My first hard cast lead 7.62x39 reload.

[Tony]

My hard cast bullets arrived. They are 115 gr round nose, no gas
check. I looked in my reloading manuals and on the internet for load
data for this particular cartridge combo and I couldn't find it, so I
started with a close load from one of the other recipes.

Here's what I assembled.

Federal (once shot American Eagle) brass.
Remington LR primer.
26.5 gr AA 1680 Powder.
Magnus 115 gr .311 dia round nose bullet.

I assembled 20 of them, and out of 20, I got three misfires. I'm
figuring this was a primer seating problem (though one of the primers
wasn't even dimpled from the hammer fall, so it could be a insuffucient
hand cycling), so I'm being a little more careful with the next batch.
They fed ok in my Yugo SKS 59/66A1, but to be fair, I didn't have the
gas valve set to semi-auto. I used it bolt action so I didn't have to
chase the brass.

I have been getting groupings of about 5 inches at 50 yards using iron
sights, but with my new reloads, I couldn't hit the paper. I moved the
target to 10 yards, and I could hit the paper, but the bullets were
going every which way and keyholing like crazy (some keyholes were
perfect bullet shapes :)).

I think I have a few things I can try:

1. Slug the bore to make sure of the dia. of the bullet required for my
gun.

2. Try seating the bullet a little shallower (however, the instructions
said that I should seat it to the crimp groove). I have a little play,
and I'll try that to get the bullet contacting the rifling right off.

3. Powder: I don't know enough about "experimental reloading" to be
comfortable either increasing or decreasing the powder charge. I'll be
happy to take some advice regarding that. If there's some resources
online for calculating case pressure using volumetric analysis, I'm not
afraid of math. :)

Any ideas would be appreciated.

--
The Cigar Diary
http://www.cigardiary.com

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[haraoi...@yahoo.com]

Lee manual shows a 110grn bullet load with 24.7grns to 27.5grns of
Accur 1680. the listed velocity is 2547fps. I try to keep my cast
bullet loads below 2000fps. Could you be getting gas leaking around
the base of the bullet?

I use the lee 160grn bullet designed for the AK. I use them gas
checked. I load them with 5 grns of Red Dot. These loads do not cycle
either the AK or SKS. They are accurate enough to plink at 100ft. I
also use 14.5 to 15.5 grns of 2400 with the same bullet.

[Gerald "Brick" Brickwood]

"Tony" <to...@cigardiary.com> wrote in message
news:gtaq0p$ij6$1...@news.albasani.net...
# My hard cast bullets arrived. They are 115 gr round nose, no gas
# check. I looked in my reloading manuals and on the internet for load
# data for this particular cartridge combo and I couldn't find it, so I
# started with a close load from one of the other recipes.
#
# Here's what I assembled.
#
# Federal (once shot American Eagle) brass.
# Remington LR primer.
# 26.5 gr AA 1680 Powder.
# Magnus 115 gr .311 dia round nose bullet.
#
# I assembled 20 of them, and out of 20, I got three misfires. I'm
# figuring this was a primer seating problem (though one of the primers
# wasn't even dimpled from the hammer fall, so it could be a insuffucient
# hand cycling), so I'm being a little more careful with the next batch.
# They fed ok in my Yugo SKS 59/66A1, but to be fair, I didn't have the
# gas valve set to semi-auto. I used it bolt action so I didn't have to
# chase the brass.
#
# I have been getting groupings of about 5 inches at 50 yards using iron
# sights, but with my new reloads, I couldn't hit the paper. I moved the
# target to 10 yards, and I could hit the paper, but the bullets were
# going every which way and keyholing like crazy (some keyholes were
# perfect bullet shapes :)).
#
# I think I have a few things I can try:
#
# 1. Slug the bore to make sure of the dia. of the bullet required for my
# gun.
#
# 2. Try seating the bullet a little shallower (however, the instructions
# said that I should seat it to the crimp groove). I have a little play,
# and I'll try that to get the bullet contacting the rifling right off.
#
# 3. Powder: I don't know enough about "experimental reloading" to be
# comfortable either increasing or decreasing the powder charge. I'll be
# happy to take some advice regarding that. If there's some resources
# online for calculating case pressure using volumetric analysis, I'm not
# afraid of math. :)
#
# Any ideas would be appreciated.
#
# --
# The Cigar Diary
# http://www.cigardiary.com

You should start out by first reviewing and researching your load data. The
charge weight & powder you list above is almost a maximum load for the 110
grain JACKETED bullet (the 5 grain wieght difference is almost negligible)
reference: Sierra ED V pg 495.

Cast lead loads for rifles are typically produced with shotgun/pistol
powders (although there are variations) and with velocities lower than 2000
fps. I suggest further that you check data in and purchase Lyman's current
reloading manual.

Just to compare data here's a loading for .30-30 Winchester from (my now
antique) Lyman manual: for the 120 gr. gas check bullet, 7.5 grains of
Unique produces 1480 fps @ 21,600 cup; max load is 11.4 gr. producing 1913
fps @36,400 cup. Do not use this data as a basis to develop loads for your
SKS!

If you are not sure where to start, Accurate Arms powder and other powder
manufacturers have contact information available to send questions to
company ballisticians. Use them!

