Lead cast bullets and lee dies

[bobduhgeek]

I have a set of lee dies for 7.62x39. They came with 2 expanders, 1 is .308 the other is 3.10. I have been using the .308 for loading for my sks. I generally load jacketed bullets.
I just picked up a new rifle, a Ruger Ranch 7.62x39. I have the standard heads in 123gn and 125 - FMJ, SP, and SST and have been working up some test loads.
Just bought a box of .310 30cal 130gn lead bullets from Hunter's Supply.
Which expander would be recommended for the lead bullets?

 

[troy fairweather]

310 and a light crimp if it needs it.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Try both. In general the neck should be a couple of thousands of an inch less than the bullet and I predict the .308 will work better for you. Ig you're using lead bullets, you might want to flare the case mouth, and iron it out with the crimp.

 

[243winxb]

Measure the necks OD before and after seating a bullet. After seating, the OD should be larger by .0015" to .002" for good bullet hold.

Now measure the OAL of the rounds, chamber a few times. The OAL should not change more then .005" Shorter or longer.

https://www.sierrabullets.com/reload-basics/reloading-for-semi-autos-and-service-rifles/

See Neck Tension.

 

[kcofohio]

When loading cast in rifle, I find the Lee Universal case expander helpful to keep from shaving lead in the seating process.
https://leeprecision.com/universal-case-expanding-die.html

 

[243winxb]

A Lyman "M" die to open the case mouth for cast. If one is made for 7.62x39?

 

[merlynski]

AK47 and AKM rifles may have different bore sizes, (.308 or .311) so two expanders are provided for convenience. Slug the bore of your SKS and Ruger if you have accuracy problems to determine what bullet to use, then pick the expander to match the bullet.

 

[mdi]

I've seen a of of discussions about groove diameter of 7.62x39 barrels, which seem pretty much a moot issue. The easiest way to determine the barrel dimensions is to slug the barrel (I have slugged the barrels of each firearm I own except rimfires and recorded it)...

 

[FROGO207]

AK47 and AKM rifles may have different bore sizes, (.308 or .311) so two expanders are provided for convenience. Slug the bore of your SKS and Ruger if you have accuracy problems to determine what bullet to use, then pick the expander to match the bullet.

I have a Mini 30 and the barrel is .308 but have heard that some were .311 in the beginning but have never seen one in the flesh. I suspect all new Rugers would be .308 now.

 

[merlynski]

I have a Mini 30 and the barrel is .308 but have heard that some were .311 in the beginning but have never seen one in the flesh. I suspect all new Rugers would be .308 now.

I have seen that mentioned before. My guess is Ruger was trying to match the original AK .311 bores in the 7.62x39 Mini 30, but the .308 bore and bullets is so much more popular and available in the US that it made good marketing sense to switch to .308.

The Mosin-Nagant 7.62x54R had a similar issue. My son's Mosin had a large bore and I was getting prepared to load .312 bullets for it, but he sold it.

 

[bluejay75]

Lee Universal. Have tried them all. Universal is best.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Re: the Lyman M-die.
I have two die bodies. The short die body with the .30cal stem worked just fine.
The Lee 160gr .310” PTGC from a 6-cav mold is quite good.
Even better is to powder coat it. I found Acc1680 quite good. Also 4198.

 

[armoredman]

I loaded cast in 7.62x39mm for years with Lee dies. I used the larger expander and sized all cast bullets at .311, including the NOE 129gr .314 sized down and gas checked. Never had issues in vx-58, SKS, BREN 2 MS pistol or CZ 527M. I also cast the Lee 155 and 160 grainers, handled the exact same way. That doesn't mean it was the most perfect way possible, but it worked well for me. Most common powder used was, of course, Accurate Arms 1680.

 

[DukeConnor]

NOE expander plug in a lee universal. cheap enough to buy several sizes to experiment

 

[Dale Alan]

I use the larger expander with .311" bullets . I don't really crimp them . more like pressing the flair back in straight . I like the Lee universal tool with NOE expanders , turns it into a "M" die . Lee universal works fine with supplied expanders as well .