Under standing 7,62x39 cal

[flashman]

Hi looking at a new gat in 7.62x39 but its got me buggered with the bullet diameter ...ext 308 , 311 ,312,so if i by ammo off the shelf what will it be ,will i have to slug the barrel and measure , so educate me .......... .

[bladeracer]

Hi looking at a new gat in 7.62x39 but its got me buggered with the bullet diameter ...ext 308 , 311 ,312,so if i by ammo off the shelf what will it be ,will i have to slug the barrel and measure , so educate me .......... .

Factory ammo should be a .310" or .311" bullet.
I have heard that some rifles, mainly American ones, were made with .308" bores, but they should still shoot .311" bullets. So there might be some factory ammo produced with .308" bullets, no idea which though.
You can try .308" bullets, some people seem to manage to get them to shoot okay in .310-.311" bores, not me.

[in2anity]

There's not a tonne of projectiles choices, sadly. I'd be focusing on identifyng a pill that works and is cheap and readily available. Chances are the hornady .310" 123gr SST will shoot as good as most - they can be bought for 50c/piece if you search around. Alternatively, there's the Berry's plated bullet, which is designed for slightly lower speeds (~2000fps); but close to a full case of AR2206H should slow it up a bit, (rather than AR2207)

[bladeracer]

There's not a tonne of projectiles choices, sadly. I'd be focusing on identifyng a pill that works and is cheap and readily available. Chances are the hornady .310" 123gr SST will shoot as good as most - they can be bought for 50c/piece if you search around. Alternatively, there's the Berry's plated bullet, which is designed for slightly lower speeds (~2000fps); but close to a full case of AR2206H should slow it up a bit, (rather than AR2207)

The Berry's doesn't stabilise for me in my .303's or 7.62x54R's, needs to be fatter.

[in2anity]

The Berry's doesn't stabilise for me in my .303's or 7.62x54R's, needs to be fatter.

Aren't we discussing the 7.62x39 though? For which the Berrys 7.62X39 - .311 123GR SP is actually designed for? Powder speed, bullet jump and twist probably all play a part...

[bladeracer]

The Berry's doesn't stabilise for me in my .303's or 7.62x54R's, needs to be fatter.

Aren't we discussing the 7.62x39 though? For which the Berrys 7.62X39 - .311 123GR SP is actually designed for? Powder speed, bullet jump and twist probably all play a part...

Sure, but the 123gn bullet should stabilise just fine in the 7.62x54R, but being a copper-plated bullet rather than jacketed it needs to be over bore size.
Ruger American in 7.62x39mm (.311" bore diameter) has the same 9.5"-twist as the Mosins and AK47's.
I would just recommend you try some before buying a thousand of them, unless your bore is .308", then they shoot very well.
The Hornady .311" shoots great though.

[Ziege]

This has been my only hesitation, locally projies cost so much that buying them to reload seems like a waste of time, can pretty much just buy factory ammo all the same

[bladeracer]

This has been my only hesitation, locally projies cost so much that buying them to reload seems like a waste of time, can pretty much just buy factory ammo all the same

Is there cheap factory ammo available in 7.62x39mm here?

[flashman]

OK get the different dia now ,after a CZin 7.62 x 39 ,so would have to wait till i get the weapon to make a decision on what ammo to run through it ....

[Ziege]

This has been my only hesitation, locally projies cost so much that buying them to reload seems like a waste of time, can pretty much just buy factory ammo all the same

Is there cheap factory ammo available in 7.62x39mm here?

highland/ppu - 80c a shot...

[No1_49er]

OK get the different dia now ,after a CZin 7.62 x 39 ,so would have to wait till i get the RIFLE ( weapon - fixed that for you) to make a decision on what ammo to run through it ....

[JohnV]

There is a fair variation in 7.62x39 bores and projectile diameters . Projectile can vary from .309 to .312 . I reckon if you reload go for a larger projectile like a 303 bullet at .312 rather than a .308 diameter . Also steel cases are berdan primed not boxer primed so very hard to reload . I would go for a 30 BR way before a 7.62x39 .

[in2anity]

There is a fair variation in 7.62x39 bores and projectile diameters . Projectile can vary from .309 to .312 . I reckon if you reload go for a larger projectile like a 303 bullet at .312 rather than a .308 diameter . Also steel cases are berdan primed not boxer primed so very hard to reload . I would go for a 30 BR way before a 7.62x39 .

In practical terms though, what 303 bullet are you referring to? It's hard enough getting a 150gr .312" pill, let alone a ~130gr.

W.R.T cases, if you are going to reload surely you'd just buy brass?

These issues are my bug-bear with the rusky - it's just not a mainstream cartridge here. Not convenient.

[JimTom]

Mate the .311 125gn Sierra goes will in the CZ 527.

