Need solution for reloading 7.62x39

[BrokenWheel]

This is for a Bulgarian AK47, I reload for this rifle, but I'm running into problems when seating the bullets. On some cartridges (50%) when the bullets seats I can literally spin it- there is no neck tension. Even if I run it through the Redding taper crimp die (Not the Roll crimp) the bullets still are loose. The redding tamper crimp is already caming over so I can't tighten it further. This occurs only with Hornady 123 grain .3105" bullets. 311" are fine. This is a redding die with a .309" expander ball (not the .308 version)

So im not sure what to do- I could swap the 308 expander in (.3065") but wouldn't that be too much neck tension especially if I use .311 bullets?

Another option is I could consider picking up the Lee Factory crimp die but I'm concerned that if the tamper crimp die could not fix it then what could the FCD do differently.

 

[FROGO207]

I use the Lee die set without the FCD and have had no problems with any of the .308, .311, .312 bullets I have loaded with it using the correct stem. That said if you use the smaller stem and the shoulders do not collapse you should be OK. The bullet will size the neck out to give good neck tension. OR you could use a bit of emery paper and chuck the larger sizer stem in a drill and polish the mandrel down so that the bullets fit tightly. If you do that go slowly and try or measure often so as to not go too far. The other thing is that if you are firing much used brass (reloaded lots of times) the necks could have spring back and not size properly without being annealed first. I anneal mine after every 4 reloads to keep this from happening. Hope this helps.

FWIW I like the X-Treme 123 grain heavy plated bullets for plinking/blasting using the .311 stem. Also the .308 FMJ bullets were almost as accurate as the bigger ones in both my SKS's.

Rereading your post if you use the taper crimp die it can squish the casing/bullet down and then the casing will spring back and stay loose but the bullet will be sized smaller by the operation. I would make a dummy round with a piece of problem brass and then measure the bullet after. I bet that you find that the bullet will be sized down a fair amount after crimping.

 

[jmorris]

If you try and put a crimp on an already loose bullet, you will just make it worse.

Are you using brass or steel cases?

 

[BrokenWheel]

They are brass Winchester fired only once.

 

[Gadawg88]

Not sure I have an answer for you, but I reload 7.62x39 also and I haven't had this issue. I do know that crimp is not the answer though. If everything is right, you should have good tension with no crimp. Is all the brass the same? How many times has it been fired? I would probably try chucking the expander in a drill and hitting it with some Emory cloth to make it a bit smaller.

 

[rcmodel]

Some die sets come with both .308" and .311" expanders.

But it sounds like you already know that.

So, take the expander out completely, size a case and see how much neck tension you have then.

If it's fixed?
Your expander is too big.

If it isn't fixed?
Your sizing die isn't sizing the brass small enough in the first place.

And No Amount of crimp can fix a lack of proper case neck tension.

Don't even try crimp as a crutch for poor case neck tension from the sizing die.

rc

 

[highlander 5]

If you have Redding dies get their 30 caliber carbide expander. They're a little pricey but will solve your problem. I use this set up to load 7.62x39 myself with Remington,PMC,Winchester and IMI cases and all my reloads are rock solid no loose bullets.
Hornady makes carbide expanders for RCBS dies as well