Anyone load for AKs?

[Pauliedad]

Update in post #48


So does anyone have firsthand experience with this?

I noticed right away once I started loading .223 and .308 that the consistency hand loading brings makes a world of difference.
What I'm wondering is if I would see enough of an improvement in 7.62 x 39 groups to warrant the effort.

[Exodus343]

Kind of pointless imo

[BigBronco]

Kind of pointless imo

I would disagree. Most of the cheap AK ammo out there is not range safe. Loading to shoot at places like Angelus will be my intention once I find enough boxer brass.

[Capybara]

AKs are not target guns, so that benefit of added accuracy from reloading is probably moot. That said, I agree with Big Bronco, reloading AK ammo makes sense from a practical POV, range safe brass ammo is still a lot more expensive than you can reload for, although AK bullets are not cheap.

[vlady]

I do 7.62 for my ar, not the ak. The ar shoots much tighter groups with hand loads than it does with bought brass case or steel case. The difference with the ak is not worth the price IMO but I only shoot that at places that allow steel case.

[Full Clip]

Yep, I also reloaded for my x39 AR. Plenty of great bullet options, and anyone looking at the cost, should be comparing to domestic brass-cased ammo, not the cheap steel-cased imports. Accuracy with Hornaday Vmax and Zmax or Lapua bullets is quite good. Even made up a nice 150grn SP for "hunting."

[arslin]

I have everything but the powder for the AK to reload. The powder just is not available. I have it more from a, just in case standpoint. The cost of the steal case is just too low to bother with at this point. When the ammo registration bill passes (the cost is the only reason it may not), I hope to be able to supply myself.

As I have not made any rounds, I can not testify to the accuracy.

[Pauliedad]

More info to why I'm asking and thinking about it.
I am a new bench shooter and have enjoyed what feels like success at 100 and 200 yards. This is with sub 1k ar15 and a Rem 700 with non stock chassis and $300.00 Nikon scope. Oh yeah, decent triggers in both.
According to what some say here and elsewhere these are the "Hondas" of the riffle world.
So with how I'm doing now I'm wondering if I could eek out some precision from an AK.
This is not about cost at all and my current ammo stock is fine for local ranges. This is more about putting some tight groups together with a rifle everyone says I shouldn't be able to.
As with so many competitive fields, some get too wrapped up into gear instead of finding confidence in themselves.

[sl0re10]

I would disagree. Most of the cheap AK ammo out there is not range safe. Loading to shoot at places like Angelus will be my intention once I find enough boxer brass.

part of the problem, imo, is finding bullets. It seems like they're about 23 cents each for jacketed bullets. I get 223s for 8 cents....

thats probably the game changer imo... if someone would sell jacketed ak bullets cheaper then reloading would add up better to people.

[Full Clip]

part of the problem, imo, is finding bullets. It seems like they're about 23 cents each for jacketed bullets. I get 223s for 8 cents....

thats probably the game changer imo... if someone would sell jacketed ak bullets cheaper then reloading would add up better to people.

Well, given that standard x39 bullets would be 123grn and standard .223 woud be 55grn, you're buying more than twice as much material by weight, thusly part of the price difference.

And these are .20 per (shipping included).

[arslin]

part of the problem, imo, is finding bullets. It seems like they're about 23 cents each for jacketed bullets. I get 223s for 8 cents....

thats probably the game changer imo... if someone would sell jacketed ak bullets cheaper then reloading would add up better to people.

http://www.xtremebullets.com/7-62-s/48049.htm

About 9 cents a round.

[sl0re10]

http://www.xtremebullets.com/7-62-s/48049.htm

About 9 cents a round.

can't take normal velocities. Only copper plated (vs a jacket)... and the lead mix isn't very hard. So copper plate comes off (can't take the velocity a jacket can) and then the lead falls apart in the barrel (because the mix used is too soft).

You would have to do low velocity loads if you could make that fly / find one.

Their 8 cent 223 rounds have a real jacket.

But anyway; yes... it would be nice if someone put together a cheap AK round even if it were not what I think of as a standard rifle round (re: actual real copper or bi metal jacket)... Could be done.... maybe a harder lead mix, powdercoat for the 'jacket', cheapo aluminum gas check on the bottom... Could work fine for paper.

Another crazy thought... those crazy expensive corbin dies that people make 223 jackets with from old brass. Considering that AK bullets without steel cost x3 more than 223... the price for such a die set is not so crazy... wonder if they do other cals (edit: checked; nope)...

[meaty-btz]

It should be noted that it is myth that steel cases cannot be reloaded. They actually can be. They do not last as long as brass cases but they are most certainly reloadable.

The hardness of a steel case is = to a brass case so in sizing with lube they will size like a brass case.
The primer is the big issue.

[Bumslie]

It should be noted that it is myth that steel cases cannot be reloaded. They actually can be. They do not last as long as brass cases but they are most certainly reloadable.

The hardness of a steel case is = to a brass case so in sizing with lube they will size like a brass case.
The primer is the big issue.

Yep. Shoot fine. Cast 150gr bullet with gallery load of unique and a converted and superglued in boxer primer.

[meaty-btz]

Safety Orange PC, awesome.

Super glue for the primer? Large Rifle?