Brass for reloading 7.62x39

[rp55]

I have decided that I want to add 7.62x39 to my reloading repertoire. My question is would it be preferable to buy cartridges, shoot them and reload or just start out with virgin brass?

If cartridges are better I like to buy in bulk. I have seen PPU, Federal and Fiocchi. Are there other brands out there that are a good bulk buy for shooting and reloading?

There does not seem to be a lot of choice in virgin brass and it seems to be Winchester or Lapua. I know Lapua's reputation but you certainly pay for it.

So overall what's the best way to go?

[bootcamp]

Question is, would it still make financial sense to reload given the prices of lead core, steel cased ammo being $180-200 per thousand rounds?

Even the prices of .223 have fallen to a price range to where i'm only saving $50-60 dollars per 1000 rounds of reloads and it'a a whole lot more work. Thankfully primer prices have fallen and powders have come down a buck or two per pound. I'm hoping projectile prices fall to but if they don't, I may switch to factory ammunition for plinking ammo.

[Erin]

im not a reloader (yet) but i shoot 7.62 soviet because its so cheap. it seems reloading would not be cost effective. i just had 1200 rds delivered for 200.

[cjskalka]

I have found Winchester to be the worst for x39. I would see evidence of imminent case head separation after 2 firings. I've got a lot of lapua that I stocked away a long time ago that i've been making my way through, up to around 6 firings on my oldest batch with less than 5% culled. Federal is another common case I use, not the greatest, but cheap and somewhat abundant. Fiocchi is a cheap and abundant case as well, I've got some good results with Fiocchi. I really advise casting for this round, makes it cheaper than surplus.

[Cowboy T]

Casting also makes it a good deer hunting round, if you use, say, BHN 12 alloy to get some mushrooming. The gas check should help keep the cast boolit from leading. MFS reloadable 7.62x39 is often on sale at Cabela's.

But 1,200 rounds for $200...that's awfully compelling for range practice. Awfully compelling, indeed. Was that a Widener's purchase, perchance, and did that include shipping?

[rp55]

It's true that at present there is not an economic argument in favor of reloading 7.62x39 but that cheap surplus ammo is not going to last forever. Plus I like being able to reload the cartridges I shoot. I started reloading 7.62x54R and now want to try 7.62x39.

[Full Clip]

Question is, would it still make financial sense to reload given the prices of lead core, steel cased ammo being $180-200 per thousand rounds?

Apples, meet oranges.
If you're planning to reload plinking rounds to the same low quality as Wolf and Brown Bear, then you're right. If you're reloading to higher specs — perhaps with Hornaday 123grn VMAX or Winchester SPs, as I do — then reloading x39 makes perfect sense.
To the OP, I started out with Lapua brass as I wanted to make the best possible ammo for my x39 AR. I'm sure I'll get a few extra reloads from the brass, but Privi, Fiocchi, PMC and Winchester brass are all great to use.

[checkenbach]

I loded some Fiocchi for my Mini-30 when I had it, was going to load for the SKS as well, but the SKS just HAMMERED the brass, most were unusable.

[bootcamp]

Apples, meet oranges.
If you're planning to reload plinking rounds to the same low quality as Wolf and Brown Bear, then you're right. If you're reloading to higher specs — perhaps with Hornaday 123grn VMAX or Winchester SPs, as I do — then reloading x39 makes perfect sense.
To the OP, I started out with Lapua brass as I wanted to make the best possible ammo for my x39 AR. I'm sure I'll get a few extra reloads from the brass, but Privi, Fiocchi, PMC and Winchester brass are all great to use.

Well, remember we're talking x39, not .308 win or .30-06 where reloading for those calibers makes all the sense when you're shooting for sub-moa groups. TO ME, the x39 and/or AK47 will always be a center mass, killing type round. Ignorant, probably, but that's all the respect i'll give that round. Those wolf or brown bear touch down on your *** and you're dead! Weak, anemic or whatever.

So apples to oranges or whatever, TO ME, the round is what it is, I see no face value in spending the time to reload for it given the prices of cheap ammo. You go from what? 4" groups to maybe 2-1.5" groups? I'd rather reload for my .308 rifle knowing the quality that I kick out will shoot a fly off a horses ***.

[Bongos]

this question depends on the type of rifle you pla to shoot, if it's an SKS or AK, than surplus would be the best route, loading for these guns is a waste, the brass gets really stretched, dinged, and deformed, if you don't have a brass catcher, plan on loosing 30% of the brass.

Now if you plan on shooting it out of the CZ bolt, then you can actually achieve MOA with reloads ad the brass will last forever since you neck size it...

[Fishslayer]

Question is, would it still make financial sense to reload given the prices of lead core, steel cased ammo being $180-200 per thousand rounds?

It would if your local range didnt allow steel in your ammo.

Steel free x39 can be pricey.

I'm still in brass collection mode. Lucked into a few hunnert rounds of steel free ammo so I'm shooting that for the time being.

[nick]

Cabela's occasionally has deals on brass-cased boxer-primed MFS ammo, especially if you combine sale with coupons. It can go for as low as $4.80-5 for a box of 20.

[bootcamp]

It would if your local range didnt allow steel in your ammo.

Steel free x39 can be pricey.

I'm still in brass collection mode. Lucked into a few hunnert rounds of steel free ammo so I'm shooting that for the time being.

I can buy lead core, steel cased ammo right now for $99 per 500 rounds. I can pull a bullet in front of the range master and try to attach it to magnet.

[Fishslayer]

I can buy lead core, steel cased ammo right now for $99 per 500 rounds. I can pull a bullet in front of the range master and try to attach it to magnet.

Range I go to is no steel, period. Case or projectile. Not really aproblem since I don't shoot a lot of x39. I got a batch of the previously mentioned MFS. Good stuff & priced right.

I did buy a hefty lot of Wolf for emergency stash...

[Cowboy T]

AK's are battle carbines, true, but they're also very handy for deer hunting on, say, the East Coast where a 150-yard shot is considered a long shot. This is the same terrain where the .30-30 and the Winchester Model 94 (hardly an MOA rifle) made its fame, so an AK would do just fine for that.

However, this is about the x39 round itself. In a good gun, it can be as precise as the rest of 'em. For example, a good Ruger Mini-30 can do pretty well with them, and the bolt-actions have already been spoken about. The round itself isn't a bad round at all.