7.62x39 cast loads for Zastava bolt action

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  • Last Post 13 December 2013
Carbine Dave posted this 21 November 2013

I am in the process of buying a zastava mini mauser 7.62x39, I am planning on shooting up my FMJ ammo and starting on a heavier cast load, if anyone has loaded cast for these rifles, I would be interested in what you found to work for you as a point of reference, and to assist in my load work up.

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onondaga posted this 21 November 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=7244>Carbine Dave  I have a 7.62X39 Remington Spartan single-shot rifle (24” chrome lined barrel) that is a tack driver with my deer hunting and squirrel hunting cast loads that your rifle may like:

RDTLC 311-165 FNGC cast in #2 alloy with check weighs 161 gr. * 26 gr AA2230 LOA= 2.240" Primer= CCI 200 Velocity= 2052 fps verified Consistently very accurate with many groups under 1/2” at 50 yards for my grandson or myself. * This load is beyond listed MAX but shows no signs of pressure in my rifle. http://s30.photobucket.com/user/rhymeswithwhat/media/RD762X39.jpg.html>

I have a superb low velocity squirrel load too:

Lee TL314-90-SWC 2.9 gr H TiteGroup LOA=1.900" Velocity~ 1130 fps less than 1/2” @50 yd accuracy

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/rhymeswithwhat/media/6grTiteGroup.jpg.html>

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giorgio de galleani posted this 21 November 2013

I am merrily plinking vith my chinese SKS and Harris bullets from an old Walt Melander gang mold , with and without gas checks.

The bands run 314-313 , just lube with alox from LSSTUFF and have at it.

I have a bolt acton Sabatti Armi too and used 314 gsa check bullets in it.

I have not tried my Ranch Dog mold in those rifles,I use it in the 30-30 Marlin & the Savage pump. sized to 310..

I imagine you do not size yours at all.

Weather is horrible ,  the track to my plinking heaven  is too slippery ,no shooting at least until the  mud freezes.

I'll try the ranch dog bullets and the small truncated cone pistol bullet as I have that one too.,you gave me some good ideas.

I see you do not use fillers in this small cartridge case................................

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onondaga posted this 21 November 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=519>giorgio de galleani

Hodgdon Powder Company seriously brags that H Titegroup performs well with tiny charges in large cases. That is why I tried it and have been very pleased with it in my squirrel load for  7.62X39. No filler needed with this powder, it lights right up and burns very well.

My RD bullet drops .313” in #2 alloy, I do size it .3125” when I check it.

Gary

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RicinYakima posted this 21 November 2013

I have a Springfield 1903 with a 7.62X39 barrel, 1/10, that I have used the Lyman 311284 with 4.0 grains of W231. Sub-sonic, accurate to 50 yards and fun to shoot. FWIW, Ric

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onondaga posted this 22 November 2013

The 2 Harris design bullets made by Lee for the 7.62x39, the C312-155-2R and CTL312-160-2R can both be shot very accurately from a variety of rifles in the caliber. These are  spire shaped bullets and also feed nicely in semi-autos. Spire shaped cast bullets although accurate do not make a good hunting bullet , they pierce meat rather than expand, mushroom and deliver massive shock in my opinion and my testing on deer.

This is why I choose flat nose, round nose hollow pointed or round nose bullets for hunting with the X39.

The Lee C312-185-1R is a round nose mold big enough in diameter  for the X39 that I have and size those bullets for other 30 cal rifles but haven't tried yet in the X39. I'm sure it is a good candidate for experimentation if you want a heavy bullet in X39. They drop at 179 grains in #2 alloy for me.

All of the Lee 32 caliber pistol and rifle bullets drop big enough for the X39 also. None of the Lee 30 cal rifle bullet molds drop big enough in diameter for the X39 to shoot very well at all. Fortunately the aluminum Lee molds are easy to hone larger if you have that skill.

Gary

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Carbine Dave posted this 22 November 2013

Wow, Thank You all for a wealth of start up info, very happy about light loads, have a couple I use for .303 Brit. lots of fun.

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onondaga posted this 12 December 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=7244>Carbine Dave

You mention that you have a .303 Brit. It is likely that any of the cast bullets you shoot from the .303 Brit are good candidates for the X39. The bullet size should be good to go if they perform well in your .303 Brit.

PLease let us know how you are doing with your Zastava mini mauser 7.62x39.

Gary

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 12 December 2013

fighting thru my guilt, i confess that i have bought bulk 0.314 32 pistol wadcutter bullets from midway ... makes a nice hole in pop cans at 35 yards from offhand in my handi rifle 30-30. tricky to load tho.

ken

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Ed Harris posted this 13 December 2013

I have a switch-barrel Sako A2 rifle for which I have a 7.62x39 barrel made from a Ruger Mini Thirty full-round blank, 20” long, chambered with the SAAMI production chamber having a 10-inch twist.   Like Giorgio, I use the NEI 7.62x39 bullet of my design, both with and without the GC.  For lowest cost plinking a charge of 4 grains of Bullseye gives 1050 fps and is as accurate as surplus Ball ammunition. When my rifle is zeroed to the scope crosshairs at 200 yards with full-charge, jacketed loads, the bottom post of the Duplex reticle in the Made In Japan Weaver K4 Classic scope provides correct hold over to ring the 100 yard gong joyfully with the subsonic cast loads. It also provides suitable 200-yard holdover for my heavier GC load with the same NEI bullet or the newer HM2-.312-160-5 using 15.4 grs. of #2400 at about 1800 fps.:D  Apparently the new fforum will not let you post more than one picture in a reply, so here is the rifle wearing its Sako peep sight.  The clever folks at Ruger who fitted the barrel installed a US M14 front sight.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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onondaga posted this 13 December 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=207>Ed Harris That is a snappy rifle Ed, I really like that!

My X39 is the Russian made and Remington imported Spartan Model with 24” twist fluted  and chrome lined barrel. Since trigger work it shoots very well too:

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/rhymeswithwhat/media/AtBench.jpg.html>

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