308 tracer loads in AK rounds

[hooksmatt]

I bought some 7.62x39 tracers at a show a while back. Just pulled a bulet and noticed that they were actually 308 tracer projectiles. The were not crimped into the cases. SHot a few and they seemed to work fine. Does anyone have any knowledge on using 308 tracers in 7.62x39 shells. I think the difference in dia is .310 vs .311. I would love to get some surplus and load em up but was wondering about the correct powder, and would standard load data work to ignight the tracer. ANy input is helpful as I would like to get started on this:confused:

[sniper69]

i have shot both green 7.62x39 tracers, and red 7.62x39. which one did you pull that was a .308? The green is hard to find (or so it seems), but seemed to trace better than the red.

[JA]

308 tracers are .308" in diameter which is .002" smaller than the .310" of the 7.62x39mm bullet. Any surplus tracer bullets you find will be .308" diameter and weigh 145 grains or more becasue they are pulled from 308 or 30-06 ammo.
AA-1680 will light tracers in 7.62x39mm ammo.

[hooksmatt]

They were the red ones. I am really looking for a safe load for these. Should I crimp or no crimp? Not really going for accuracy, not that I would get it anyways using 308bullets. Could I try and use powders for 7.62x39 loads but try and find a hotter burning powder. The powder from the pulled bullet was not very coarse at all, nothing like standard 308

[sniper69]

were the ones you bought crimped?? If they were then i would suggest crimping. I think JA mentioned about what kind of powder to use....he mentioned AA-1680. Myself I'm not sure what kind of powder to use, but loading your own tracers would be cheaper than buying the other ones.

[JA]

Any ammo that will be used in a semi auto rifle should be crimped. As the bullet can be pushed back into the case of a uncrimped round as it is being fed into the chamber.