Reloading 7.62x39

[fobb]

I am fairly new to reloading and trying to learn. I have a AR15 in 7.62x39 and want to reload for accuracy. I have Winchester brass and 125gr Sierra 303 bullets that are .311 diameter. My question is do I crimp these as they do not have a crimp ring on the bullets or do I just seat them and not crimp. If I don't crimp them will they change the AOL of the rounds still in the magazine from the recoil.
Thank you for your help.

 

[beeenbag]

you do not need a crimp ring, just put a slight crimp on them and you're good. It's not a hard recoiling round, I would just put a small crimp to avoid bullet push back during feeding.

 

[someguy2800]

Any change in length will be from feeding a round in, not recoil. Make sure the bullets have good neck tension when seating. I wouldn't worry about crimping.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I've loaded a lot of those with no crimp, and haven't had any problems

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Those bullets should shoot very well for you. Also if you crimp them use the Lee Factory Crimp Die ONLY. However it may not even be necessary. Are you going to hunt, target shoot, or both with it? For cheap plinking buy the Nosler FB Tipped seconds they are accurate and cheap for a jacketed lead core bullet, they are .310 diameter.For hunting I highly recommend the newly released Speer Gold Dot Hunting bullet. It's a .310 diameter bonded 123 grain soft point. It's basically the same bullet as the Federal Fusion and those things are FANTASTIC. As for powder CFE BLK, CFE BLK, CFE BLK and btw did I mention CFE BLK

 

[Grass-sama]

I agree with the commentators above, a crimp isn't a necessity, unless you are running the firearm pretty hard, where you might get some set back in feeding. Personally, I only crimp 300BLK because I have the Lee Factory Crimp die, but everything else I load for, 9mm, 45acp, .223 rem, 44mag, I don't bother crimping and i haven't had any issues with set back. And if your sizing dye gives you proper neck tension, which most do, a crimp die isn't a necessity. Johnny's reloading bench on youtube made a video related to this topic.

 

[highlander 5]

I reload 7.62x39 and use the .308 expander ball in when resizing that way I don't have to or need a crimp.

 

[Toprudder]

I can only speak for the one gun that I have reloaded for in this caliber - an older Ruger Mini-30. I have to crimp for that gun, since it slams the round into the chamber so fast that the OAL will actually increase (like a kinetic bullet puller). There is not enough recoil, IMHO, to change the OAL of the rounds in the mag.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I use just a touch of crimp, mainly to remove any flare.

 

[entropy]

I loaded 7.62x39 for an AK, (and the SKS I no longer have) and never crimped, even with the .310 expander.

 

[jeeptim]

No crimp

 

[armoredman]

I use the Lee FCD with jacketed bullets, but with my home cast powder coated bullets, no crimp. The 129gr NOE lays a nice smack on the steel at 200 yards.

 

[joneb]

I did three test loads with Xtreme plated 123 gr FP every thing was the same except the the crimp, I was using H-4198 in R-P SRP with GM 205 AR primers. Five rounds had a slight Lee collet crimp applied, five had a medium and five had a heavy crimp. the best groups and best velocity ES were with the heavier crimped rounds.

 

[adcoch1]

I put a light crimp for the semi autos, but for my bolt gun i don't worry about it.

 

[adcoch1]

With the lee crimp die...

 

[NR53]

I use AA1680 and a light crimp with the Lee FCD. The Nosler .310 dia, 123 grain VG blems are a cheap and accurate plinker and varmint bullet. The Hornady 123 gr SST is a good hunting bullet. The Speer .310 dia , 123 grain gold dot should be an excellent bullet for hogs and deer. Good luck and be safe.

 

[dh1633pm]

I am with the no crimp crowd. Good luck with your loads. AA680 seems to be the "go to" powder.