[MaxE...@brown.edu]

#Federal (once shot American Eagle) brass.
#Remington LR primer.
#26.5 gr AA 1680 Powder.
#Magnus 115 gr .311 dia round nose bullet.
#

According to Quickload this is pushing cast bullets way
beyond what is practical for cast bullets.
2151fps @ 31203psi chamber pressure. (max is 50000)

Check out the Cast Boolits forum:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=13453

Read a bit more and start 15% lower and watch for pressure
signs.

The SKS and AK-47 were designed to use 123-125gr bullets and
a medium burn rate powder to fit the time/pressure curve to
work the action.

C.E. Harris designed 2 bullet molds for Lee Reloading.

In my gun his loads are a bit hot.

No real need to slug the barrel, any bullet from .308 to
..312 will work. Nominal is .311.

[Blueh...@aol.com]

" No real need to slug the barrel, any �bullet from .308 to ..312 will
work. �Nominal is .311"

That's poor advice...slugging the barrel is a must when useing cast
bullets in guns like the SKS where bores can vary widely! A good
bullet-to-bore fit is essential for accuracy...as well as minimizing
leading problems!
Geralds advice is good, as you are pushing that bullet too fast since
it's not gas checked. Lower you powder charge by at least 10% or go
online and see if there is any up to date info on cast bullet loading
for this caliber from the major powder companies. As it stands right
now I haven't seen a good gas checked bullet mold in the right weight
range (123-125 grains) being produced...most are too light or too
heavy. Maybe someday soon one of the big makers will realize we need a
proper mold for this caliber.

[Tony]

haraoi...@yahoo.com used his keyboard to write :
# Lee manual shows a 110grn bullet load with 24.7grns to 27.5grns of
# Accur 1680. the listed velocity is 2547fps. I try to keep my cast
# bullet loads below 2000fps. Could you be getting gas leaking around
# the base of the bullet?

I could. I'll have to slug the bore and see. If I had a loose fit, it
would also account for "wobbling" that would throw things off randomly.

Thanks for the load info, that makes sense. I'll back it off to 25 as
a starting load and see what happend.

# I use the lee 160grn bullet designed for the AK. I use them gas
# checked. I load them with 5 grns of Red Dot. These loads do not cycle
# either the AK or SKS. They are accurate enough to plink at 100ft. I
# also use 14.5 to 15.5 grns of 2400 with the same bullet.

When you load them with 5 grns of Red Dot, how do you keep the powder
from settling in the cartridge away from the primer? I was thinking of
using a few grains of AA #2 if I run out of 1680.

If I'm making stupid assumptions, please correct me. I trust the
wisdom of those with much more experience than myself.

--
The Cigar Diary

[Blueh...@aol.com]

On May 1, 4:41�am, MaxEP...@brown.edu wrote:
# According to Quickload this is pushing cast bullets way beyond what is practical for cast bullets.

# 2151fps @ 31203psi chamber pressure. (max is 50000)

I push hard cast 300 grain, gas checked bullets from my .458 Win Mag
at 2,100 fps with excellent accuracy!
Shhhh...please don't tell them they aren't being practical...it would
hurt their feelings! :o(

[haraoi...@yahoo.com]

On May 1, 7:44�pm, Tony <t...@cigardiary.com> wrote:
#
# When you load them with 5 grns of Red Dot, how do you keep the powder
# from settling in the cartridge away from the primer? �I was thinking of
# using a few grains of AA #2 if I run out of 1680.
#

I don't have any experience with the accurate arms powders. I know
that there are no problems with using small amounts of fast burning
powders like Red Dot. Some powders you have to be careful using too
small amounts. I have noticed no problems with ignition using the 5
grn loads. I don't have a chronograph so I don't have hard fast
numbers.

I have used a charge as low as 3 grains of Red Dot in a 30-06 case
using 00 buckshot for a bullets. These loads seem to work okay too.

[haraoi...@yahoo.com]

On Apr 29, 8:05�pm, Tony <t...@cigardiary.com> wrote:

#
# I have been getting groupings of about 5 inches at 50 yards using iron
# sights, but with my new reloads, I couldn't hit the paper. �I moved the

# target to 10 yards, and I could hit the paper, but the bullets were
# going every which way and keyholing like crazy (some keyholes were
# perfect bullet shapes :)).
#

Here is some searching using dogpile.com for "7.62x36 reloads":
http://www.dogpile.com/dogpile/ws/results/Web/7!FE62x39%20loads/1/417/TopNavigation/Relevance/iq=true/zoom=off/_iceUrlFlag=7?_IceUrl=true

http://www.reloadammo.com/762rload.htm
http://www.ak-47.net/ammo/reload2.html
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-3104.html
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-6552.html
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-8585.html
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-9152.html
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-10300.html
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-10701.html
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-11518.html
http://www.castbulletassoc.org/forum/view_topic.php?id=1766&forum_id=8

[Blueh...@aol.com]

Tony, when useing modern primers there isn't a problem with the use of
small amounts of powder especially in a small case like the
7.62x39mm...the flame heat and duration ignites it all instantly. If
you've ever ignited a primer only (primed case - no powder or
bullet) in a rifle in a dark area you would be amazed to see the
length and brightness of the flame coming out of the end of the barrel!