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Posted: 6/7/2010 7:53:22 AM EDT
| I have a Saiga 7.62x39 that I am wanting to set-up as a nice hunting and truck gun. I am a reloader I am just looking for bullets that work well in the AK platform. I have 125gr. B-Tips, 110gr. V-Max and 130gr. TSX bullets in stock, but the problem is I know they are .308 diameter and the AK's barrel should be .310 in diameter. What is everyone using to reload with and what are some good loads for general AK use? |
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I've got a bunch of 125gr SPs and the 123 FMJs from Hornady, I believe. I got into reloading the x39 five years back when Ebay was allowing the sale of brass and bullets. I got a lot of components for cheap, so it made (makes) sense. If price is your ultimate goal, buy the factory stuff.
If you just like to tinker, figure out what your bore mics out and get the appropriate caliber bullet and look for AA 1680 to begin with, as it's a powder specifically designed for the AK round. I remember reading a post by an experienced reloader who had AKs and SKSs weapons and he felt he could never achieve the accuracy and consistency with his reloads, that he got with the Russian and Chinese stuff. I did two boxes way back when, went to the range, set up my Norinco AK and chrono and got 10 shots off before the 'lightning alarm' rang and cut the day short. Haven't been out since then, with that weapon and ammo, so I can't speak to my loads. The 10 went bang, though. Chris |
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Take a look at this thread:
Who reloads for 7.62 by 39? jonblack |
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I've reloaded for my Chinese and Yugo SKS for about 5 years,I like the bullet performance on game and the accuracy and consistency I get from my reloads over any of the Russian stuff I've shot. That being said the AK has somewhat at a disadvantage to the SKS because it was never intended to be a rifle so to speak but a MG,it's looser tolerances and heavier bolt gas piston assembly that slightly offset to the right tend to work agents it compared to other X39 chamber firearms.
If I had one of the AK style firearms I would probably be reloading for it also,I tend to suffer from the nomoruscrpinygn sickness translated, no more using crap in your gun. I wouldn't advise anyone not to try reloading for the X39 it might surprise you just how good it shoots even if it cost a little more. Just save your quality ammo for when it needs to count and use the cheap stuff to sling steel and lead downrange. The .310 dia. jacketed bullets are correct for the X39 however some will like the .311 better,my SKS rifles prefer the .310's. My powders of choice are AA1680,Reloader#7 and IMR or H4198 those three give you the best bang for the buck,if you use the Hornady .310 123 gr. SP,FMJ or V-MAX bullets the load data is the same with all three bullets according to the Hornady manuals I also use them in the same manner with the Lyman #48 or #49 reloading manual for 123 gr. jacketed bullets. I shoot everything from 123 gr. up to 187 gr. in both jacketed and cast through my SKS rifles. On primers I prefer the CCI#34 LR Mil-Spec primer which are magnum primers and are less sensitive to the free floating firing pin strikes which can cause slamfires in AK,SKS and several other American and foreign Military style rifles,you can substitute the Wolf LRM primer which has a harder primer cup. Regardless of which primer you use take precautions to avoid high primers, make sure the primer is seated flush to the case rim preferably below flush. |
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Quoted:
I've reloaded for my Chinese and Yugo SKS for about 5 years,I like the bullet performance on game and the accuracy and consistency I get from my reloads over any of the Russian stuff I've shot. That being said the AK has somewhat at a disadvantage to the SKS because it was never intended to be a rifle so to speak but a MG,it's looser tolerances and heavier bolt gas piston assembly that slightly offset to the right tend to work agents it compared to other X39 chamber firearms. If I had one of the AK style firearms I would probably be reloading for it also,I tend to suffer from the nomoruscrpinygn sickness translated, no more using crap in your gun. I wouldn't advise anyone not to try reloading for the X39 it might surprise you just how good it shoots even if it cost a little more. Just save your quality ammo for when it needs to count and use the cheap stuff to sling steel and lead downrange. The .310 dia. jacketed bullets are correct for the X39 however some will like the .311 better,my SKS rifles prefer the .310's. My powders of choice are AA1680,Reloader#7 and IMR or H4198 those three give you the best bang for the buck,if you use the Hornady .310 123 gr. SP,FMJ or V-MAX bullets the load data is the same with all three bullets according to the Hornady manuals I also use them in the same manner with the Lyman #48 or #49 reloading manual for 123 gr. jacketed bullets. I shoot everything from 123 gr. up to 187 gr. in both jacketed and cast through my SKS rifles. On primers I prefer the CCI#34 LR Mil-Spec primer which are magnum primers and are less sensitive to the free floating firing pin strikes which can cause slamfires in AK,SKS and several other American and foreign Military style rifles,you can substitute the Wolf LRM primer which has a harder primer cup. Regardless of which primer you use take precautions to avoid high primers, make sure the primer is seated flush to the case rim preferably below flush. I bought one of these for my Norinco and haven't had a slam fire since. IMO it's worth the $$ if you shoot much ammo with soft primer cups. |
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I bought one of these for my Norinco and haven't had a slam fire since.
IMO it's worth the $$ if you shoot much ammo with soft primer cups. Ya,I've known about the Murray's pins ever since he started making those for the SKS's,I have so many of the CCI#34's I bough when they were $29 per K and the Wolf LRM I got for $25.50 per K I dough I will ever run out. I might get one at some point when the funds are more available. |
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I am a reloader, of course I reload for my AK's. When you couldn't buy 7.62 x 39 at any price, I had plenty of ammo.
Now that ammo prices are at $200 a k, it's cheaper to buy than reload. But I will still shoot my reloads, they are more accurate, and I like shooting them. I am shooting a pulled 147 gr FMJBTSC .310 bullet, AA-1680, and Wolf LR primers. I have also used Win LR primers with zero problems. The secret is seat primers .002 to .008 below the head. No high primers. I also shoot .308 bullets, they are accurate out to 50 yds or so. 
I have 2 sizing dies, a .3065 ball for .308 bullets and a .308 ball for .310 bullets. 
I size cases on a Rockchucker, and load on a 550. For a hunting load, I would buy some of the commercial .310 jacketed bullets and work up a load. Good luck |
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Quoted:
I've never reloaded for an AK or SKS not cost or time effective for those guns. However I do reload for a CZ-527 7.62 carbine using Hornady 123 gr soft points and V-max rounds. For plinking ammo? maybe not. I can realod(right now) for about what i could pay for bulk As far as hunting loads? It might be worth the extra cost to get that bit more accracy out of it jmo |
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