I have some Sierra .308 150gr boat tail bullets that I'd like to use for my SKS. The trouble I'm having is to get the proper OAL, I need to seat the bullet past the crimp groove. The bullet is then loose in the case i.e. I can push it into the case by hand. I tried seating to the crimp groove, but the rounds seem to hang up in the Yugo's mag. Any ideas or can not use .308 in place of .310 7.62 bullets?
Can .308 bullets be used for 7.62x39?
- Thread starter distra
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You can safely shoot .308 bullets in the 7.62x39. Accuracy may not be the best however.
What type of die are you using? Some 7.62x39 dies come with both a .308 and a .311 expander ball. Make sure you are using the correct expander.
If you are using the correct expander, then it's not the dia. of the bullet that is giving you trouble it's the length of the bullet.
What type of die are you using? Some 7.62x39 dies come with both a .308 and a .311 expander ball. Make sure you are using the correct expander.
If you are using the correct expander, then it's not the dia. of the bullet that is giving you trouble it's the length of the bullet.
Ther is no .308 expander with my die set. I have some Hornady 150gr soft point that are not a boat tail, just .308 all the way to base of the bullet. I loaded those up last night over 22.5gr 1680 and shot them this morning. They shot just fine. Accuracy was not too bad either, 5 shot group < 2.5" @ 50yrds. 123gr .310 diameter Hornady FMJ over 24gr 1680 gives a little better results. I think it must have been a combination of Sierra boat tail and there length that was causing me trouble. I guess I'll stick to .310-.311 diameter bullets. Thanks for the info.
Sodbuster
Member
Old stock, distra? Didn't Hornady just discontinue the FMJ? They do make a .310 123-gr VMax that Id like to try, item number 3140 I believe.
Sod, I got these from MidwayUSA 123gr FMJ manufacture number 3147. They were sent in a Frankfort Arsenal utility box, so Midway may have purchased these in bulk from Hornady and then repackaged them. My guess is these are old stock that once they're gone, Midway will not have any more. I just order a few Berry's 110gr plated .310 to check those out as well. I've heard a little about the VMAX, but have not tried those yet.
R.W.Dale
Member
My Lyman dies have an expander plug for .308 and .311 diameter bullets. I doubt the lee dies do BUT if you have a 30 caliber <30-30 308 ect> lee sizing die you could swap out expander-decapping pins and it would probably do the same thing as swapping expander plugs on MY dies.
When using appropriate expanders I've found there to be NO difference in accuracy between the .308 and .311 150grn sierras.
When using appropriate expanders I've found there to be NO difference in accuracy between the .308 and .311 150grn sierras.
Nice write-up Krochus. I found that on a search earlier, that's why I was a bit confused as to why my attempt was not working. I'll call Redding on Monday to see if I can purchase a .308 sizing cap to put on my FL sizing/decapping die. Hopefully that will let me use the boat tail .308's as well.
R.W.Dale
Member
I don't know where I got that you were using lee dies :banghead: But yes I imagine that the proper expander will cure your problem. Do you have another set of redding dies that you could "borrow" the .308 expander from?
BTW those .310 V-max bullets are the shznit, buy some you won't be sorry.
BTW those .310 V-max bullets are the shznit, buy some you won't be sorry.
R.W.Dale
Member
Good call, With boat tail bullets even if the neck is somewhat tight the boattail should open things up perfectaly.
Good idea, the only fly in the ointment is the decapping pin cullet IS the neck expander. :banghead: I could run the cases through once to deprime and prime them then run them through again without the expander cullet. I'll try a few to see how that works.
R.W.Dale
Member
I would decap them on some other die large enough to not size anything. something like a belted magnum or 30-06. that way you're not workin the neck so much
This forum is awesome! Thanks guys! I used my .223 decapping insert in my 7.62 sizing die to decap the cases. They seem to work fine as far as OAL, bullet tightness in the case, and hand cycling through the rifle. Don't worry, I've replaced the firing pin with a Murry's firing pin with return spring. Slam fires (and potential for) kinda' give me the willies. 
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