Reduced 7.62x39 load

[Swifty Boy]

I would like to make a slightly reduced 7.62x39 load for use in my straight pull AKMS with the following components:

- Lapua brass;
- CCI 250 magnum primer;
- PPU FMJ 110gn bullet (I realise this is a .308 rather than .311 diameter bullet);
-19.5 grains H110 powder as per the starting load for this bullet listed in my Speer manual.

I am after a velocity lower than 2100 fps and a muzzle energy of less than 1500 ft/lbs to comply with my local range's certificate. Accuracy not hugely important as it will only be used at 25 yards.

Can anyone advise whether there will be any issues with above please? Also I'm interested in using Red Dot if possible or is this best used with heavier lead boolits?

Thanks in advance.

[Jackmanuk]

you may find the ppu fmj 7.62 bullets are cheaper than the 30 cal fmj , i use 16 grains of 2400 , i dont no the speed but its certainly more tolerable than the surplus stuff

[Swifty Boy]

Thanks for that, are they the 123gn bullets?

[Alpha1]

If you are wanting to use it on a indoor 25 yard range.

1. Contact Dodgyrog and purchase some of his cast .312 soupcan cast boolits. Wait for them to arrive.
2. Contact Adam(Dromia) and buy a tub of vitavouri N310. While you are on the phone ordering it ask him how you should be using it to develop a load for shooting at 25 yards.
3. Buy a set of dies while you are chatting to him and a suitable case kneck expander.

Take his advice then go and reload your ammo using 3.6 grains of N310 shoot it across a chrono at your local range and go from there.

What ever you do don't ask my advice because I know nothing about reloading.

[Jackmanuk]

yes the 123 grains

alpha is right there ... but dont tell him that

it really depends if you doing it on the cheap or not

if you doing it on the cheap and have a decent supply of lead then go for casting your own , i use to take my lead out of the sand bank so i take everyones black pwoder balls , melt themn down and send them back i nthe sand , the only thing i pay for is electric for the melting pot

[dromia]

Dave is right.

For 25 yrds, cast boolits and fast pistol powders are the way to go with accuracy.

Do a search this has been done to death on here.

Read Harris's article on cast in military rifles in the library, ignore the bit about enlarging flash holes. If, and it is a very big if, you do eventually get some shoulder set back then a quick bit of partial full length resizing will sort it. I have been shooting large quantities of such ammunition for decades and have yet to see any appreciable shoulder set back and I never drill my primer flash holes.

[Swifty Boy]

Thanks all, there are a few things there for me to ponder. The range is outdoors.

One further question I have, and this is the reason for me proposing the FMJ bullets - am I going to get any issues switching between lead boolits (gallery) and FMJ (longer distance) in terms of barrel deposits? I have been advised (perhaps wrongly) that I shouldn't shoot a combination of the two through the same barrel. Perhaps this is something that is a non-issue with a decent cleaning regime?

Thanks.

[dromia]

Perceived cast boolit wisdom says that all copper should be removed from a barrel before shooting cast, whilst this good practice indeed I doubt that it will make much difference at these velocities and range. Properly chosen and loaded cast boolits will not cause leading whereas condom bullets always give copper fouling. Bad copper fouling can cause leading if cast boolits are shot over it, however if you keep your barrels nearly copper free with a normal cleaning regime then it should not be a problem.

The only real way to find out in your rifle is to try it but with cast boolit fit must be right for your barrel and chamber.

[DanTheMan]

Pulled cheap Russian steel cased ammo + 6gr Red Dot powder + 140gr lead gas checked bullet, only takes a few seconds to reload each round and I believe the gas check helps eliminate leading....

[dromia]

Gas checks have very little direct effect on reducing leading, that is not their purpose.

Personally I'd drop that load down to 4gns with Red Dot for 25 yrds and use a lighter boolit in the 100-120 gn region, tumble lubed with 45-45-10 without gas check, even if it is a gas check design.