heavy 7.62x39 for an SKS?

tahunua001 · November 24, 2013, 08:05 PM

hello all,
I'm thinking about messing around with a truck gun load next year for my SKS. I have a number of 150gr hornady soft points designed for 303 brit and 7.7 jap that I think would make a decent round for anything in Idaho given proper range and shot placement. my question is does the SKS have the twist rate to stabilize anything heavier than the standard 123gr bullet?

57K · November 24, 2013, 09:15 PM

150s sized .311" will work, but I can't remember the twist rate of the SKS. I was never able to reload for the 2 I had because cases all got a pretty good scar upon ejection and I wasn't gonna load for rounds that could only be fired once safely. I have extra .30-30 150 gr. Core-Lokts that are semi pointed that I was gonna try just for grins. www.ramshot.com has good data for X-Terminator and the .311" 150 gr. SIERRA SPT. The 20" barrel they used had a 1 in 9.5" twist but they don't specify test barrel or actual rifle. My guess would be test barrel.

FrankenMauser · November 25, 2013, 01:25 AM

Loaded to the proper velocity, 150s should be fine.
I shot at least 2,500-3,000 Wolf 154 gr FMJs and "hunting" SPs out of my Russian SKS when I had it. (At times, the 154s were cheaper than the common 120-125 gr stuff.)

I actually preferred those 154s to the 123s. They seemed more predictable. I don't know that I ever did any real accuracy testing, though...

There are also many cast bullet shooters that launch 150-170 gr bullets without problems.

As far as actual twist rates go, there were several used by different countries.
The Commies say that the 1:7.5" twist rate is good for up to 185 grains, and the 1:9.45" (often referred to as "1:10") twist rate isn't good for much more than 120-123 gr bullets. (My Russian had the 1:7.5" rate of twist.) Anything in between will be a compromise.
Check your twist rate, and go from there.

JD0x0 · November 25, 2013, 02:07 AM

According to Berger's twist rate calculator 150 grain bullets with a length of 1.25'' in a 1:10 twist should be able to stabilize at 1000fps in 0 degrees Fahrenheit, at sea level. This is basically a 'worst case scenario' because chances are you will be pushing bullets significantly faster, in warmer temps.

Jim243 · November 25, 2013, 02:42 AM

You do know how to check your barrel's twist rate, with a cleaning rod and felt tip marker???

Put your cleaning rod with a brush all the way into your barrel, mark the rod at the crown, pull through slowly till the rod has made one complete revolution and mark the rod again at the crown. If the distance between marks is 10 inches it is a 1:10 twist, if the distance is 9.25 inches it is a 1:9.25 twist. Then check with bullet mfg to see what is the recommended twist rate for that bullet.

Simple.
Jim

tangolima · November 25, 2013, 02:05 PM

Tried loading with Hornady 150gr(.312") sp for my sks. It worked fine. My sks is bit over bored so it likes .312" bullets. In fact it shoot pretty good with 100gr .32 cal pistol bullets (also .312" diameter) too.

FrankenMauser mentioned cast bullets. I always want to try that. But does it require gas check? The speed is too high for bare lead bullets, I am afraid. Thanks.

-TL

Dc777 · November 25, 2013, 02:25 PM

If it helps any there are factory 157 grain loads. So I assume the heavier bullets work fine.

FrankenMauser · November 25, 2013, 10:57 PM

Quote:

But does it require gas check? The speed is too high for bare lead bullets, I am afraid. Thanks.

Unless you want to load them for low velocity (less than ~1,200 fps), a gas check would be recommended.

Tomas · November 25, 2013, 11:10 PM

I shoot 170gr lead .311 bullets over AA2520 in my NHM-91. It's proved to be an accurate loading for me. I don't mess around with the gas checks...it's an AK...

November 24, 2013, 08:05 PM	#1
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	heavy 7.62x39 for an SKS? hello all, I'm thinking about messing around with a truck gun load next year for my SKS. I have a number of 150gr hornady soft points designed for 303 brit and 7.7 jap that I think would make a decent round for anything in Idaho given proper range and shot placement. my question is does the SKS have the twist rate to stabilize anything heavier than the standard 123gr bullet? __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

November 25, 2013, 01:25 AM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Loaded to the proper velocity, 150s should be fine. I shot at least 2,500-3,000 Wolf 154 gr FMJs and "hunting" SPs out of my Russian SKS when I had it. (At times, the 154s were cheaper than the common 120-125 gr stuff.) I actually preferred those 154s to the 123s. They seemed more predictable. I don't know that I ever did any real accuracy testing, though... There are also many cast bullet shooters that launch 150-170 gr bullets without problems. As far as actual twist rates go, there were several used by different countries. The Commies say that the 1:7.5" twist rate is good for up to 185 grains, and the 1:9.45" (often referred to as "1:10") twist rate isn't good for much more than 120-123 gr bullets. (My Russian had the 1:7.5" rate of twist.) Anything in between will be a compromise. Check your twist rate, and go from there. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

November 25, 2013, 02:42 AM	#5
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	You do know how to check your barrel's twist rate, with a cleaning rod and felt tip marker??? Put your cleaning rod with a brush all the way into your barrel, mark the rod at the crown, pull through slowly till the rod has made one complete revolution and mark the rod again at the crown. If the distance between marks is 10 inches it is a 1:10 twist, if the distance is 9.25 inches it is a 1:9.25 twist. Then check with bullet mfg to see what is the recommended twist rate for that bullet. Simple. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

November 24, 2013, 09:15 PM	#2
57K Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2013 Location: Heart of Texas Posts: 788	150s sized .311" will work, but I can't remember the twist rate of the SKS. I was never able to reload for the 2 I had because cases all got a pretty good scar upon ejection and I wasn't gonna load for rounds that could only be fired once safely. I have extra .30-30 150 gr. Core-Lokts that are semi pointed that I was gonna try just for grins. www.ramshot.com has good data for X-Terminator and the .311" 150 gr. SIERRA SPT. The 20" barrel they used had a 1 in 9.5" twist but they don't specify test barrel or actual rifle. My guess would be test barrel.

November 25, 2013, 02:07 AM	#4
JD0x0 Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Posts: 1,037	According to Berger's twist rate calculator 150 grain bullets with a length of 1.25'' in a 1:10 twist should be able to stabilize at 1000fps in 0 degrees Fahrenheit, at sea level. This is basically a 'worst case scenario' because chances are you will be pushing bullets significantly faster, in warmer temps.

November 25, 2013, 02:05 PM	#6
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,825	Tried loading with Hornady 150gr(.312") sp for my sks. It worked fine. My sks is bit over bored so it likes .312" bullets. In fact it shoot pretty good with 100gr .32 cal pistol bullets (also .312" diameter) too. FrankenMauser mentioned cast bullets. I always want to try that. But does it require gas check? The speed is too high for bare lead bullets, I am afraid. Thanks. -TL

November 25, 2013, 02:25 PM	#7
Dc777 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2013 Location: South West, Alabama Posts: 609	If it helps any there are factory 157 grain loads. So I assume the heavier bullets work fine.

November 25, 2013, 11:10 PM	#9
Tomas Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 1999 Location: Blue State Posts: 441	I shoot 170gr lead .311 bullets over AA2520 in my NHM-91. It's proved to be an accurate loading for me. I don't mess around with the gas checks...it's an AK...