Those crafty commies
I wish I had a way to measure recoil, because if I did, I'd load my .308 to 2250 fps with a 150-grain bullet and just see if the recoil is the same as the 7.62x39. It sure doesn't feel like it, but for the life of me I can't understand why. Could just be my imagination. Basically the same gun, and stock (model 11 vs. model 10)
How many grains of powder to make the 308 shoot 150 gr. bullets at 2250? Compare that to what it takes with the commie round and see if there is a difference.
BW
Well today I went to our gunshow looking to buy a Marlin 39a or a tan and black FMK 9C1 G2 with the bill of rights on the slide and it pretty much sucked because neither was there but I got this little guy is been wanting for awhile. Not bad for only $45 new in box
I went back to the gun show today and we'll I think I have a problem.....it followed me home for $250
You got that rifle for $250 !?! That's a great deal! Congrats.
'ol BW, I'm loading 25.5 grains under 150's and 24.5 grains of RL-7 under the 160-grain FTX bullets.
Last night, I loaded 50 rounds with the 160 grain FTX's and took them to the range today. I got pretty good groups again (nearly 1" at 100 yards, with 2 holes touching) so I shot them at 200 and managed a reasonable group there too. So I think I've found my hunting bullet now. I like the idea of shooting those heavy FTX bullets that are designed to expand at lower velocities. I may try the Hornady Interlock 150's eventually, but I'm in no hurry since I now have about 100 handloads ready to go, and they all shoot pretty well.
Yup. Took it home and sprayed some Balistol on the side of the receiver where the rust was and let it sit for about 15 minutes then used a plastic cleaning brush and most of the rust came out not harming the blueing(what's left). Not sure if I'm going to sell it when deer season comes closer since I already have a mid range build.
The wood on this looks real nice and has some chatoyancy. I'm going to redo the stock I think
Last edited by futurerider103; 03-13-2016 at 06:42 PM.
Futurerider,
That's a good deal at $250! I'd have to hang on to that! (Well I hang on to all the guns I can!)
Newtosavage,
Now how does that load compare to a similar power load in your 308? I'd bet the 308 would take more powder to do the same velocities.
BW
I think since the wood looks like it has character I may refinish it with tung oil
ol bw, I don't know for sure, but I'd bet you're correct. The only reduced loads I've shot in my .308 that push 150-grain bullets in that 2250-2300 fps range were using H4895. And at least to me, the recoil seems more from the .308 reduced loads than the 7.62x39 pushing the 150's to the same velocity.
Emailed jim about my barrel yesterday and have yet to hear back yet and called Richards Microfit about my stock and they said it's about a week and a half out.
The other day I bought 2 cut down weaver 20moa bases from the classifieds and put one on my action. That's my update.
Hmm. You're a patient person! It will be worth it. Here's a group I shot this evening with my 160-grain Hornady FTX over RL-7. 5 rounds inside an inch. One shot away from a 1/2" 5-shot group. Maybe next time...
I'm really, really glad I tried those FTX 30-30 bullets. I never imagined they would be this accurate, but I'm sure glad they are!
Great read!
I'm a new guy here and have been shooting the 10FCM Scout chambered in 7.62x39 and it is one of my favorites. I also have a Mini-30 and Zastava Mini Mauser as well. In my Savage I shoot a 165 grain cast bullet I designed for the 300 Savage. The heavier bullet, I designed a 150 grain bullet for the other rifles, is a better fit because the 10FCM has a bit more throat and leade to get the groove down to .308".
I only shoot handloads in my 10FCM and with a full case of W748 I see 2235 FPS which makes it a nice whitetail and hog gun here in South Texas.
Here is what those bullets look like. With the large meplat of the bullet they cut a heck of a hole through a critter.
The 10FCM 7.62x39 is probably the most accurate rifle I've owned. I have this thing that I do on my range when someone is talking about how ineffective the 7.62x39 is. I pull the scope off, load one in the chamber, three in the magazine and start ringing the gongs at 100, 200, 250, & 300 yards just as fast as I can work the bolt and only using the ghost ring sights. The lead bullet splatters every bit of energy into the gong so the ring is pretty loud.
My interest in the 7.62x39 started because of the youth hunts I host on my ranch each year. The 7.62x39 in the SKS is probably the most popular rifle I see in a kids hand on these hunts. When the state asked me how I felt about the 7.62x39, I said I didn't have a problem with it as long as soft point ammunition was used. This proved a good call and seeing the success of the young people with the cartridge spurred my interest.
