Making cat sneeze 7.62x39 loads from Wolf ammo!

[fireman 9731]

I recently purchased a CZ 527 carbine. The rifle is amazing. Shoulders and points fantastically, quick handling, great fit and finish, and sweet shooting!

I love really light loads in my 45-70, like 405 gr. cast bullets and Trailboss loaded to about 800 fps. Its fun to shoot, light recoiling, and as quite as a 22 rimfire!

I figured I would like to develop a light load in 7.62x39 with a cast bullet. Unfortunately I don't have any molds yet for it, so that got me thinking... I have plenty of Wolf ammo on hand for my AK and SKS... so how about modifying it?

I pulled the bullets, dumped the powder, and reloaded the cases with 6 grains of Trailboss then reseated the bullet. Seemed easy enough... then I tested them out....

They were great! Shooting at 50 yards aiming at rocks and mud they were dead on, virtually no recoil, and easy on the ears!

Has anybody done anything like this before? Seemed like a good idea to me!
Any discussion?

Side note- I weighed all the Wolf 122gr FMJ bullets I pulled- 20 of them varied from 122.5gr to 124.5gr. Most were on the heavier side. The inconsistency might explain some of the accuracy complaints with Wolf ammo.

I also tried out a few factory and surplus loads in my CZ. Surprisingly Yugoslavian surplus shot the best- 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards with a 4.5x scope! Then from there, Winchester 123gr FMJ was about 2.5 inches, Wolf 122gr FMJ was about 3 inches, and Brown Bear 122gr Hollow points were about 4 inches. Not what I had expected! The Brown Bear also seemed loaded hotter than everything else.

I have some Hornady 123gr .310 soft points that I will try loading up next for a hunting load. I cant wait to show my friends that the 7.62x39 cartridge can be just as accurate as anything else!

 

[rcmodel]

Seemed like a good idea to me! Any discussion?

Using jacketed bullets with 6.0 grains Trail Boss is an open invitation to stick one in the barrel.

Grease lubed cast bullets have very little bore friction compared to jacketed bullets.

See this for determining safe jacketed bullet loads using Trail Boss.
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail Boss Reduced Loads R&P.pdf

rc

 

[fireman 9731]

Yes, I agree. Trailboss and jacketed bullets are not a good idea. I already got one stuck about 3 inches from the the muzzle with 4.5grs of powder. I was trying to see how low I could go:banghead: Luckily it was easily removed with a brass cleaning rod and few whacks with a hammer. Thats why I wont recommend less than 6grs of Trailboss. You might go a little lower with a cast slug, but be very cautious.

I don't plan to convert thousands of rounds of Wolf into whisper loads, but for the ease and cost effectiveness of it I thought it might be worth sharing.

As soon as I get a 30 cal mold I will use cast bullets exclusively for light loads.

 

[clone]

I worked up some loads for my Rossi single shot. But I used Berry's plated 110gr.
Here is a cut and paste from my personal records.

7.62x39 Berry's .311 110gr AA1680 CCI LR
Crimp, COAL, Charge, Notes
FCD, 1.95, 16gr, bullet loose, uneven burn
RC, 1.934, 17gr, uneven burn
RC, 1.951, 18gr, pulled




7.62x39 Berry’s .311 110gr Trail Boss CCI LR
Crimp, COAL, Charge, Notes
RC, 1.920, 6gr, blow by
RC, 1.919, 7gr, blow by
RC, 1.920, 8gr, worked, accurate

Check with the powder compainy for safe loads. DO NOT LOAD WITHOUT DOUBLE CHECKING!

 

[armoredman]

Have you tried the new Berry's .3120125 grain plated? It works well in my CZ 527M.



A few of the bullets I reload 7.62x39mm with right now.




The NOE 129 grain home cast bullets is working out well, still haven't wrung it out enough to get it right where I want it, but getting there.



Hope that helps - the CZ 527M is an incredible rifle, isn't it?

 

[drsfmd]

Shooting at 50 yards aiming at rocks and mud they were dead on, virtually no recoil, and easy on the ears!

