7.62x39 Hunting Load Development

[Kent Goldings]

I'm currently developing a hunting load for my Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39.

I got my hands on a couple of boxes of these 0.310 Caliber 123 grain Ballistic Tip Hunting Bullets from Nosler . I loaded up about ten rounds so I could measure velocities.

I loaded the bullets over 30 grains of CFE BLK in some Starline brass I bought in April. I used the same recipe for 123 gr. Hornady Interlock SP bullets. The Muzzle veocity for the Hornadys is an impressive 2480 fps. However, I was delighted to get velocities for the Nosler bullets nearly 100 fps faster.

Nosler hasn't published a ballistic coefficient for the ballistic tip bullets yet. But, it is undoubtedly higher than the Hornady Interlock SP. I'm hoping that this will deliver enough terminal energy to take deer to 200 yards.

I'll update this thread as the load develops,

 

[Edwardteach72]

Following.

I really want to take a deer with my Saiga

 

[Airborneguy]

If I get off my butt today, I'll post my recipe. I've hunted deer and pigs with my 7.62x39.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

My wife has a Mini-Thirty. Loves it. We took the lazy way out, before this crunch bought a good supply of Hornady Black with the 123 gr SST's. Absolutely 100% reliable with them. It's her deer hunting/HD rig.

 

[Kent Goldings]

My wife has a Mini-Thirty. Loves it. We took the lazy way out, before this crunch bought a good supply of Hornady Black with the 123 gr SST's. Absolutely 100% reliable with them. It's her deer hunting/HD rig.

I wish I could get those SSTs, but they don’t seem to sell them loose. I’m hoping the Nosler bullets have similar ballistics.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

It's a 10 round mag, before anyone gets too excited.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I'm currently developing a hunting load for my Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39.

I got my hands on a couple of boxes of these 0.310 Caliber 123 grain Ballistic Tip Hunting Bullets from Nosler . I loaded up about ten rounds so I could measure velocities.

I loaded the bullets over 30 grains of CFE BLK in some Starline brass I bought in April. I used the same recipe for 123 gr. Hornady Interlock SP bullets. The Muzzle veocity for the Hornadys is an impressive 2480 fps. However, I was delighted to get velocities for the Nosler bullets nearly 100 fps faster.

Nosler hasn't published a ballistic coefficient for the ballistic tip bullets yet. But, it is undoubtedly higher than the Hornady Interlock SP. I'm hoping that this will deliver enough terminal energy to take deer to 200 yards.

I'll update this thread as the load develops,

Btw, nice rig!

 

[Kent Goldings]

Thanks. It’s just the stock Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39 with a few accessories. It’s light, which is what I was shooting for. I built up my 308 for long-range and discovered that I didn’t want to hunt with it anymore. The use of 7.62x39 is based on the premise that I’ll only take deer at less than 200 yards. I’ve consistently hit the IPSC at 700 yards with handloads. It will group about 6 inches at 400 yards with the cheap stuff. But, the energy is not there for hunting at those ranges.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Thanks. It’s just the stock Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39 with a few accessories. It’s light, which is what I was shooting for. I built up my 308 for long-range and discovered that I didn’t want to hunt with it anymore. The use of 7.62x39 is based on the premise that I’ll only take deer at less than 200 yards. I’ve consistently hit the IPSC at 700 yards with handloads. It will group about 6 inches at 400 yards with the cheap stuff. But, the energy is not there for hunting at those ranges.

Right. Not the most powerful cartridge ever invented. For my wife, perfect. She wanted something like my 10/22. And, the odds of her taking a shot beyond 75 yards is about as good as seeing God and winning the lottery on the same day.

I love both my Americans in 7mm-08 and .308 Win. Although I have added more doodads on the .308, I have kept the 7mm-08 purposely as a workhorse deer rifle. As you say, light weight.

 

[Russ Woody]

I use my Mini 30 for deer hunting with the .310 123 g Hornady SST's with 25 grains of H4198. I just swapped out projectiles this last week using Sierra Pro Hunter .311 125g. Pretty much same point of impact and same group size.
I've tagged 5 deer in the last 2 years with it. I don't think I've shot more than 40 yards with it. They drop on the spot.
I had one buck slightly running and shot him and the momentum of him running down hill made me have to drag him about 40 more yards. Uphill, in the snow. I'm getting to old for that shit. It was probably 140 yards uphill to the road.
I now use my grandson's plastic snow sled and tie them on real good and scoot them up the hill pronto.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I use my Mini 30 for deer hunting with the .310 123 g Hornady SST's with 25 grains of H4198. I just swapped out projectiles this last week using Sierra Pro Hunter .311 125g. Pretty much same point of impact and same group size.
I've tagged 5 deer in the last 2 years with it. I don't think I've shot more than 40 yards with it. They drop on the spot.
I had one buck slightly running and shot him and the momentum of him running down hill made me have to drag him about 40 more yards. Uphill, in the snow. I'm getting to old for that shit. It was probably 140 yards uphill to the road.
I now use my grandson's plastic snow sled and tie them on real good and scoot them up the hill pronto.

My wife and I use a snow sled too. Great invention.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Hey @Kent Goldings- get on the list

Hornady SST Bullets 7.62x39mm (310 Diameter) 123 Grain InterLock

Hornady Bullets combine proven Hornady performance with a high ballistic coefficient. The sharp, pointed polymer tip creates a fast, flat shooting...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[turbobike]

I’m running 31.0gr of CFE- BLK, 123gr SST at 2650fps out of my CZ-527 bolt gun. 31g is right the SAAMI 45,500psi max.
29.7gr is 40,000psi max for Semi-auto’s...

