(Time to start loading 7.62x39) Range Report

[ballman6711]

This is an update to my earlier thread about starting to reload 7.62x39.

I made it to the range this morning and fired my test loads. Overall I'm happy enough with my results. The loads were:

Bulk 123gr fmj (.310")
New Starline brass
CCI 200 primers
CFE BLK 27.5 - 29.6 gr (0.03 gr increments, 5 rds each)
COL 2.185"

Here are all the pics of the targets. I shot five loads at the first target, and the last three loads at the second target.



chris

 

[NR53]

This is an update to my earlier thread about starting to reload 7.62x39.

I made it to the range this morning and fired my test loads. Overall I'm happy enough with my results. The loads were:

Bulk 123gr fmj (.310")
New Starline brass
CCI 200 primers
CFE BLK 27.5 - 29.6 gr (0.03 gr increments, 5 rds each)
COL 2.185"

Here are all the pics of the targets. I shot five loads at the first target, and the last three loads at the second target.

View attachment 1153791 View attachment 1153792 View attachment 1153793 View attachment 1153794 View attachment 1153795 View attachment 1153796 View attachment 1153797 View attachment 1153798 View attachment 1153799 View attachment 1153800

chris

Great job. I usually run 28.5 grains in new brass and 29 grains in fired brass. I like the way you repurposed the Amazon boxes!

 

[ballman6711]

Here are the targets I want to focus on. The first is a five shot group at 28.1gr, the white circle shows the five shots. The second target shows the next five shots, also circled in white. The second pic is actually seven shots, two from a previous group.





chris

 

[ballman6711]

Here are the two groups (white circles) together, along with two red circles. The red circles show the second five shot group. One red circle is four shots, and the red circle to the left is a single shot, a flier as it were. I knew I had pulled that shot, flinched, farted, breathed wrong, or something else, so I'm going to call this my four shot group.

The brown circle in the center of the target is 1" for reference. Yes, I know it's orange because I've been told it is, but I'm color blind and it looks brown to me. The four shot group is about 1/2".



chris

 

[ballman6711]

So for range/blasting ammo I'm going to call this one good. Four shots in 1/2" at 25yds should be 3MOA or less, maybe 2 MOA if it's repeatable.

Here's a pic of the old Clinton era "post ban" rifle that I shot this test with today. Standard peep sights, 1 in 12 twist. Trigger pull is about 7 1/2 to 8 lbs. Rifle has no mods, and using the original 5rd magazine.



chris

 

[ballman6711]

Great job. I usually run 28.5 grains in new brass and 29 grains in fired brass. I like the way you repurposed the Amazon boxes!

I think 28.7 was the good one, although it may have been 28.4, I'll have to look at my pics again. I should have used a new target each time rather than trying to be cheap about it.

The repurposed amazon box was at the range when I showed up. It seemed to be better than the empty cereal box I brought with me, lol!

FWIW, all the brass ejected at about 2~3 o'clock, and aobut 2~4 feet away. I did find one out of the forty rounds at about 5 o'clock, again at about 4 feet away. That one could have hit something and bounced.

chris

 

[jkhammer]

What perfect timing Ballman6711! I have been searching for load data using CFE BLK for the 123 gr. and have not found anything. Curious, where did you find it? I have went to Hogdons website and resources and found nothing. Plenty for IMR 4198 but they want a kings ransom for that powder right now.

 

[Lennyjoe]

CFE BLK may be a good alternative to the Reloader 7 load I’m using in my 7.62x39 AR. Started reloading that caliber with Reloader 7 and it performs great but is a bit dirty.

 

[ballman6711]

What perfect timing Ballman6711! I have been searching for load data using CFE BLK for the 123 gr. and have not found anything. Curious, where did you find it? I have went to Hogdons website and resources and found nothing. Plenty for IMR 4198 but they want a kings ransom for that powder right now.

I found my data on Hodgdons website, at least kind of. The 125gr SPR SP bullet has a load for CFE-BLK. It's close enough that I went with that data, my 123gr vs their 125gr, and my fmj vs their sp.

My bullet has a cannelure, so that's where I loaded it to, which was 2.185" vs their 2.150". I tried their seating depth when I made the first dummy round and it was way to short.

Hope this helps.

chris

 

[ballman6711]

When I went to Hodgdon's website, for filters I selected 123 and 125 grain bullets. Then I selected the powders I had which were CFE-BLK, 335, 2200, and X-Terminator.

Update the data and expand all and you should see it.

chris

 

[jkhammer]

Thanks Chris. I’ve got some older data from Lyman on the round using H335 but found a good deal on CFE BLK at Powder Valley and ordered 8 lbs. Most data was specific for 125 gr but nothing for 123. Glad it works great. I’ll load some up and give it a try. Thanks again.

 

[ballman6711]

I’ll load some up and give it a try.

I think 28.7 was the good one,

After reviewing my mess of pictures, 28.7gr was the load I decided to go with. I loaded up sixty just to use up my sleeve of primers, lol!

Let us know what you come up with, I am certainly interested in comparing results.

chris