Questions on reloading for 7.62x39

[TargetTerror]

My club doesn't allow any ammo with steel in it - core or jacket. That means I need to load my own rounds if I want to fire my AK b/c all of the cheap 7.62x39 ammo has a bi-metal, metallic case.

I'll be loading these on a Dillon 550, and I have some how-to type questions. I'll be loading both .308 and .311 sized bullets, so I'll need an expanding die in each size. I've never loaded rifles on my 550, but for pistols, the expanding stage is in the 2nd position, and is done by the metal funnel included in the caliber conversion kit. Is this how the flaring is done with rifles, too? If so, would I need 2 different sized funnels/conversion kits, and would the expanding dies I see for the 7.62x39 not work for the 550?

 

[rcmodel]

You don't flair bottle neck rifle cases.

The sizing die also knocks out the spent primer, and the expanding ball on the depriming rod is pulled back through the case neck on the reverse stroke of the press handle.

As for Dillon 550 I think they probably use a separate powder charging die station, but I don't know for sure.


rcmodel

 

[TargetTerror]

Ok, so the stages would be size/deprime/expand, charge, bullet seat, crimp?

 

[Uncle Chan]

except that you probably don't need to crimp. I never have and never will for any of my bottleneck cases.

 

[res45]

If your loading for a AK or SKS you should crimp all your rounds to keep from pushing your bullet back into the case during feeding from the magazine,brass cases have less neck tension than the steel case Russian ammo.

 

[Snapping Twig]

When I got my 7.62x39 it had two expanding balls for the sizing die. I've only ever used the .308 since I'm shooting an old Mini 30 with a .308 bore.'

Neck expansion is done at this stage. The powder funnel should not be used to flair the case neck.

My dies came with a crimper, when I use it, I can not see a crimp like I do with pistol bullets (.44 for instance), but they are crimped just the same.

 

[res45]

In general when loading for for semi-auto or Lever action rifle Rds. bullet seating and crimping is done in one stroke. The exception to that is the Lee Factory Crimp Die,it's an extra die in the set just for crimping. The bullet seating die that comes with the set has the roll crimp also but I adjust the die for bullet seating only.


It uses a four segmented sections that squeeze the neck perfectly round from all sides it can be used with bullets that have crimp grooves or ones that don't However if your using the standard type of crimp most rifle dies come with ie roll crimp try to use bullets that have a cannelure or crimp groove and don't get excessive with the roll crimp it can cause your case shoulder to collapse or case necks to bulge. The Lee FCD eliminates this but squeezing the neck from all sides at once and not by pressing down on the case and rolling the brass into the groove.

Rds. crimped in extra step using Lee FCD,both cannelure and non cannelures bullets.