Palmetto State 7.62x39

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fobb

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I have purchased a Palmetto State 7.62x39. I would like to start reloading for it. My question is- what diameter bullets do I use. 308?
 
.308-.311 people use both and have good results but each barrel can be different, .003 isn't enough size to make much if any difference. The nice thing about using .308 bullets is there is a lot of great bullets to choose from. In the .311 bullets I like Hornady's poly tipped 123 gr or their interlocks.
 
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.310 bullets for a chance at best accuracy. Myself and a friend has the same brand 7.62x39 upper. Mine will shoot the .308 diameter 135 FTX very very well @ 100 yards, his however won't shoot them worth a crap.

If you want to try .308 bullets the Sierra offerings tend to highly regarded but really there is just no way to say for sure your barrel will like the smaller .308 vs .310 bullets.
 
A .311 jacketed bullet can also be used. But if you plan on hunting alot of .311 bullets were designed for the .303 British and may not expand very well at 7.62x29 velocities.

IMO if you plan to hunt deer with the x39 buy yourself some Federal Fusion and go hunting. It's been accurate and the bullet works extremely well on deer.
 
I reload for many calibers but for my AK, it's really much cheaper to just buy ammo. I find the prices from sgammo to be about the best negating special from other vendors.
 
The groove diameter of the 7.62x39 is .3105, and the PSA barrels are sized to that approximate diameter.

From much research and field experience, all of the 123gr-125gr .311 bullets currently available will expand properly at 7.62x39 velocities. It’s when you start getting into the 150gr and heavier bullets that reliable expansion becomes more problematic.

The Sierra 125gr Is a little tougher than the Hornaday, which is pretty soft. Both will work well on deer, and the Sierra works well on hogs. The largest hog that I took with the Sierra 125gr was probably 500 pounds, and at spitting distance the bullet penetrated shoulder to shoulder and stopped under the hide on the off side in a perfect mushroom.
 
Just slug the barrel. I have slugged the barrels of all my guns, just to be sure. A few of my guns have barrels that aren't what they are "supposed" to be...
 
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