7.62x39 sub

Status
Not open for further replies.

rejma0415

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
2
Location
Texas
Hello,

First post, first time member. I am an experienced rifle reloader in the sense I reload based on known "recipes" that work well (223/9/30-06). I've never done true "load development". I'm going to just throw this out there and see what kind of feedback I get as this falls outside the realm of what I usually do.

All I'm looking for is cheap 30 cal subsonic, to plink with my type 1 suppressor. I don't care about distance nor accuracy with this. This is just for fun. I have nice rifles but I have this beater SKS that is the subject gun.

So, what I wanna do is take the 154 gr heavy soft point 7.62x39 Herters round, extract the bullet, reduce the powder charge and reseat it to spec.

I'd reduce it till it pops around 1050fps on the chrony.

Any reason this is a bad idea?

Or, how about this for a worse idea, would it be bad to reseat with a 308 220 grain?

If neither of these are wise, safe or effective, then I'm relegated to buying a 308 bolt gun and going through all that, or getting a 300 blackout. $$$ Ugh.

Thots?

Randy
 
Pulling a bullet and downloading should be fine, but no telling exactly what the powder in those cases may be. Most rifle powders don't do real well with low charge weights and you are looking at well under half of the original power. To safely go this route the better advise would be to pull the bullets and reassemble with a different powder that works well for the speed you desire. Trailboss would probably do what you are looking to accomplish.
 
It is a known fact that some powder's do not do well when a reduced charge is used....and by not do well, I mean it can create a dangerous situation. For me, I would not be reducing the charge weight of an unknown factory powder in hopes I could make a light load.

I believe the Herter's round you indicated has a steel case. Assuming you replaced the factory powder with your own powder.....reseating a bullet in a steel case.....I wouldn't be comfortable with that either.

Others may have a different take on your post.
 
Welcome to the forum....

Hodgdon has a reduced load page with data and a loading formula using H4895.
http://hodgdon.com/PDF/Hodgdon H4895 reduced rifle load.pdf

They also have a powder named Trail Boss they are claiming can be safely used in any cartridge for highly reduced loads.
http://imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf
Read the top of that page and you will see the information there will probably deliver exactly what you're looking for...

Don't forget the range report when you develop those loads!
 
I'd start out with a known sub recipe if you can find one. I would NOT just start taking powder out of a factory loaded cartridge and then reseat the bullet. That's just begging for something to go wrong.

If you can't find a known recipe for subs, start with a super sonic recipe that uses the heaviest bullet you can find and start from there. When doing load development for subs, start high and slowly start lowering the charge in small increments. As said earlier some powders don't do well with light charges, so inspect all your brass for pressure/other signs before moving to a lower charge weight. Also be careful about squibs, make sure every round impacts the target (or at least leaves the barrel).

Also, it should go without saying that you shoul NOT have your can on the rifle until you are completely through load development. That means you not only have the speed worked out, but also the stabilization. Baffle strikes are not fun in the least.

FWIW I have heard that subs will not reliably cycle an AK, but I'm not sure how it will do out of a SKS.

Over all if you're just looking for cheap plinking, I'd use supers or move to a .300 Blk (for semi) or a .308 (for bolt). Loading wise I bet a .300 would be about the same cost as loading 7.62x39 if you're using new components for each. .300 will also have easier to find bullets, easy to find and well tested load data, and it will reliably cycle subs.

Good luck!
 
Great replies, thank you so much for your valuable input. If I do manage to pull this off or end up just going the 308 / 300 AAC route, I will be sure to divulge everything I gathered.

Thanx!

Randy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top