which 7.62x39 dies ???

[bantam9]

I see small base, series A, series B, 2 die sets, 3 die sets,.....
Anyone with any experience have a suggestion on which set would be best to purchase.
The set would be to load brass cases for a standard rus. sk.
Powder and bullet suggestion would be great as well. New to this calibur.any tricks one should know of??

 

[aka108]

I purchased a set of Lee dies in 7.62x39. I have no idea if about base sizes or any of that. All I know is that the Lee die prepared reloads function well in my Saiga and Arsenal SA M7. Last bullets I purchased were from Golden West Bullets in CA. They seem perpetually out of stock now. I haven't reload the 7.62X39's for about 6 years now and forget what powder and charge weight I used then. Have several thousand brass cases but have been shooting Wolf most of the time since I purchased many cases when it was 99 bucks a case. Can't reload for that price today.

 

[plmitch]

Any cheap Lee set will be just fine. Will you be shooting jacket or cast bullets?

 

[Gadawg88]

I was sizing and depriming some PPU 7.62x39 brass this morning as a matter of fact. I am using the Lee Pacesetter 3 die set. I am relatively new to reloading this caliber also. I am running them through a Saiga conversion. I have only put around 150 reloaded rounds down range, but have had no issues so far.

My load is: CCI #200, 24.8gn H4198,Hornady V max 123gn .310dia, COL 2.19.
I have only shot these loads at the indoor range at 25 yds, but they grouped to my satisfaction, four shots in 1/4 inch. H4198 is the only powder I have tried so far but others i have read about for x39 are aa1680, H335 and Reloader7.

Midway has the VMax bullets available finally. I had been waiting months to find .310 bullets. They also have a deal going where you get $15 off $100 order, $30 off $200 etc.
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&newcategorydimensionid=20613

 

[UziLand]

I use the aa1680 because it was made specifcally for that round. Get the Lee dies because they come with .308 and 310 expanders and the FCD. Neck tension is VERY important with these rounds, along with crimp. The bullets "move" due to the violent actions in the AK and SKS weapons, the AK being the worst. Measure your first rounds, shoot 2 or 3, eject the rest and re-measure. Beware of Xtreme bullets because they are short and have no cannelure groove. When I first tried them with a taper crimp, the third round knocked the bullet out of the case and into the barrel.
Otherwise I have settled on 23gr of 1680, COAL 2.170 to 2.190.
If you ever decide to try frangibles, use caution, it's a whole different animal!

Good luck,

UL

 

[bantam9]

Great info !!!

thanks everyone--great info
Plan on jacketed bullets. thanks for pwder info as well.
Should you steer towards one size projectile. I've seen .310, .311, and .312's. Are any or all acceptable?

 

[Grumulkin]

I use RCBS dies for 7.62x39mm reloading. The powders I've tried include:

A1680
IMR 4895
H4198
H335
A2015

So far the load I like best uses CCI No. 34 primers, Winchester brass, 123 grain Hornady Spire points and 25 grains of A2015. A2015 has one of the better projected velocities.

The bullets I've used are all allegedly 0.310 inches in diameter but Federal bullets of that diameter were pretty loose in the case (problem solved easily with a Lee Factory Crimp Die) while Winchester bullets were not. Yea, I know, my expander button is probably just a tiny bit too big.

 

[Gadawg88]

I think most fmj bullets intended for 7.62x39 are going to be .310. You want to stick with 123 to 150 gn. I only have experience with the 123 gn so far. Some of the .312 bullets are intended for 7.7 Jap. Shooting from an AK you want a bullet with a cannelure. Some people load .308 and it is generally safe to do so, but accuracy may suffer. Have not tried it myself, but some people claim to get acceptable accuracy with them.

 

[armoredman]

23 gr of 1680 is below starting load with today's updated Accurate data for jacketed bullets. if you are still using older data, please go to the site and download the current data.
I've been loading 7.62x39mm for some time, and have fun with it. Also Berrys makes a nice 125 grain plated bullet for the caliber.
I also cast my own bullets.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Since I shoot at an indoor range, I have been pulling bullets from steel case ammo and loading with 1680 and Sierra 2300, 150 gr .311 dia.
There is an sks board with a reloading section. sks board. The search function is disabled, so you have to used advanced google for searching.

 

[hartcreek]

I used RCBS dies for 7.62 x 39 Small or Large huh...... they do use both small and large rifle primers is the only thing that I can think of. My RCBS dies use the small rifle pin but I use them on all 7.62x 39 cases.

 

[savanahsdad]

if this is the only 7.62X39 you are going to be loading for , just get the Lee 2 die set for 7.62X39 Russian no need for the small base dies in a SKS and no real need for the set with the two size expanders unless you plain on using any .308 bullets , the 2 die set comes with the .310 expander, and if you get the 2 die set that says 7.62X39 and not the "7.62X39 Russian" you will get the .308 expander, and you will be shaving you bullets when you try to seat them ,

I only load for 1 SKS and I use the "7.62X39 Russian" set from Lee and my SKS seems to like the .311

 

[Wildbillz]

I have a set of RCBS ones. They came with both a 308 and 310 expander. I also have a Lee set that I picked up in a trade that came with a separate crimp die.

So either one works I guess?

WB

 

[armoredman]

I find the Lee set works perfectly, and the Factory Crimp die set lightly does help when using different brands of brass to achieve uniform neck tension.

 

[bantam9]

7.62x39 russian sounds like the one for me..

thanks for the help. need to go shopping now.