Hope you don't mind but I would like to include a couple of pictures of my other two 7.62x39s, they don't like being left out. The Zastava, a beautiful rifle... feral hog was tearing up my yard at night and the Mini Mauser took care of it proper.
The Mini-30, it is setup as a scout rifle and I really like to varmint hunt with it. It is a outstanding bobcat & coyote rifle.
But the Mini's primary job is hulling out feral hogs.
I'm looking forward to your progress reports and it is great to see other 7.62x39 shooters are present on the forum!
Last edited by Ranch Dog; 03-24-2016 at 09:41 PM. Reason: Forgot to add a picture.
RD, I've enjoyed your posts on other forums, and esp. that you and I both agree the Weaver 4X scout scope is the cat's meow of scout scopes. I have since replaced mine with a 2-7 Leupold conventional scope, but only because my brother is getting his own 10FCM 7.62x39 scout for his birthday, with that 4X weaver on it. He fell in love with that scout scope setup on my rifle when I let him shoot it.
I was attempting to get 2250 out of my 160-grain FTX (I agree that's a nearly ideal deer and hog round) but the best I've done so far with RL-7 has been 2200. Still very good, though I may try 748 powder now to see if I can gain any at all. The recoil is still just a tiny tap, even with a round that delivers over 1K ft. lbs. at 200 yards.
My Savage Scout 7.62x39 is easily my most accurate and fun rifle to shoot. And very deadly on game to boot. Not sure why everyone doesn't own a bolt-action 7.62x39.
FWIW, lots of folks like to compare the bolt-action 7.62x39 against the venerable 30-30. This evening, I had my chrono set up, and learned that the Hornady LeverEvolution ammo using the same 160-grain Hornady FTX bullets I am shooting in my 7.62x39, are traveling at 2330 fps out of my 20" Winchester (pre-64) barrel.
That's a good 100 fps faster than I can get the same bullets to travel from my 7.62x39 with the same barrel length. Maybe with the W748 I can find that other 100 fps (or perhaps using LeverEvolution powder too?), but until I do, the 30-30 is still the winner.
Thank you!Originally Posted by Newtosavage
Yeah the 7.62x39 will come up a little bit shy over the 30-30 Win. With the 10FCM, you could probably use a program like QuickLoad to explore the use of a greater chamber pressures, something closer to the 62.0 KPSI the 308 Win generates (vs. the 45.0K PSI SAAMI limit).
You have a very lucky brother!
You might try A1680. It is a little more dense, so it takes up less space for the same weight of powder, and has a similar burn rate to RL7.
BW
I just ordered a stainless top bolt release sear since my trigger gaurd is for the top bolt release. Now I can't wait to get it to slightly bend it to clear my action
Interesting. I wasn't anticipating you'd need to do that. Hope it works out okay.
Good advice 'OL BW. The trouble with the RL-7 is that 25 grains pretty well fills my Lapua cases up to the neck. There just isn't room for much more. I've put 25.5 grains in before, but I can literally feel the bullet crushing the powder when I seat it to any reasonable depth, so I backed off to 25. I'm still compressing it, but one can't argue with the near one-hole accuracy I'm getting. I'll sacrifice 50 fps. for a bullet that hits exactly where I aim, every time.
But I'd be lying if I didn't say I wished for a little more case capacity so I could chunk those 160's downrange at 2350 like my 30-30 does.
The receiver on the bottom bolt release isn't milled like the top bolt release is
How many grains does it take to push a 160gr .308 to the same fps your getting from your 25 grain of RL-7
Something else to look at is trying a different brand of cases. I think they all have a little different volume.
BW
Yup, I thought of that too. But in a case that size, I can't imagine gaining more than about .5-1 grain, plus the Lapua cases are so darn nice. I have some Winchester brass and they have about the same volume.
With my .308, I was loading about 37 grains of H4895 under 150's and 160's to get 2250-2300 fps. So roughly 10 more grains of powder in the .308, but again that's with H4895. I tried that powder in the 7.62x39 and it was pretty anemic.How many grains does it take to push a 160gr .308 to the same fps your getting from your 25 grain of RL-7
I was more talking apples to apples. The same powder the same bullet and what was the powder diff to get the same results
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