7.62x25 rifle

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Well today I took my7.62x25 rifle down to the shop to try to work up some loads for it. I was searching for some load data for it with heavy bullets and came across an old post on this forum that said western powders had some data for this cartridge in the AR-15. I sent them an email and the next day load data for bullets up to 200 gr. showed up in my inbox. It said it wasn't lab tested but should be a good guideline. I ran them through quickload and they looked ok so I loaded some up and punched some holes in paper. The 168 gr. Berger moly LTB didn't do as well as the 168 gr A-max so I started working with that. I'm loaded really long and the tokerov evidently has a pretty long freebore but i managed to get it into the lands. This is the best this gun has ever shot. I've gotten mostly 2 inch groups at 50 yds. (max home range) Today I made some progress My best group was a little less than 1/2 inch after the wind kicked up.

Forum Boss -- this is now a Sunday GunDay Article. Read HERE:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2020/09/sunday-gunday-home-built-7-62x25-tokarev-custom-rifle/



My empty brass looked good, primers looked ok. the hottest load was the best . I can go up a little as I'm not at max on the recomended data. I'll probably set up my chrony tomorrow and see how things look . I'm at about 1400 to 1450 fps. I'd really like to lob those into one hole.

 

[hpshooter]

Details on your interesting rifle?

 

[jonbearman]

Yes more details about the entire rifle. That round is so cool. I love pip squeak rifle cartridges.

 

[scasa]

Details on your interesting rifle?

Once upon a time I got this idea to make a bolt action with front locking lugs, full diameter bolt, remington trigger. It took me years to get it all figured out and make all the tooling then it took about 6 months to build the gun . I made the action, profiled threaded and chambered the barrel. I made the stock from a laminated blank. It looks different but I like things that are different not the norm. I wish the 7.62x25 had a longer neck . At .140 thou it's pretty short, I think longer would help getting things lined up better, boat tailed bullets seem to load easier than flat base.
Even if I cant get it to shoot one hole groups it still turns heads at the range.

 

[Forum Boss]

Please contact Forum Boss about this build -- I have some questions. And if you could post more photos that would be great. Check your PMs please.

 

[hpshooter]

"Once upon a time I got this idea to make a bolt action with front locking lugs, full diameter bolt, remington trigger. It took me years to get it all figured out and make all the tooling then it took about 6 months to build the gun ."

Your project would make a great read. Interested in what metal and heat treatment (if any) you used for the receiver and bolt.

 

[scasa]

As requested here is more pictures.
these are the two main tools I used to build the action. the first is a air powered milling head for the lathe carrage. the second is an indexing disk with locating pins and a 90 to 1 right angle gearbox so I can rotate the spindle while milling

Once I figured out how to get the holes all aligned and reamed I cut the top and bottom then cut the ends by rotating and step milling them out. That was the most complicated and stressful part and it took years to figure it all out


Here is the end of the bolt. the slot is for the bolt stop and the rest will be milled away for the extraction cam and bolt handle attaching point

 

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The cocking cam was cut free hand and filed to fit.

the bolt stop is a just a slot with a hole on one end and a spring perch on the other end
the extractor slot cuts through one lug
It still has 10 times the required strength for this.
primary extraction cam on the bolt. Cut freehand. there was no CNC involved in this project, no DRO. Calipers and handwheels only.
the breech end of course we have to have a coned bolt.

 

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last few

 

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Your project would make a great read. Interested in what metal and heat treatment (if any) you used for the receiver and bolt.

Well it's like this, you use what you have and design to fit you materials the receiver is 4160 at rc32 and the bolt is actually a grade 8 bolt. A lot of the little parts are cut out of leaf springs. It's labor intensive I know. but thats how I grew up ,If you wanted something you made it . I've made a lot of guns.

 

[hpshooter]

"It's labor intensive I know. but thats how I grew up ,If you wanted something you made it . I've made a lot of guns."

Understand!

 

[lwhaples]

Enjoyed seeing and reading about your project. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Trashy]

Man, thats awesome. Looks like it would be a ton of fun in a contender pistol.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

WOW...I like it.
It sure is a hot little round in a pistol.
Thanks for sharing.


Kermit

 

[Chocdawg]

Fantastic rifle stock. Great work.

 

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I just wanted to thank you all for the nice comments. and to Forum Boss for the article in the bulletin. There will be more updates to the load workup later today.
Thanks again
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/

 

[jonbearman]

Cant you convert .223 rem to7.62x25mm. In doing so you could cut the .223 case a bit longer and back your die off to make a longer neck?

 

[Forum Boss]

Guys -- I made this into a Sunday GunDay article. You can see it here:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2020/09/sunday-gunday-home-built-7-62x25-tokarev-custom-rifle/

This makes it a bit easier to read and understand all the features. FWIW, it took about 4 hours of my time to do this.

 

[scasa]

Cant you convert .223 rem to7.62x25mm. In doing so you could cut the .223 case a bit longer and back your die off to make a longer neck?

Your right you can make them from .223 brass . I think you have to ream the inside of the necks though. The necks on the S&B brass are already short and after trimming to make them uniform there about .140 long I'd have to gain another .100 to make it worthwhile and then reaming out the freebore. I have about 600 rounds of surplus ammo and I want to retain the ability to shoot that, should the need arise. On the last round of testing, after sizing the case I didn't expand the neck and that seemed to work ok for boat tails. don't know yet on the flat base. but I got a one hole group with the 168 gr. a-max

 

[Ramblerman]

Your right you can make them from .223 brass . I think you have to ream the inside of the necks though. The necks on the S&B brass are already short and after trimming to make them uniform there about .140 long I'd have to gain another .100 to make it worthwhile and then reaming out the freebore. I have about 600 rounds of surplus ammo and I want to retain the ability to shoot that, should the need arise. On the last round of testing, after sizing the case I didn't expand the neck and that seemed to work ok for boat tails. don't know yet on the flat base. but I got a one hole group with the 168 gr. a-max

This is awesome!! Exactly the kind of stuff that keeps me coming back to this site, filled with super crafty people!

Thanks for taking the time to write it up Boss!

So many crafty people in Kansas (@epc308 and @JSH )!! Shoot often, shoot safe all! Kevin