formernuke Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Is it economically sound to load 7.62x39? If so what bullets are good? I was going to just use tula/wolf but every 1/3 to 1/2 round fails to fire. I tested them in more than one rifle just to make sure with the same results. So I'm considering saving up for the all the stuff needed to start loading my own, but wanted to see about components first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Rod Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 (edited) Using 1680 or 4227 and 123gr Priv I'm loading x39 for ~.29/round. Since my Colt can't run steel either I opted to reload when brass cased x39 passed $.43/round and became scarce. The most expensive part is going to be brass which you don't find much at the local ranges. 1680 is a bit hard to find but 4227 is around and works just as good with 123gr bullets. I recently saw an add for Yugo at $265 per 900 shipped so that's an attractive option. Keep in mind though, that if you ever want or need to reload, the Yugo brass is berdan primed so you can't salvage the brass. Yugo is very accurate stuff but, for a few cents more per round, you can probably find some reloadable brass elsewhere. Edited January 17, 2015 by Dirty Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Indoor ranges are a good source for brass cased 7.62X39. Seems they are a little geeked out about some customers shooting steel cased ammo which might have a steel core bullet. Speer makes a TNT bullet that's fairly cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dauntedfuture Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 There are two "types" of 7.62x39 sizing dies out there. Some are made for .308 bullets and others for .311 bullets. You need to know which one you have as well as the diameter of your bore as some US guns have .308 bores in 7.62x39mm. You might have luck shooting .308 bullets in a .311 bore. I suspect that at worst, accuracy with a .308 125g US made bullet will be on par with a Russian .311 bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formernuke Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks for the tips. What brand dies are you guys using? I load on a 550b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Rod Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I use all brands on my 550s but I think my x39 dies are Lee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 The Lee dies come with a two different sizes of decapping rod/neck expanders. One is meant for .308 bullets and the other is meant for .311 projectiles. If you use the .311 expander, and have .308 bullets, when you go to seat the bullet, the .308 bullet will drop into the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NuJudge Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Berdan primed cases reload just fine, you just have to have the primers. Berdan primers adds just one step. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djeffers Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Before Christmas, I saw an add for 1,000 7.62x39 brass for $165 or $195...I don't remember which. I have "horse traded" some brass for 7.62x39. I figure I will just buy the cheapest brass cased 7.62x39 ammo I can find and trade until I build up to a decent amount of brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowfin Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I wonder if anyone loads 7.62x39 with 200+ grain bullets to do subsonic rounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankge Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 live loaded up to 150g bullets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NuJudge Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I wonder if anyone loads 7.62x39 with 200+ grain bullets to do subsonic rounds. Loads with bullets that approach that weight: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?250083-Junior1942-s-7-62x39-SKS-loads-with-LeveRevolution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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