7.62x39 recipes?

[Zydeco76]

I need a good hunting load for the mini-30.

[NWO]

I load 25 grains of H4895 under a 150 grain Hornady SP Interlock bullet. This load is very reliable, and accurate out of my Simonov carbines. I am not sure about the hunting aspect though, as I do not hunt.

[steve4102]

What do you plan on hunting?

If you are after deer sized game then bullet selection is very important. The 7.62x39 in the Mini-30 has a velocity about 2200-2350fps with lighter bullets in the 125gr class and about 2000 to 2200 in the 150gr class. For a bullet to be effective it must be able to expand and penetrate at these slower velocities. That puts you in the 30-30 class bullet or a Ballistic Tip type bullet. If you are hunting smaller critters then bullet selection becomes easier.

I shoot .308 bullets out of my Mini-30. This gives me a much larger selection of bullets to choose from. They also shoot better in my mini then the .310-.311 bullets.

[Zydeco76]

I am looking for a large game round. We have pigs and deer around here.

[HighDesertWolf]

i use 24 grains of RL7 under a 150 grain sierra prohunter in my sks its pretty accurate and seems to have no trouble taking ferrel hogs out to around 100 yards.

[oneshotonly]

Originally Posted by Zydeco76 I am looking for a large game round. We have pigs and deer around here.

USE 12g Steel Shots in a good repeater. They will knock down anything?

[HighDesertWolf]

Originally Posted by oneshotonly USE 12g Steel Shots in a good repeater. They will knock down anything?

huh????

[Mule]

When I owned an SKS, I used the Sierra 125gr FPHP intended for .30-30 use. This bullet cycled perfectly in my gun and was accurate. A heart/lung shot on a whitetail was always fatal.

I can look up my load data tonight if you want, but I don't think it will help you much. I was using Accurate Data 2200 powder. A surplus powder that doesn't seem to be available any longer. Accurate 2230 or IMR-4895 should work pretty well.

[oneshotonly]

Originally Posted by HighDesertWolf huh????

Meaning the Slug especially steel shots will just destroy the oncoming force with an intensity unmatched

[Zydeco76]

How do I make sure about the bore diameter?

[Mule]

Originally Posted by oneshotonly USE 12g Steel Shots in a good repeater. They will knock down anything?

oneshotonly,

In the U.S., most states prohibit the use of steel core or Full Metal jacket ammunition for hunting deer, pigs and other large game. Expanding bullets are required for humane kills. Some areas allow Buck Shot, but it must be lead or copper coated lead. Steel, Bismuth and Tungsten alloys are used in large birdshot sizes for waterfowl. In short, here 12 ga steel ammo is not approved for hunting deer.

Personal Protection is another matter altogether...

Happy Hunting!

[oneshotonly]

I see. Too many law in the US. I lived there for ten years thank God I wasnt gun crazy back then otherwise I would have gone mad following laws!

[rc229]

Originally Posted by Zydeco76 How do I make sure about the bore diameter?

Send a note to Ruger Customer Assistance.
Give them your Mini's serial number. They will give you the twist and bore.
The older ones pre-2009 should be .308 - .309. The newer rifles are .310 -.311.

RC

[Marlin 45 carbine]

wonder if the OP is still liveing?

[Adjuster]

I've wondered not about hunting, but loading up a 7.62x39 version of the 300 AAC blackout.

Use a large 308 bullet, and keep it just under the speed of sound. With a expanding design, it would be quiet, and quite effective on deer too. (Something along the size of 300gr. with a ballistic tip?)

All I've used is Herter's SP and HP ammo, as well as Wolf HP and of course lots of ball and some AP loads from Egypt that were so hot, they really tear up the range stands. (IE cut metal in half when you really did not mean to.) The Egypt stuff had really hard primers that the Mini 30 did not always like on the first try too. (Firing pin does not protrude enough stock, as Ruger is worried a longer pin will puncture domestic loaded ammo.)

[Adjuster]

PS; This load would be used in a "pistol" variant of the AK. Should be very effective PDW to keep behind your seat eh?

[Spitnine]

Originally Posted by Zydeco76 I need a good hunting load for the mini-30.

I use 25.0 grains of Accurate 1680 with a 123 (maybe 125) grain Hornady VMax bullet.
It is very accurate in my CZ527 and Mini Thirty. YMMV
Thanks

[dh1633pm]

Originally Posted by Spitnine I use 25.0 grains of Accurate 1680 with a 123 (maybe 125) grain Hornady VMax bullet. It is very accurate in my CZ527 and Mini Thirty. YMMV Thanks

I use a load that is very very close to this one in my CZ527. AA1680 works like a charm.

