reloading ak-47 7.62x39mm

I am confused on what to actualy use to reload the ak-47 with.

there are two sizes to use.
iether the .308" or the .311"


the .308" is very well accessable to get at wall mart. or other places.
the .311" seems to be the real accurate size to use for the ak-37.

using a .308" bullet ? will it work ok and not harm the barrel when shooting ?

The 308 is used in TC and some of the other firearms chambered in the 7.62x39. The European made arms are all .311 inch bores. What you load will depend on the bore of your gun. You can load 308 bullets in the 311 bore but you shouldn't expect good accuracy out of it. The 308 bullets will not harm the larger bores but you can hurt the gun if you fire a 311 bullet in a 308 bore, especially if you are loading maximum listed loads without working them up from reduced loads looking for excessive pressure signs.

Ripper007,

I reload for my SKS and AK47. Since they both shoot 7.62x39 ammunition, I buy the .308 heads and have not noticed any problems with accuracy. I would also be aware of the following issues with any military semi rifle:

First, use primers by such makers as CCI, Winchester and Remington. Some other brands use softer cups that may contribute to a slam fire.
Second, full-length resizing is essential.
Third, don't load to the maximum. These are not bolt action rifles and I have seen the results of one too many maximum loads through an SKS.

I also found that IMR 4895 or H4895 are both very good powders for reloading the 7.62x39, but that is just my opinion.

Good luck reloading and have a blast shooting that thing.

thanks,

this is exactly what I needed to know.

thanks guys. you guys are a great buch of guys. thanks for your help.

I just measured some Wolf and Norinco ammo, both measured 308.

7.62x39 is not .308 it is .310 and the 303 brit is .311

i load for 303 alot and have used the pulled .310 7.62x39 for light nonaccurate plinking loads.

Exuse me. Lapua loadin book: The best powder is VihtaVuori N-120 and bullet Lapua S405 FMJ./.311" Ballistic Coff: 0,280. Lapua case. Catr. O.A.L:1,293". Min. load: 23,6gr, vel:2200fps. Max. load:25,9, vel:2350fps. Finnish Army uses 7,62x39 assualt rifles. VihtaVuori says: Lapua S407 FMJ, N-120 Min.load:24,7gr vel: 2175. Max.load:27,3gr. vel:2361fps. I always use VihtaVuori loading guide. PS: N-120 near IMR 4198 and Hodgdon 4198???

ripper007 wrote:

reloading ak-47 7.62x39mm I am confused on what to actualy use to reload the ak-47 with. there are two sizes to use. iether the .308" or the .311" the .308" is very well accessable to get at wall mart. or other places. the .311" seems to be the real accurate size to use for the ak-37. using a .308" bullet ? will it work ok and not harm the barrel when shooting ?

The only way to go, and duplicates military stuff, is Hornady 310 123 gr and 1680 powder, been using that forever, best i have found , bar none.And other long time users of ak , s have came back to this also.IT Works!!

A point of clarification here, All single shots made in the US chambered for the 7.62x39 have 308 bores (rifles and pistols) as does the Ruger Mini 30. The 7.62x39 factory round is of such low pressure that shooting a .311 bullet in a .308 barrel will swage the bullet to .308 without damage to the gun, bore or action. This is pretty much the same situation as the 32-20 guns of modern manafacture, except for the revolvers and European guns, all have .308 bores.

When you shoot .308 bullets through a .311 bore and get the same accuracy, that is an indication of just how inaccurate most AKs actually are. About 4 inches at 100 is about all 90% of the AKs will shoot, but that is good enough for a combat rifle made for close combat, street fighting, etc.

I have owned three AKs, two in 7.62x39 and one in 223. The 223 version was very accurate for an AK, about 1.5 to 2 inches at 100, but it was real tough on the brass.
Ed

Why would you even bother reloading for an AK when the military ammo is so cheap and shoots about as good as a reload.

Also I have noticed the Remington brass will use a small rifle primer.
Not too sure why they did that, but check headstamps first. And if Remington then I would as other's have said be VERY CAREFUL in an SKS with it's "floating" firing pin to the point of not using Remington. I do not know how an AK has it's firing pin laying in the bolt. I load my loads for a MAS 36 in 7.5x54mm that I got an adapter for to be able to use easily found ammunition rather than trying to find 7.5. Even though I have dies for 7.5. Just need a borken shell extractor for it now.
As too loading it why not? I load for a couple of .45 ACP and several 9x19mm's. All of which have commercial versions out the wahzoo! But yes there is a time when you need to ask is it worth it to have the eqiupment when there is just SO much out there? Personally I would say yes. You never know when the ball is going to go up and you need to grab the G.T.H.(Go To Hell) bag or rucksack. And if I remember at some point in time I can recall seeing something on the order of Ruger using a bore diameter or throat having a .30895" diameter, so that either a .308 to a .311 would work. Not sure on the veracity of this though as I do not have a Mini-30 or M77. I would think that an M77 in 7.62x39mm might be an interesting thing to try and load for though.

d_hoffman wrote:

Why would you even bother reloading for an AK when the military ammo is so cheap and shoots about as good as a reload.

My thoughts exactly........7.62 x 39 is on the short list of 'rounds that there is no benefit to handloading'. Not even for hobby sake.

skb2706 wrote:

d_hoffman wrote: Why would you even bother reloading for an AK when the military ammo is so cheap and shoots about as good as a reload. My thoughts exactly........7.62 x 39 is on the short list of 'rounds that there is no benefit to handloading'. Not even for hobby sake.

My SKS Load
Winchester case
CCI #34 Mil Spec primer
AA 1680 powder preferred Reloader #7 excellent backup
Hornady 123 Gr. FMJ or SP bullet

Results in a 1970 YUGO SKS

Hey, guys.

thanks for all these post.

sorry for not coming around as much.

my work has been very busy this summer and have almost been working every day.

Thanks again. this is very good information. will print it out and put in my logs.

rip - I stand corrected. Looks to me like your SKS deserves handloaded ammo.

Where you at in CO ?