[InisBineest]

Hey Mate,
Sorry i haven't read in detail all of the above replies, but if i could share my experience... (TLDR casting and powder coating)
I was after a 7.62x39 and ended up with a 308. This isn't about caliber choice though, as I am reloading the same way regardless.
I cast my own projectiles with cheap Lee moulds, powder coat them with a process that involves little more than a toaster oven, a vibratory tumbler and the powder itself (which i got from floor sweepings at a local powder shop for nothing, not ideal but manageable and gives a good result), and then add a gas check while putting them through a push through sizer. Now, hearing all that, i'm not after MOA results, this is mostly a plinking load, but once you go down this rabbit hole, the possibilities are endless. All in all, i'm loading 308 for about about 26-35c a round, with room to work towards MOA accuracy if I like, and having a blast on the way.

One thing to note, as I'm sure you know, slug your bore, that way you know what sized projectile you are after.
Good luck!

[flashman]

Ok thanks Inisbineest already have 308 win just thought it might be nice plinker up bush or down the range might have a look at a 300BLK as i have a s#*t load 223 rem oh well just a though as the minister of finance has give me the go ahead thats all .....

[InisBineest]

Ok thanks Inisbineest already have 308 win just thought it might be nice plinker up bush or down the range might have a look at a 300BLK as i have a s#*t load 223 rem oh well just a though as the minister of finance has give me the go ahead thats all .....

Don't get me wrong, I'd still love a CZ 527 in 7.62x39, but a Ruger No. 1 in 308 came up at an epic price, I had to jump on that!

[flashman]

Ruger, Number 1 sweet ............

[JimTom]

Ok thanks Inisbineest already have 308 win just thought it might be nice plinker up bush or down the range might have a look at a 300BLK as i have a s#*t load 223 rem oh well just a though as the minister of finance has give me the go ahead thats all .....

Mate 300AAC a lot of fun, obviously not as capable as the 7.62x39 however blackout very cheap to run, especially when converting old 222 or 223 brass.

[JimTom]

Plus if it interest you, they’re a bit of fun messing about with subsonic loads.

[JohnV]

There is a fair variation in 7.62x39 bores and projectile diameters . Projectile can vary from .309 to .312 . I reckon if you reload go for a larger projectile like a 303 bullet at .312 rather than a .308 diameter . Also steel cases are berdan primed not boxer primed so very hard to reload . I would go for a 30 BR way before a 7.62x39 .

In practical terms though, what 303 bullet are you referring to? It's hard enough getting a 150gr .312" pill, let alone a ~130gr.

W.R.T cases, if you are going to reload surely you'd just buy brass?

These issues are my bug-bear with the rusky - it's just not a mainstream cartridge here. Not convenient.

Only referring to 303 diameter .

[SCJ429]

Ruger, Number 1 sweet ............

+1, what an awesome rifle. What is an epic price for a Ruger #1 these days? Every time I go home with one, it costs me thousands. My favourite rifle but if you ask my wife, I only have one.

[flashman]

HI made up my mine going with 300 BLK and yes it will be cheap to run ,have a ton of 5,56x45 brass ,Ruger or a Howa minni action ,and there is subsonic to play around with to..............

[SCJ429]

What is stopping you Flashman? A popular Brisbane funshop is selling Howa 1500 in 223 for $595 and a mini action for an extra $50. Get yourself a $400 IBI barrel and head off to your gunsmith.

[in2anity]

Onya flashman - the blk is way more convenient here, and in the same ballpark as the rusky. Loads of fun to be had and a good offhand / sling supported rifle.

[in2anity]

What is stopping you Flashman? A popular Brisbane funshop is selling Howa 1500 in 223 for $595 and a mini action for an extra $50. Get yourself a $400 IBI barrel and head off to your gunsmith.

Now there’s an idea Grab a 1:10” 30cal, cut it down and poke a reamer in it. I know a smith who has a short-throat blk reamer - because he ordered it for me! It’s custom made to suit the 125gr supers @ 2.1" C.O.L, so you’d need to handload.

[flashman]

And yes that sounds like a plan......

[straightshooter]

A clarifying few comments regarding 7.62x39.
My Zastava will take a .302 (minus) pin gauge at the muzzle but won't take a .303 (minus) pin gauge. So it is safe to say that ideally .310 or .3105 diameter projectiles would be best, .311 and .312 are good and jacketed .308 might also be OK.
When Ruger released rifles in 7.62x39 caliber they simply used .308 barrels with an appropriate ball seat so it will work with just about any 30 or 303 cal bullet within the constraint of the twist. I don't know if Ruger still does so or if other manufacturers do similarly.
Chinese FMJ ammunition generally shoots poorly when properly tested but is acceptable for low cost hunting / pest destruction. If you understand how their projectile is constructed then you will understand why.
Hornady and Taipan projectiles shoot much better and are properly constructed for game.

[in2anity]

Hornady and Taipan projectiles shoot much better and are properly constructed for game.

Taipain were the pick for club level, back when they made .312 diameter. A lot of the codgers still have stores of the 150gr, for the 303. I'm really hoping the new Taipan will start making 125gr and 150gr .312 again.