I don't want to lecture you, but shooting rocks is a REALLY bad idea. Otherwise glad to hear of your successes.

 

[chris in va]

You reloaded steel cases?

 

[clone]

I'm using Winchester brass, and Trail Boss is really easy on brass.

 

[Walkalong]

When using Trail Boss with jacketed bullets, load it to 100% load density (Do not compress TB). It can be funny with plated or jacketed at less than 100% load density. Lead? No problem. 100% is max, and minus 10% is minimum. They say the same for jacketed, but in my testing, anything under 100% load density with jacketed is unreliable.

 

[Legionnaire]

You reloaded steel cases?

I pulled the bullets, dumped the powder, and reloaded the cases with 6 grains of Trailboss then reseated the bullet. Seemed easy enough...

Sounds like the OP was just swapping the powder in unfired Wolf ammo. Since he didn't have to resize the cases, probably doesn't matter if the cases are steel.

I've been using TB for mild loads in .357 and .44 mag cases. Haven't tried any rifle cartridges yet, but need to. Think I'll order some hard cast lead bullets, though. Open to suggestions.

 

[fireman 9731]

You reloaded steel cases?

Exactly what Legionnaire said.

I just used the primed cases and bullets, while substituting my own light powder charge.

 

[kingmt]

That would be reloading. I load steel cases all the time in .223. I even like them.

I mean don't use that junk. Just box it up & leave it on the table.

 

[kingmt]

I don't want to lecture you, but shooting rocks is a REALLY bad idea. Otherwise glad to hear of your successes.

I have shoot rocks for years. Lots of fun. Now if there is a steel penatrater I'd agree.

 

[fireman 9731]

Using Hodgon's formula to figure max charge weight for Trailboss I got about 8.5 grains in Winchester cases. I loaded some to just hair over 8 grains, with Hornady 123gr soft points. They shot very well and report was still not bad. Louder than a 22, but not bad at all, and I'm pretty sensitive to loud noises.

 

[drsfmd]

I have shoot rocks for years. Lots of fun. Now if there is a steel penatrater I'd agree.

Rocks cause ricochets. You've just endangered everyone within a couple miles of you...

 

[rsrocket1]

You reloaded steel cases?

Bulletin:
You can reload steel cases.
They don't reload as many times as brass and you need to store them in a way to prevent rust, but cleaned mild steel is no worse on the dies than brass and yes, you can resize the neck to give it enough tension to hold the bullet properly.

I pick up fired Tula .223 cases whenever I see them at the range and reload them for use in places where picking up brass is not possible or difficult. They are Boxer primed and shoot just fine.

 

[kingmt]

You have no idea what you are talking about. You would be more likly to catch a piece of something from a steel plate. A piece of rock may fly a short ways but will be less then lethal.

"Endangering everyone in two miles"

Really?

 

[drsfmd]

kingmt- it's not the piece of rock, it's the errant bullet deflected by the piece of rock. Use the old noggin... shooting rocks is bad juju.

 

[kingmt]

It just isn't going to happen.

Have you ever played pool? Even if you used a projectile that wouldn't vaporize most of the engery would be lost even if you did hit the right angle. It is still possible & does happen on a rear occasion.

A lead or soft jacked is just going to vaporize as long as there is enough speed for the mass.

There is more danger of a bullet deflecting from a small limb or brush.

 

[fireman 9731]

On the topic of shooting rocks... If you are shooting rocks that are against a good backstop, like I do, I'm pretty sure its harmless.

I haven't seen a single rule posted at any gun range about not shooting rocks.

 

[Duckdog]

Go on youtube and search bullet richocet and you see some crap that will make you shake your head!

 

[kingmt]

I remember one with a 50 cal AP. I did say it was possible if there was a steel core in it.

I also think youtube is a great place for information but don't believe everything you see on youtube.

 

[drsfmd]

Fireman-- that would depend on the angle you hit the rock at... did you ever wonder why steel targets are always angled? It's to deflect the shots downwards rather than ricochet.

King, projectiles don't "vaporize". They may break up, but those pieces still need to go somewhere.

I've said my piece, and this is the last I'll say on the matter.