7.62 x 39 Reloading for Bolt Action

R

RC20

New member
I was reading about the Remington 30 BR, you have to form cartridge from other brass for that one.

I have been pondering getting another barrel and the 7.62 x 39 seemed an interesting option.

I know I am not the first by a long ways, but I am not seeing any information on simply getting a gun that shoots that round in a 308 barrel and how much upside there is for a modern bolt action. It would seem to be almost identical to the 30 BR (and why would you not just use the 7.62 x 39 for that so am I missing something?)

Anyone have a site that discuses that or has done it?

The Rem 30BR gets quite a bit more velocity from what I am seeing, not a big velocity type but it would open up nodes up higher for that.
 
The 7.62 x 39's case head is 30 thou smaller than the BR's. You'd have to fiddle with the extractor. Not really a big deal though. In the old days, we'd put .308 Win/7.62NATO barrels on Lee-Enfields and file the extractor groove a bit deeper to convert from rimmed to rimless with no fuss.
Not many .308" 7.62 x 39 barrels that aren't cu$tom either. The cartridge doesn't use a .308" bullet. It uses a .311" bullet. Doable, but you'd have to reload as milsurp and nearly all commercial 7.62 x 39 hunting ammo uses the .311" bullet.
 
I am looking for data on the 7.62 x 39 in a modern bolt action.

I am interested in the full range not the older guns limited.

Powders and twist rates included, I suspect you can get into the 30BR area as its seemingly close to an identical cartridge.
 
Try Lee, Lyman and Hornady reloading manuals. All have date for various bullet weights in 7.62 X 39.

The older the manual, the hotter loads were listed before their lawyers intervened.
 
I've been reloading for 7.62x39mm for my bolt action CZ 527M for years, including cast bullets. It likes the Hornaday 123gr SST and Spire Point bullets, and the NOE 129gr cast bullet powdercoated. Unfortunately I am nowhere near my data, but you can do a search on this website, and I am willing to bet I posted some info about it more than once!
 
If reloading for 7.62x39 you can use 308" bullets. I've read the cartridge/guns can be pretty accurate and if you reload, a 308" barrel will be fine (I wouldn't try "factory 7.62x39 ammo as the bullets can be up to .310"-311")...
 
The plan would be to go with a 308 barrel and bullets and the 7.62 x 39 case.

RCBS offers two expansion plugs (308 being one) so it looks like it sizes down for that to work.

Interested in what powders would work as this goes past what you normally see in the manuals as they are SKS carbine or are low loaded for the same.

I did some reading on 30 BR, I don't see any difference other than the base.

Opening up a 30-06 type bolt head to larger is easy enough on the Savage.

Also curious why any changes were made in 30 BR instead of just using the same case and going with the 308 caliber barrels?
 
You won’t find pressure-tested data for the 7.62x39 for “bolt actions” because the SAAMI pressures are under 45,000 CUP. Modern bolt rifles are safe up to at least 55,000 CUP. You’ll have to ‘trust’ the internet or develop your own data.

The 7.62x39 rim is smaller than a .30-06 so there is no need to ‘open’ the bolt face.

The .30 BR brass is higher quality and uses small rifle primers. The Russian uses large or small.

The .30 BR uses .308” bullets and barrels.

The .30 BR is loaded to much higher pressures than the Russian.

The .30 BR was designed for accuracy and dominates score benchrest competition.

The 7.62x39 was designed for combat and cheap production.


More .30 BR information: http://www.6mmbr.com/30BR.html


.
 
RC20,

In QuickLOAD's database, the 30 BR holds 15% more powder and operates at 14% higher peak pressure. Both those factors are what give higher velocities.

30 BR
41 grains water overflow capacity
58740 psi Max

7.62 × 39 (.308) Russ.
35.6 grains water overflow capacity
51488 psi max

The maximum COL of the 30BR is also 0.11" longer so the same bullet can be seated that much further out, leaving yet a little more powder room.
 
Considering that there are a few new bolt action rifles in this caliber (Ruger is the first that comes to mind,) I expect there to be more bolt gun data coming out soon. I'd keep and eye out on the bullet and gunpowder sites...

Tony
 
I know I can step up cautiously and will if I do it.

I was a bit surprised there was not more builds for it with a 308 barrel.

Dong that vs the custom bending of brass for the 30BR seems a better way to go (given Unclenicks assessment of the 15% more powder capacity)

I am surprised there is no more data on the pure modern bolt actions in the 7.62 as well.

One manual had a universal receiver but the loads clearly were oriented to the AK and SKS application velocity wise.

Sierra new manual is coming out and there might be an adder in that.
 
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