7.62x39 OAL problem

[Skrenos]

I'm trying to load some 7.62x39 ronds with 150 gr sierra soft points and 125 gr ballistic tips, but my OAL of the cartridge is too long to properly function in an AK mag, but it'll function fine in an SKS fixed mag. Now the question...are you people loading your orunds to function as autoloaders or as single shots? Are you making them fire in one gun (SKS) or in a few (sks, ak, mini-30)?

[RogerL]

Skrenos,
I load mine up to 2.213 OAL. I took a picture of a few rounds in a EG mag, in a plastic box and on the calipers(but the flash blurred the caliper gauge)
RogerL

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1619613&a=12366610&p=45685355&Sequence=0&res=high

[ 04-03-2001: Message edited by: RogerL ]

[xebec]

Part of the problem with using the 125g Ballistic Tip in a short-action or magazine-fed rifle is that the bullet is inordinately long for its weight. This consumes vital powder room within the case, but more importantly the long, sweeping ogive forces you to to set the bullet much further from the lands of the barrel than is optimum for reasons of accuracy. That being said, some people have had good results with this bullet. From my experiences developing a number of loads for this cartridge I would reccomend either the Hornady 130g SPT, or the excellent Sierra 135g SSP SPT. Both have demonstrated remarkable accuracy with a range of powders. As to OAL: my 125g BTs functioned in my Mini-30 at an absolute maximum of 2.265. I was also able to load a 150g Nosler Partition within these parameters, and achieved excellent accuracy at that seating depth. HTH

[Vepr223]

I load 125 gr. Speer .311" SP bullets. They are cannelured and when crimped or loaded with the cannelure at the case mouth present no OAL problem. I have come to prefer cannelured bullets in standard 7.62x39 weight (122-125 gr.)
I like to crimp my bullet in place for the AK/SKS because I have had bullets driven into the case upon chambering! The AK really slams 'em home! I use a Lee Factory Crimp die for this. It will crimp even without a cannelure. It really doesn't seem to have an adverse effect on accuracy.

[N/A]

Yes, but crimping into the cannelure can have the effect of raising chamber pressure. If one has never crimped his cartridges before, he might reduce his powde charge slightly and then work back up why watching for any indicatins of extreme pressure in the chamber; i.e. flattened primers, etc..