Cheapest bulk projectiles for 7.62 x 39

[pdoggeth]

I tend to reload for all my calibers except for 22LR and 7.62x39, because it's cheaper just to buy that steel cased junk.

With the dreaded Newsom proposal looming over us, it's time for me to reevaluate the need to reload 7.62x39. However, FMJ bulk projectiles that are .310/.311 don't seem to be that common except the individual 100-packs from Hornady, which make it pretty expensive to reload.

So what cheap projectiles do you guys use, and where do you get them from?

Do you guys ever use .308 diameter 150 gr FMJs? Those I have already and can source inexpensively, but of course, will that affect accuracy in a major way?

I've also heard Berry's makes a plated .311 123 gr projectile, but that would require me to seriously reduce my velocity. Part of me doesn't like the idea of shooting my AK as if it were a 22LR. Anyone have experience with those plated projectiles?

Of course, the last option is to just say f*** it, buy the steel-cased stuff online, and pay the newly incoming ammo transfer fee if it's still the least cost-prohibitive.

[BruinGuy]

I tried the plated Xtreme bullets and they would not chamber in my AK. The flat nosed projectile hung up on the chamber, jamming the bullet against it and setting it back severely. Therefore I would avoid any flat nose for an AK.

They worked okay in my SKS which pushes the cartridge into the chamber on a flatter trajectory, but I did load them to about 1800 fps which led to some FTE and failure to feed the next round.

Now I use those bullets for gallery loads for my Mosin.

I've had best results with PPU bullets (better than the Hornady fmj or a max). They are slightly less expensive but rarely in stock. There really isn't any bullet out there that can compete with the cheap steel cased bimetallic bullet loaded ammo on a price per round basis, but it will still be less expensive than buying loaded copper jacketed, boxer brass ammo.

[Full Clip]

I tried the plated Xtreme bullets and they would not chamber in my AK. The flat nosed projectile hung up on the chamber, jamming the bullet against it and setting it back severely. Therefore I would avoid any flat nose for an AK.

They worked okay in my SKS which pushes the cartridge into the chamber on a flatter trajectory...

I had a similar experience with the Xtremes. Also fail to feed in my x39 AR (of course) so my SKSs got them.

I have primarily used Hornaday VMAX and ZMAX bullets when I found them on sale at Grafs. But be on lookout for bulk buys on blem FMJs at Midway. They do come up on occasion and work fine. Deemed blems only for cosmetic reasons.

[Jeff213]

Try the .308 and see how they work. If they don't work you could consider rebarreling to a .308-.309 bore barrel with a 7.62x39 chamber if you want to shoot reloads.

M80 148 grain .308 projectiles are super cheap. I have a few thousand of them in my stash.

I would use a lee factory crimp die if loading .308 bullets in a 7.62x39.

Sometimes you can also get pulldown 7.62x54r bullets which would be .310-.311

[Carsgunsandchics]

just sign up for notifications http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/29109

[bigbossman]

Winchester 123gr bulk bullets.

[Jimi Jah]

xtreme is very cheap at 9 cents, but that flat nose looks like problems for my AR-47. I'm going to wait a month or so before committing to reloading 7.62 x 39. Being that it's getting popular, others my wade into casting those bullets.

[Capybara]

Tough one for AK owners. I too have heard of problems feeding the Xtreme plated and even if they feed fine, you can't really load them for full bore loads, only powder puff, which is okay for plinking. I think you have to just scour Gunbroker, Craigslist and here to see if you ever see anyone selling a big stash of them. Wideners has bulk Hornady .310s for $490.00 for 2,800 bullets which works out to .17.5 per bullet, not too bad. Team that with some cheap S&B primers from Cabelas at .1.8 ea. and some bulk powder like H335 and using 30 grains of powder, you are .11 per round of powder. That puts you at about .30-.31 per round for brass boxer reloads, a better value than Golden Tiger at .25 per round inc. shipping from SG Ammo. That's about the best you are going to do for AK/SKS food that is non magnetic and shootable at any range in California, which Wolf, Tula Golden Tiger aren't.

https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=1956&dir=278|281|1079|1109|1594

[Jimi Jah]

The Yugo brass surplus is about $.28 per round and shoots well. It is corrosive and dirty as all heck. It makes Wolf look clean in comparison. I spent too much time cleaning up after the Yugo yesterday. I worry about not getting all the corrosive crap out of the gun. I do get good used brass out of it.

[pdoggeth]

Thanks for the replies guys. It looks like if I do my prep I can get reloads down to about 30 cents a round, which is what I was afraid of. Right now I use mostly tula and Wolf which can get to about 25 cents after shipping. But of course if there's the future Newsom transfer fee/additional fees it could make that jump. I don't know, I'll have to wait and see how much that fee is, but unfortunately now it's looking like I probably will say f it and pay the fee and it will still be cheaper and also save my time from reloading yet another caliber. Of course I don't like the idea of forking over dough to anything Newsom related, but I don't think I'll have much choice. Perhaps I better stock up on tula ;p

[Capybara]

You'll still have lots of choices if the initiative passes. The over/under will probably be that reloaders will get at least one, possibly two legislative sessions to stock up before the Governor adds powder and primers to this initiative. The smart money isn't buying ammo right now, it's buying reloading components. I shoot Golden Tiger that I bought for my 7.62 guns a few years ago at .18 per round delivered. Now GT is .25 -.27 per round delivered. .30 - .31 per round for brass reloaded is such a better value because GT steel gets thrown in the trash (hopefully) while your 7.62 brass keeps on trucking. Powder is everywhere right now, as low as $18.00 per pound. Primers are 1.8 cents each, bullets are available all over the place. Seems nuts to me to NOT be stocking up on components. The Tsuanmi of onerous regulations and exorbitant costs on ammo is right over the next horizon, we know it's hitting us so why not seek higher ground now?

[milotrain]

There is a PRVI 123gr that PowderValley has for $18.33 per 100. I've had good luck with PRVI hpbt bullets, they are not in the same world as Hornady, Sierra, and Nosler but they are not poor by any stretch.

[Full Clip]

Just a batch of plinkers I made up a while ago... Mostly PMC brass.

[6mmintl]

You might want to try Berry's or extreme 150 grain .308 (30-30) flat nosed bullets, seat them deep, lower powder charge two grains. The longer bearing surface may work in .310 bores and should cycle action with heavier bullet at lower (correct 1500-1800 fps) velocities.

I'm also using the berry's .310 125 grain 7.62x39 bullet in my 32-20 cowboy loads and they are tack drivers on silhouettes.

[Fishslayer]

Why would anybody make a flat nose bullet for x39?