 

[Kent Goldings]

I’m running 31.0gr of CFE- BLK, 123gr SST at 2650fps out of my CZ-527 bolt gun. 31g is right the SAAMI 45,500psi max.
29.7gr is 40,000psi max for Semi-auto’s...

I’m loading 30 gr of CFE BLK

 

[meketrefe]

I'm currently developing a hunting load for my Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39.

I got my hands on a couple of boxes of these 0.310 Caliber 123 grain Ballistic Tip Hunting Bullets from Nosler . I loaded up about ten rounds so I could measure velocities.

I loaded the bullets over 30 grains of CFE BLK in some Starline brass I bought in April. I used the same recipe for 123 gr. Hornady Interlock SP bullets. The Muzzle veocity for the Hornadys is an impressive 2480 fps. However, I was delighted to get velocities for the Nosler bullets nearly 100 fps faster.

Nosler hasn't published a ballistic coefficient for the ballistic tip bullets yet. But, it is undoubtedly higher than the Hornady Interlock SP. I'm hoping that this will deliver enough terminal energy to take deer to 200 yards.

I'll update this thread as the load develops,

Wow a post about reloading! It is nice to see there are some people here still interested in the shooting sports.
The nosler should give you something between .33 to .35 g1 with a most likely lower .33 at 200 yards.
If you can push them close to or even past 2500 you will have still a pretty effective round out to 250 yards or so although
I would not push it too much.
There is plenty of momentum for white tail at those distances but what is more important, you have still a 2100-2200fps
impact speed that is ideal. Never push the impact speed towards the minimum advertised by the maker that in case
of noslers is round 1800fps as this drastically dimishes the terminal effect and might end up with pin hole wounding
in the animal. I would say not such a great concern with the ballistic tips vs the accubond that are more stout bullets
for penetration so you should be more than fine. The SSTs are nice bullets but in my experience the Ballistic Tips
are more consistent after impact from all sort of angles and conditions.

Another misconception with the x39 might come from the reloading books that publish reload data that in many
case is obsolete held back to SAAMI, CPI and military standards.
I don't use starline brass but for some of the wildcats I use hornady and specially lapua has no problem taking
loads up to 51-52K psi. I use it for the gunner development and I am pushing 55k-57kpsi w/o problems but with
caution, like always.
Of course one has to keep an eye on the brass and primers as those also factor on the flattening with harder vs softer primers
or small vs. large primer (have used formed Grendel brass too) .
For practice a lower dose is going to make the brass laast longer but for hunting you might want to pump a load
so you can get the extra killing power.

The books advertised laods and psi values are totally arbitrary because most times they do not tell you the actual chamber,
freebore, rifling and temperature. simple things that make a huge difference.

Another consideration with the 7.62x39 is to got with heavier bullets and I think 150gr could be ideal but in your
particular case and if the nosler BT you are not going to gain anything at 200-250 yards and even less at 100 yards.
But the 150gr loads should not be quickly discarded as the 7.6x39 design due to being under-bored looses less
speed with larger bullets, specially if one who with shorter than average barrels.

I am not sure about ruger but several rifles shoot well with certain 308 caliber bullets as they provide a hybrid chamber
and deep x5 or 6 enfiled style rachet grooves. For that all is needed is a 308 mandrel / sizing button that is a popular
choice with x39 ".308 widcatters". Even if the chamber is not a hybrid one, it might be worth trying a few selected
bullets in the 308 150gr spectrum.

In any case one also has a few 150gr for the enfield and other eastern ammo in the .3105-.311 diam.

On the other side of the spectrum you have the capability to push a modern 110gr like those made for the whatchout (110gr ttsx)
that the 7.62x39 with modern brass and modern rifle has no trouble pushing 200-300 faster than the Watchout.

Download this. remember some of this data is obsolete.

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Caliber%20Specific%20Load%20Data/Complete%20Reloading%20Manual%20for%20the%207.62x39.pdf

 

[Kent Goldings]

I had begun by loading 150 grain .308 SSTs. The accuracy was abysmal as the bore diameter of the American 7.62x39 is .310. I immediately understood the appeal of 300 BLK. But, the 7.62x39 is much more attractive in a recreational shooter because of the inexpensive ammo available. Although, the current ammo famine has me a little worried. I may be stuck with reloads for the foreseeable future. CFE BLK seems to still be available. I wonder if we’ll start seeing people use it in calibers other than 300 BLK and 7.63x39.

 

[Kent Goldings]

So, the weather today was pretty crappy. But, it didn't stop me from some load testing. The rain and the wind kept from shooting too far.

I loaded more of the Nosler 123 gr. Ballistic Tip bullets. This time I used some once-fired federal brass. I increased the powder charge to 31 grains of CFE-BLK. The results were encouraging. I chronographed the first five loads. The results are below in fps. The chronograph was 10 feet down range.

I entered 2570 fps into the ballistic calculator and used a BC of 0.304 because that was the value for Nosler's very similar Varmageddon(tm) bullet. I entered the elevation for 300 yards and the elevation was spot-on. I managed to turn in a group of about 4 inches at 300 yards despite the gusting wind and heavy rain.

I checked the brass for signs of over-pressure and didn't see any.

The ballistic app seems to indicated that I should have sufficient energy to at least 200 yards. It also suggests a maximum point-blank zero about 175 yards.

 

[1075tech]

I wish I could get those SSTs, but they don’t seem to sell them loose. I’m hoping the Nosler bullets have similar ballistics.

@Kent Goldings try this. It didn't say "out of stock" and let me go to check out. I know nothing about this company. About page three on Gulag search 7.62 Dia/3.10 Dia

 

[Kent Goldings]

I’m pretty happy with the Noslers. The problem is that they’re so new, they haven’t released ballistic data or load data. I’ve had to improvise. Hornady has complete data on the SSTs right in their manual.