7.62x39 Hot and Heavy

[bigsplash1]

Since the bullet diameter for the 7.62x39mm is .311, does that mean that it can be loaded with .303British bullets? I am thinking of getting a bolt action 7.62x39 for cheap plinking, and white tail deer hunting. I will use the factory 124grs for plinking but I want to work up some hot and heavy loads for the deer hunting. Any opinions? Or experiances reloading the 7.62x39mm?

 

[Sunray]

Yep, but you'll be limited as to which weights you can use by the finished OAL. No 215 grain bullets or 180's. Here's some data for a 150 that'd do.
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/76239mmr.htm

 

[stans]

Beware, Ruger's Mini-30 uses a barrel groove diameter of only 0.308", so 0.311" jacketed bullets are going to run at higher pressures for any given powder charge.

 

[priv8ter]

Not what you are looking for

It's not exactly what you are asking for, but right now in my safe, I have 100 rounds of Wolf 7.62 X 39 with 154 grain Soft Points in them.

While I'm not sure how hot they are, I'm willing to bet they could put a thumping on old Mr. Whitetail.

greg

 

[Clark]

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 you have one of those expensive mini Mausers in 7.62x39mm, I would say, go a head and work up loads and measure the extractor groove to find the upper limit.

But if you are using an SKS, beware.
link to Highroad thread on my overloaded SKS

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've loaded the 7.62x39 with various bullets up to 154gr. You will get good results with them, but I found that the .308 bullets worked just as well or a bit better than the .311-.312".

I've had three different SKS's, and all shot best with the Nosler 125gr Ballistic Tip. I mostly used AA1680, but IMR3031, H322, H335 all worked well too.

I would suggest using the Remington 125gr Soft Points (.308") available in bulk for general use, and the Nosler Ballistic tip for accuracy, and longer range hunting.

The problem with using the heavier .303 bullets is that they are constructed for the velocities of the .303 Brit., and other 7.65mm firearms, and as such may not adequately expand given the reduced muzzle velocity of 150gr bullets in the 7.62x39 (~2,000 to 2,100fps, depending on barrel length).

However, I had superlative results with the 155gr Pt.GC Lee bullet mould and H4227 for around 1,900fps. This bullet cast soft would modestly expand on deer if bones were hit, and performed satisfactorily.

Ruger made a run of m77mkII's back in the late '80's to early '90's, and ones I saw were Stainless Steel w/synthetic stocks. Accuracy with good reloads was at or under 1" at 100yds. I believe they used the same .308bore and tapered throat of the Mini-30's.

CZ and Charles Daly are importing small action b/a's in 7.62x39. The Mini-MkX was available back in late '80's. It's now back as the Charles Daly Mini-Mauser.

If you get one of the b/a's and later get "tired" of the 7.62x39, It's a relatively easy swap of barrels to get a 6mm PPC. (uses same size bolt face) Most of these I've seen/shot, even with light sporter barrels would shoot to around 0.25" at 100yds!

One of my next projects!

 

[bigsplash1]

.308 bullets eh? Does anybody know if the Norinco b/a's have a .308 bore? Also, can the Noricos have that 6mm converstion done to them?