Suggestions for ‘accurate’ 7.62x39 bullets please

[Aaron23]

Recently got things in order to start reloading 7.62x39 and would appreciate any bullet suggestions you guys may have.

Barrel is a new, unlined 16” Delton hbar profile with a x39 bore (not a .308 bore).

Currently have 250 Turmersan .310 123grain fmj’s to load as plinkers to get a few hundred rounds on the barrel before worrying too much about shooting for accuracy. Also have several hundred hornady 3140’s (.310 123grain flat base soft point)
That’s all I got so far bullet wise...

Have 5k cci 34 primers, 1k of new starline brass

I think the only ‘suitable’ powders I have on hand are imr 4198 and possibly H335? Have lots of the usual powders like varget, imr 4895, tac, cfe223, etc. but have not read very much about people using any of those for 7.62 x 39 loadings.

Last time I shot anything 7.62x39 was a Colt upper and the only ammo I ever fed it was the cheapest factory Russian ammo I could find at whatever gun store. Results were predictably ‘minute of milk jug’ at best.

Barrel looks surprisingly good in my opinion and is unlined so... (Ran borescope down the pipe out of curiosity) Not that it would matter too much but barrel extension even had a tiny step right at the end that made for a rock solid fit in the upper receiver. No glue required!

FWIW- browsing at my local sportsman’s warehouse a few weeks ago and they had NO loaded 7.62x39 ammo on the shelves at all. Not of and kind... no .310 bullets for reloading either.

Appreciate any suggestions friends!

 

[C.E.Smith043]

A question for me to start off with is what is your intended purpose of this rifle and what are your expectations?

 

[DocBII]

Aaron,

150 Sierra .311 Gamekings, CCI 34 primers, work up to 23.0 gr. of N-133 at standard COL. 1/2 MOA for first five shots out of SKS, haven't tried in a bolt gun. Laupa used to have loads for 150 gr. .311 bullets, don't know if the information is still available.

Work fine on deer, too,
DocBII

 

[kenhwind]

I cleaned a Ruger Mini-30, and iirc, it stated on the barrel to only use .308 ammo in it, so I assume most American made rifles in 7.62 x 39mm are .308, but I seem to read posts about people shooting whatever out of these firearms.

I know Hornady makes bullets in both sizes, I'm sure others do too.

 

[joshb]

Hi! I load for two guns in 7.62x39. A bolt and a semi. You’ve already found out that the bullets available are limited. I use the Hornady 123 grain SP and H4198 or CFEBlk. H4198 gave me the best results. CFEBlk wasn’t bad, was cheap and available.
On a side note, I tried to use Sierra .308 125 grain bullets because I have a ton of them.
They didn’t work, being too small in my bores.
It was fairly simple to find the best loads for my guns. Mine will shoot 2-3 MOA at 100, which is fine for their purpose as hog hunting guns.

 

[Oso]

Unless otherwise clearly stated (documented and stamped on barrel) by manufacturer or gunsmith, any firearm that is stamped 7.62x39mm means that the bullet diameter is .311”. Yes, a .308” diameter bullet will fit down a .311 barrel, but the bullet will be rattling around down the barrel. This will impact the accuracy and precision (repeatable accuracy) as the bullet gets thrown out of barrel at slight different point off of center. Maybe good enough for 50 yard AK work, but not going to hold accuracy at distance for shooting small groups.

 

[Oso]

The .311 Hornady FMJ is what my friends use it as their plinking and general use round.

For hunting - Sierra ProHunter, Hornady SST, Speers Hot-Cor. There are a few others and some specialty boutique made bullets.

I use the SST and Pro Hunter in a couple of similar cartridges (300HAM’R and 6.5 Grendel). Both of these bullets are accurate and perform well out of AR and bolt rifle. Perfect for mid-size game (pigs & deer).

Edit: Another fantastic hunting bullet is Barnes TSX .310” 123gr (solid copper)

 

[joshb]

I cleaned a Ruger Mini-30, and iirc, it stated on the barrel to only use .308 ammo in it, so I assume most American made rifles in 7.62 x 39mm are .308, but I seem to read posts about people shooting whatever out of these firearms.

I know Hornady makes bullets in both sizes, I'm sure others do too.

 

[Aaron23]

A question for me to start off with is what is your intended purpose of this rifle and what are your expectations?

Range plinker in 7.62x39 cal. Have not fired this round in a bunch of years and have never tried to see how accurate one could be so...

