7.62x39 reloading

[302w 83]

Please read this thread: (TL;DR guy reloads steel case 7.62x39 for dirt cheap)

 

https://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=46874

 

I acquired an SKS and ammo seems to be $220ish per 1000, and around 25-35 cents per round in smaller quantities.

 

Is it economically feasible to reload 7.62x39? I would use brass cases despite their cost. Primers are floating around $20-30 per thousand last time I checked. Powder is about $30-40 per pound IIRC and that is 7000 grains. Most loads seem to be about 30 grains, which is enough for 230ish rounds if my math is correct. So fourish pounds of powder at about $120-160 plus $20-30 for 1000 reloaded rounds using the cheapest materials possible.

 

Is my math right? Or am I completely off? 7.62x39 does not seem like a good round to load plinking ammo. I am likely to flirt with it just in case there is another supply disruption.

 

Edit: I am not looking to use nail polish and boxer primers in berdan cases, but just using the thread as a reference.

[Candyman87 10]

At about $0.22 a round, you're going to be hard up to reload for less... might be doable if you're casting lead bullets with free lead.

 

Quick math... about $0.035 for each primer, about $0.13 for powder (30 gr. @ $30/lb), and $0.24 for each bullet, you're at about $0.40 each which is more expensive than smaller quantities of factory. Plus your time and effort. And dies. Etc.

 

It's one round I wouldn't be reloading.

[Carcano 14]

At about $0.22 a round, you're going to be hard up to reload for less... might be doable if you're casting lead bullets with free lead.

 

Quick math... about $0.035 for each primer, about $0.13 for powder (30 gr. @ $30/lb), and $0.24 for each bullet, you're at about $0.40 each which is more expensive than smaller quantities of factory. Plus your time and effort. And dies. Etc.

 

It's one round I wouldn't be reloading.

 

One of those rounds where it's better to just buy factory loads.

 

Even if he got the cost down the time spent to load 1,000 rounds isn't worth it IMO.

 

OP if you decide to do it go ahead but might be better off just buying a case or two of factory ammo.

[Krdshrk 3,877]

Steel + Cheap = just buy factory ammo.  

[Old School 611]

Yep Zombie Squad!  That makes sense!

 

I can see the scenario now...

 

"How did John become a Zombie?"

 

"He's not a Zombie... He blew his face off with reloaded steel cased ammo."

[tony357 386]

Resizing steel cases might be a pita..

[SuRrEaLNJ 294]

Reloading for x39 would only make sence if you were not shooting commie ammo, ie to have some indoor rounds for ranges that ban bimetallic russian ammo

[djg0770 481]

Here's a link to double check your math:  http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

 

In some cases it doesn't make sense to reload.  This seems to be one of those scenarios.

 

12 Ga shells are in a similar position as well - and there you're not even dealing with corrosive primers or steel cases.  By the same token, .410 shells make perfect sense for reloading providing you shoot that shell enough to justify the initial cost of the press and setup.

[T Bill 649]

I reload x39 ammo in brass cases only.  First off, part of the problem with steel cases are they are not flexible enough to make a good seal in the chamber, hence dirty chambers, clogged extractors, etc. Second, reloading steel that has been fired just does not fit well into my karma. Got to get a lot of splits out of them, not good.  Third, I like to customize my rounds. I have been loading 110 grain to 150 grain 308 diameter heads with great success.  I do not use mil surp rifles so that is not an issue for me.  Working the steel cases, casting lead, making gas checks, "gluing" the primers even before assembling the round is not worth the time to me.

 

I would have to agree that without a specific desire to obtain a special loading, and using foreign mil surp rifles that loading x39 is not worth it.  I would pass also. 

[Candyman87 10]

12 Ga shells are in a similar position as well - and there you're not even dealing with corrosive primers or steel cases.  By the same token, .410 shells make perfect sense for reloading providing you shoot that shell enough to justify the initial cost of the press and setup.

 

Close... I got a 12 gauge press so I could reload slugs. Since I have the equipment, it makes sense to use it more!

 

I can also guarantee I always have 1-1/8 oz loads of #7.5 shot ALL the time, and I do save a BIT of money.

 

But on the other hand, there's got to be a reason other than money to reload x39.

[Old School 611]

.Good 7.62X39 ammo in a proper rifle is inherently accurate.  Let's say in a properly headspaced bolt action.

 

Black Hills Ammunition actually did a test where they got some impressive accuracy out of an AK.

 

So if you had a well built AK or SKS and wanted to WOW your friends with accuracy, loading some brass cased ammo would work.

[RobertJames 14]

.Good 7.62X39 ammo in a proper rifle is inherently accurate.  Let's say in a properly headspaced bolt action.

 

Black Hills Ammunition actually did a test where they got some impressive accuracy out of an AK.

 

So if you had a well built AK or SKS and wanted to WOW your friends with accuracy, loading some brass cased ammo would work.

 

I stumbled upon some x39 ammoe made by Lapua a while ago and figured why not, the price wasn't bad.  It is brass cased, but sadly Berdan primed.  It shot extremely well from an SKS, even with me shooting.  I got much better groups with it than with steel case.  Sadly I didn't think to take pics.  I've still got a few boxes, but I can't bring myself to shoot it.  Silly, I know.