Rule of Thumb Request for Different Powders

[hk91666]

Folks,

I have a fairly new AR-15 in 7.62x25 mm tok . I also have brass, 30 cal sabots, 55gr & 62gr .223 bullets. And a few recipes from a friend for CZ52 pistol (46gr bullet w/sabot) 7-8.4gr bullseye, 9-10.5 AA5, & 8.0-9.2 Power Pistol.

I want to use Reloader 7 or Reloader 10x or Bluedot which are WAY SLOWER per the chart than the 3 powders mentioned earlier.

Is there a tried and true method for experimentation? Or is it a crap shoot?

What I have done so far is research the M1 carbine 30 cal is similar in size capacity (but longer) The Sierra book V5 shows 11-13.5 in 2400 which is slightly slower than Bluedot.

Since the AR-15 Stag lefty I own is apparently stronger than the CZ52, I thought 10-12gr of Bluedot and work up from there in .5gr increments until pressure signs appear. (Hard extraction and primer flow.)

Does anyone have a favorite or safe way to approach my dilemma? Mainly have recipe for fast powder but want to use slower powder and get a complete burn down the 16-inch barrel.

I have in order of burn rate Universal Clays (fastest), Ramshot True Blue, BlueDot, Re-7, IMR 3031, Re-10x, Re-15, Re-19. (slowest).

Help me if you can!

Thanks
Frank

[FLIGHT762]

Reloader 7 and 10X are rifle powders and they will NOTwork in your 7.62X25 Tokarev. Forget about that. About the slowest powder for the highest velocity will be 2400, H-110 and W-296.

The max for Blue dot with a 90 gr. bullet tops out at about 7.0 grains.

This information came from Hornady's 8th reloading edition.

You need to get a good reloading data source and follow the recipes.

Here's a little bit of information:

http://www.makarov.com/tokloaddata.html

The 7.62X25 is a hot little cartridge and small increases in powder can raise pressures quickly. You mentioned working up loads in 1 gr. increments. For this cartridge, I'd recommend .25 gr. increments. A full grain can be too much, especially if your near maximum.

Go slow and be safe.

[hk91666]

Reloader 7 and 10X are rifle powders and they will NOTwork in your 7.62X25 Tokarev. Forget about that. About the slowest powder for the highest velocity will be 2400, H-110 and W-296.

The max for Blue dot with a 90 gr. bullet tops out at about 7.0 grains.

This information came from Hornady's 8th reloading edition.

You need to get a good reloading data source and follow the recipes.

Here's a little bit of information:

http://www.makarov.com/tokloaddata.html

The 7.62X25 is a hot little cartridge and small increases in powder can raise pressures quickly. You mentioned working up loads in 1 gr. increments. For this cartridge, I'd recommend .25 gr. increments. A full grain can be too much, especially if your near maximum.

Go slow and be safe.

Flight762
Thanks, Would the info you provided change if the cartridge was only shot in a carbine (AR)? I may try the 2400 info with Bluedot as these 2 are close in the burn chart. I was only speaking of 0.5gr increments but will drop back to .0.25 or less steps. Also I would never shoot these rounds in my CZ only the AR. My data sources are Sierra, Lyman , lee manuals and internet info. But no one has reported on the sabot round out of a 16-inch barrel carbine with a solid lockup like an AR. This is why I wanted to use a slower powder. hope this clarify's my question and again thanks for the info.

[FLIGHT762]

I don't think you're going to be able to go too much above the recommended maximums even though you're shooting it in the AR. The cartridge was designed as a smokeless pistol cartridge, unlike the .38 special, which was a black powder cartridge and has a good powder capacity and actually can be loaded pretty hot in a rifle.

On the link I gave you, there is some very limited data for a 46 gr. .22 cal bullet W/ a .30 cal Sabot.

[hk91666]

I don't think you're going to be able to go too much above the recommended maximums even though you're shooting it in the AR. The cartridge was designed as a smokeless pistol cartridge, unlike the .38 special, which was a black powder cartridge and has a good powder capacity and actually can be loaded pretty hot in a rifle.

On the link I gave you, there is some very limited data for a 46 gr. .22 cal bullet W/ a .30 cal Sabot.

I understand I will start around the 2400/bluedot loads and work it up or down to see if I can squeeze out a little velocity with out screwing up accuracy. Thanks again. The sabot loads are very close to my info my friend was using in his Cz, His issue was OAL and still fitting in the cz magazine. But I think if too long I can use a 223 magazine it seems to feed when cycled manually. I will keep this thread alive after I work through a few loads and my chrony.

[hk91666]

Flight762,

Starting to see what you mean there is limited case capacity in the Tok case . I ran off 5 each in bluedot 9.4gr, 9.6gr, 9.8gr 9.8 is compressed load. I weigh all charges with Lyman DPS1200 scale. My 55gr 223 bullet with sabot is 60.6gr or 61.0grs.Per the charts 10gr is max for 71gr bullet and bluedot. I also will have to shoot from an AR magazine as it is too long for PPS43 mag. Just trying to see if fires safely. Will update ater range tomorrow.