I have plenty of good AR platform rifles and carbines in .223 and 5.56 that will easily shoot bug holes at distance but back when I was shooting 7.62x39 all I ever shot was crap ammo thus all I ever saw was crap accuracy.

Also have never reloaded for 7.62x39. Have been reloading everything else for years but not 7.63x39...

For what I spent on this barrel I think it is reasonable to expect excellent results ‘if’ I do my part...



Have a decent 4-16x44 scope for after I get a few hundred down range / settle the barrel in, a brass catcher to keep my brass for as long as possible, more than few lowers I can use with really nice adjustable triggers in them...

Upper receiver is free floating with a Midwest industries rail, AO bcg, Faxon x39 bolt. Trued receiver face and tight fit barrel to upper.

Did not slug the bore but with dial calipers measuring at the muzzle - measured @.311 between two grooves and .301 between two lands. Damn hard for me to measure that way with dial calipers so...

 

[Aaron23]

View attachment 1754677

Looking at the picture in your post there showing the different magazines - I did decide to upgrade my x39 magazine situation this time around and bought a few of the 20 round Duramags spec’d for 7.62x39 in an AR platform lower.

Last time around when I had the Colt factory upper in 7.62x39 I never bothered shelling out for any of the Frankenmags around at the time and got by well enough using any of my regular 5.56 mags. So long as I did not go over 5 or 6 rounds they fed fine.



Read several good things about those magazines from respected members here and elsewhere and definitely bought a few to use here this time.

 

[joshb]

A $40 barrel? Oh boy.

 

[kevinbritvec]

The European/Russian standard for 7.62x39mm bores is .311", the USA standard is .310" unless you buy a Ruger Mini-30.

I have never used Starline brass in this caliber, IMI has been my go-to. I use 24.5 to 25.0 grains of H4198 or 28.0 grains of H322 when loading Hornady 123 grain .310" SP's or Sierra 125 grain .311" SP's. FMJ bullets always disappoint me and are the major reason I took up reloading in 1984. OAL - 2.190" to 2.200"

AA-2200 and 300-BLK will generate higher velocities if you plan to hunt with it. I haven't tried them yet, because my loads shoot 2 to 2.5" groups at 100 with a scoped AK. I won't be hunting with an AK.

A bolt action will allow you to seat your bullets closer to the rifling, magazine length permitting. This may help in your search for an accurate load. I'm going to try Sierra's 125 grain MatchKing just to see how well it shoots.

 

[jelenko]

A $40 barrel? Oh boy.

I was thinking the same.
With that barrel, it may not make any difference what power or bullet is used.

 

[SeabeeKen]

My russian sks shoots great with hornady 123 gr and n-120.

 

[rockhound78]

Hornady 0.310" 123gr vmax if you can find some

 

[Aaron23]

I was thinking the same.
With that barrel, it may not make any difference what power or bullet is used.

You do realize that that company went under and others bought their remaining inventory for nothing right?

And then sold said inventory for cheap...

Similar has happened to many once good companies

 

[jelenko]

Right.
But, aren't Delton barrels known for 1 1/2 to 2 MOA accuracy?

 

[Aaron23]

The European/Russian standard for 7.62x39mm bores is .311", the USA standard is .310" unless you buy a Ruger Mini-30.

I have never used Starline brass in this caliber, IMI has been my go-to. I use 24.5 to 25.0 grains of H4198 or 28.0 grains of H322 when loading Hornady 123 grain .310" SP's or Sierra 125 grain .311" SP's. FMJ bullets always disappoint me and are the major reason I took up reloading in 1984. OAL - 2.190" to 2.200"

AA-2200 and 300-BLK will generate higher velocities if you plan to hunt with it. I haven't tried them yet, because

Pretty happy with the brass so far. Price wise I’m in for right around 30cents per for new / unfired.

Need to burn up my 4198 before buying any more powder if I can help it. Only have 4lbs to get rid of but it has been sitting here for way too long and needs to be used up on something.

Think metal cans and such back when powder was close to 15 bucks a lb sort of old...

 

[Walt Krafft]

Have you measured the bore to verify it is 0.311?

 

[Aaron23]

Right.
But, aren't Delton barrels known for 1 1/2 to 2 MOA accuracy?

I would be happy with that.

My Colt barrel from back in day was literally minute of milk jug at 100 yards with elcheapo factory Russian ammo. Was not reloading 7.62 back then so can’t say what that barrel was really ‘capable’ of...