Heavy Bullet 7.62x39 Loads

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No, I am not 100% sure, as I won't spend money on bullets that aren't what I want to use. If you want to send me a selection, I will load them and report the results.
 
BTW, I wasn't trying to be a jerk, I simply don't have the money to buy bullets I wouldn't normally use. I would happily try a few and post results if somebody wanted to send me some.
 
Nor am I

I just want people to stop and concider some of the assumptions that are always made and in some cases to it's detriment with reguards to this cartridge.
 
I am used to that! "You ain't gonna hit nuttin' with that commie bullet, son, quit wastin' yer time!"
But all I have used is .310 sized bullets.
 
I got back out with the CZ 527 today, and was happy to see the Bushnell scope had easily kept it's zero. I had only gotten dialed in at 50 yards, so today it the 100 yard turn. That went well enough, and then it was time to try out some of my new cast boolits at 100 yards. Results were interesting....

First, the light 16.0 AA#1680 grain load...and I didn't realize how light it was until I discovered how far the slug dropped! The second group I held over approximately 6 inches, using the multi-X recticle on the Bushnell scope. Nice feature, that. It was also interesting to hear the boom...and then the boolit going through the paper.

527cast1004.jpg

This was a decent sighting in group at 100. BTW, the taped over group next to it is from the 123gr FMJ I was sighting the scope in with.

527cast1003.jpg

Shoot 5 for a REAL group. 3 shot groups are for sighting in. :)

527cast1002.jpg

I tried an 18.0 grain load, more oopmh, but still had to hold 3 inches over.

527cast100.jpg

Cleanup was once again a cinch, no leading, the air dropped wheel weight boolits and the 30 caliber gas checks did thier jobs well.

This is an ongoing experiment, of course, but I think I can say the cast gas checked boolits will definately do the job, when I find the right powder charge. 8)
 
I got some Speer 180gr round nosw (.311") that I can't wait to try. Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of a move, so all my reloading equipment is in boxes... :(
 
Clark?

Clark said:
I blew the firing pin out of the bolt.

Jeez, :what: did you return the SKS under warranty? :eek:

Just kidding. Was it a "real" Russian SKS, or somebody else's copy? Just wondering - I've loaded some heavy bullets for testing, not to high pressures or anything. This is the first I'd heard about SKS being weak, but I know you're more an engineer than most of us. Just curious.

Hope you're all in once piece and didn't soil yourself.......
 
Bullet Diameter

Oh - don't forget, some of those "commie guns" have a bit of variance in bore diameter, and also, some manufacturers (like T/C and Ruger) have on occasion used .308 bores for their "7.62x39" firearms.

Myself, I have a Mauser in 7.62x39 with a .308 bore.......... if you're trying to get real accuracy out of this round (which can be a chore) slugging your barrel never hurts.
 
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With 180 grain jacketed bullets your ideal powder speed will be in the range of H322, 2015, N530, 10x, 3031, and H335. One of those (or something real close) will likely prove to be your "holy grail" -- high velocity, acceptable pressure, good accuracy.

Faster powders (like the guy who used H110 - a magnum pistol powder!) will result in peaky high pressure and poor accuracy. Slower powders - poor velocity.
 
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.

jjohnson Clark said:
Quote:
I blew the firing pin out of the bolt.
Jeez, did you return the SKS under warranty?

Just kidding. Was it a "real" Russian SKS, or somebody else's copy? Just wondering - I've loaded some heavy bullets for testing, not to high pressures or anything. This is the first I'd heard about SKS being weak, but I know you're more an engineer than most of us. Just curious.

Hope you're all in once piece and didn't soil yourself.......

Looking at my notes:
RP brass WSRP 2.190", Sierra 2310 180 gr .311"
22.5 gr W296, primer pierced, .005" egg, Yugo firing pin damaged

"egg" is my short hand for extractor groove growth, that is a pre cursor to the primer falling out.

I remember from repairing that rifle that an Alb firing pin from AIM fits in a YUGO SKS, even though they have different shapes.

I believe the Yugo and Alb SKS rifles cost me ~ $80 each and came in cartons of (5) from Century or AIM. I probably got (20) of each for testing.

The Yugo SKS rifles were very well made and not accurate for me.
The Alb SKS rifles were poorly made and the stocks had initials carved in the stocks.

I remember doing trigger jobs and glass bedding and making a stock big enough for an American like me. The poor accuracy improvement results frustrated me.

I was also unable to get more power from small Boxer Rem brass than large primer Win brass.
I never figured out why.

I did not spend lots of time testing them.
I don't remember seeing 40 SKSs in storage, so I must have sold most of them. I remember making a giant sign with huge letters that said, "YUGO SKS $130" and the men who bought them from me could barely read the sign. I remember thinking that there must be many Mr. Magoo types with money in their pockets they can't spend.

I have had a Russian SKS in storage for 15 years, but have not fired it.
 
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