long time, including cast bullet rounds. AA#1680 was the best powder I ever used...still have two pound containers of it laying about.

I've seen some 7.62x39 guns with .308 barrels so those bullets can be used -- a lot more selection, including all the 300 Blackout bullets. The main reason I would get a 7.62x39 would be for the cheap steel-cased ammo, but if I wanted to hunt with it, I would look at 308 barrels. I also like the case necked-down to the PPC family, Grendel etc.

adcoch1 said:

Bellm out of Serbia I believe is brass reloadable ammo for roughly 40c a round. I use some of that brass for bolt action reloads for my CZ. I just buy ammo and shoot it up for brass...

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It's made by ppu for belom I pulled some down and had the same powder, charge weight, bullet and case volume. I saw some last week for $8.99 box of 20 I should have ordered a bunch.

I find 7.62x39 brass quite often at our local gun shows. I reload for an AR15 in that caliber using 123 gr FMJ and Hornady SST bullets using Reloader 7.

Lennyjoe said:

I find 7.62x39 brass quite often at our local gun shows. I reload for an AR15 in that caliber using 123 gr FMJ and Hornady SST bullets using Reloader 7.

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I'm planning on reloading for a 7.62x39 AR soon. My rifle also likes the 123 gr bullets.

Any possibility you would share your load, bullet diameter, brass, etc?

chris

Here’s my 123 gr Hornady .310 FMJ over 27 gr RL-7.

Hornady lists 26.6 gr max but using Alliants listing I was able to get a highly accurate load at 27 gr.



OAL is 2.200” to the crimp groove with a mild crimp. I used WLR primers and have not had any slam fire issues with the AR.





Brass is once fired from a local gun show vendor and I’ve had zero problems sizing and priming. All were checked to make sure it wasn’t steel case in disguise.



Grafs has some 123’s in stock now.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/72320

I don't find it often but bellum or s+b is what I see. In my own situation comparing the two 300 was easier based on the bullet being the same size as the other 30s I cast for and 223 brass is laying everywhere ready for conversion. If your just buying brass and bullets look to see if .311 bullets are available.

DMW1116 said:

Does anyone do this regularly? I’m thinking of a KS47 and would like to be able to reload them. However I don’t see any brass laying around or anyone reloading this round for a bolt gun either. The intent is a 200 yard and closer rifle with a larger diameter round. I’m also considering a 300 BO if that is easier to find brass and such. Steel case rounds are available for 7.62x39 but may be done eventually with the recent import restrictions.

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I was an AK guy for many many years, had dozens of them, even a PTR 32 in 7.62x39, then 300 BLK came out, and was a billion times easier to reload. Plus the AR platform took off and got so cheap, while the import bans turned AKs into pieces of junk. Anywhoo, if you want to reload for it, Starline has the brass. Any 300 BLK powder will work good in 7.62x39. It's capable of amazing accuracy in a good gun, your average AK isn't that gun. You'll have a bullet issue. Since the stupid import ban, lot of parts kits don't include the barrel. US AK barrels are usually .308. So you may end up with .311 and .308 barrels in your collection. .311 bullets are harder to find and cost more, and will run in both no problem, .310 bullets are more available and split the difference. BTW, steel case ammo will never go away, it's not all made in Russia, not even close. There are plants making steel case 7.62 all over easter europe and Taiwan even now. Hell, it's even made in 3 different NATO countries now for export. Basically, I think 7.62 is a pain at this point, if you are early enough and haven't invested heavily, jump to 300 BLK and be done with it.

ballman6711 said:

I'm planning on reloading for a 7.62x39 AR soon. My rifle also likes the 123 gr bullets.

Any possibility you would share your load, bullet diameter, brass, etc?

chris

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See post #10 above for my information

I load it for my RAR. 9 grains of unique 123 grain Berry;s bullet. Grouping with the unique ,green dot and S&B factory ammo.

@Lennyjoe, thanks for the info.

EricBu said:

Basically, I think 7.62 is a pain at this point, if you are early enough and haven't invested heavily, jump to 300 BLK and be done with it.

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I've thought about getting into the 300 BO but don't really need another rifle. I've had this AR since the mid/late nineties IIRC. Also have an SKS and AK47 but don't like the AK.

Bought some Bellom 123 gr ammo for it, and the rifle likes it, so figured I would start loading for it. Haven't even gotten dies yet, too many other projects, lol!

chris

DMW1116 said:

Sounds like a 300 BO would be a better choice for my purposes. There is a lot of crossed information, between the different bullet sizes and such.

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Sounds like you're debating buying a 7.62 OR a 300 BO. My choice is easy since I already have the rifle, but if I didn't I would go with the 300 hands down.

chris

A1680 and CFE BLK are good powders for x39. I reload for 5 AR's chambered in x39 as well as a RAR in it also. My SKS gets steel cased stuff. One of the AR's has a .308 bore and it likes 125 gr. Speer tnt and 130 gr. Federal OTM mk319. The others get .310 diameter bullets mostly Nosler 123 gr VG(I bought them cheap and in bulk years ago). For hunting I use 123 gr Hornady SST.

For brass I use what's available: Remington, Winchester, PPU, S&B, Federal etc. Whatever I can find. I bought 2k rounds of 123 gr FMJ Geco a few years back and use that brass too. It's OK, but not great. The next brass purchase of x39 will be Starline.

I reload for 7.62x39 and 300BLK, I like 7.62x39 much better that I can use regular rifle power and seems more accurate.

I have a CZ (527) bolt gun in 7.62x39mm. I load heavy bullets (150 grain;.323" for the 303 Brit round). Typically get in the 2200 fps range. However, I scrounged just over 100 rounds of TULA ammo with 154 grain bullets. They shoot well enough for deer and such, so I've pretty well quit reloading for this little darling.

NR53 said:

A1680 and CFE BLK are good powders for x39. I reload for 5 AR's chambered in x39 as well as a RAR in it also. My SKS gets steel cased stuff.

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Same here on feeding my SKS and AK with steel cased commie stuff.

As for the AR load I use, I tried 1680 as I use that powder for my .300 BO subs and RL-7 actually performed better. Haven’t tried CFE BLK yet.

I reload 7.62x39 for hunting. I do 123gr Hornady SP .310, 22.0 gr 1680, cci 41 and 24 primers as brass comes in both small and large primers like 45 ACP does. (I find no performance difference between the two.) Most all of my brass is once fired from gun shows but Hornady also makes new brass and have a bunch of that waiting to be done up. My AK's and SKS eats the stuff up and has really decent accuracy. My go-to for under 200 yard whitetails.