[Marlin 45 carbine]

about the most informative poster concerning the x39 was steve4102.
he got banned due to razeing hell about the trolls here when the site changed hands.
also some other good members went out the door, or were banned.
I've posted my 150gr speer spfb load earlier. myself I feel the 123gr vmax to be too light for large whitetail over 100yds unless full profile shot presents.

[Adjuster]

So, nobody has done a sub sonic load for this round? Should be easy to load, the cases will take 308 bullets easy, and to get the right OAL, just push the longer, heavy bullets deeper into the case. Imagine a 300gr subsonic round. Would be a massive hitter inside of 100 to 150 yards.

Perfect for a pistol type AK variant.

[Indyarms]

Originally Posted by Adjuster So, nobody has done a sub sonic load for this round? Should be easy to load, the cases will take 308 bullets easy, and to get the right OAL, just push the longer, heavy bullets deeper into the case. Imagine a 300gr subsonic round. Would be a massive hitter inside of 100 to 150 yards. Perfect for a pistol type AK variant.

Thats all well in theory... I have tried to load some 308 bullets into the X39 casing when playing with reloads. you really have to be careful of load density vs bullet weight, before you get rounds that are too long for an AK magazine. You cant compress the powder charge any further without belling the case, so it will not chamber, And if you leave the projectile out enough that you dont bell the brass, they are still too long to fit in the mag. ASK ME HOW I KNOW THIS?

Yes, I see you are talking subsonic rounds, and probably CAN get away with less powder, to fit the bullet in the case. Thing is, they are already getting neutered by the reduced amount of powder needed for the bullet to begin with, and I am talking 168's, or 175 gn projectiles to use as HUNTING rounds out of the AK. Likewise, I am not sure WHERE you are finding 300 gn. 308 bullets to shoot ... Heaviest I have ever found were some Berger VLD 220's... and those are some LOOOOONG freakin bullets. almost too long to load in my 30-06, and have them still fit in the magazine. And you wanna load them into an X39, to fit into a standard AK mag??? ROFL!!!! GOOD LUCK! Sure you can, and get them to come out the barrel... I dont think you are going to get the MASSIVE HIT at 100 or 150 you fantasize about, though... SORRY....

Maybe I will get out the 220's and some X39 brass and see what I can load up... I cant imagine I can fit too much powder in there... will try some BLC-2... And I will get back here with some data... at least as far as powder weight, and COL. I am not sure I wanna run any through any of my guns, for data through the chrony, though...

[dh1633pm]

Originally Posted by Indyarms ASK ME HOW I KNOW THIS? (

Mr Indy I was never ask that. Because I know you know. Indy what do you think about using 220 grain lead? Not in an AK, but in a CZ527. Again, it would depend on powder. I have a 220 grain mold for the blackout.

[Rifleman55]

Is the rifling twist fast enough to stabilize that long of a bullet?

[Indyarms]

Indy what do you think about using 220 grain lead? Not in an AK, but in a CZ527. Again, it would depend on powder. I have a 220 grain mold for the blackout.

Well, I think the issue is going to be one of two things... whether you can get enough powder behind it to give it enough velocity to make the effort worthwhile, and still retain a USEABLE case overall length that doesnt go jamming the bullet into the lands of the barrel upon chambering.

I am not sure how long the 220 grain bullets are from your mould.

The Berger VLD's are 210 grain ( not 220 as I previously thought... ) measure nearly a FULL inch and a half, and mic out at 1.49 inches.
Compare that to the 150, and 123 next to it in the image... at 1.037, and 0.87 respectively.

The trick is just getting THAT MUCH bullet into such a short case, and still having the powder to propel it at a functional velocity.

As it was... I tried to seat the 210 into the case and couldnt get it deep enough to fit an AK magazine without crushing the shoulder, so I had to pull another one, to try a second time. I got that one...

Images are of the comparison of 123, 150, 210, and a loaded 123 HP round
a 210 ready to load sitting on top of the case, and a loaded round.

Loaded round mics out at 2.23 COL, and utilized 18 grains of the factory stick powder I dumped when pulling. That was the MOST I could fit in the cartridge, and still get the bullet deep enough to fit a magazine.

dunno what all this really means... other than, sure you can load up HEAVY bullets in X39 brass... but whether it will shoot worth a damn is still up for testing and debate.

[Marlin 45 carbine]

my expereince shows max weight of .308 jacketed slugs avaiable as 220 gr fbsp.
never loaded then in my '06 though. 180gr max which groups well.