casting bullets for the ak47?

cajun47 · June 10, 2007, 12:38 AM

i have ton of lead weights from shrimp trawls and diver weights. im wondering if i can cast lead 7.62 bullets for the ak47. is it alright to shoot pure lead bullets in a rifle?(no copper).

joneb · June 10, 2007, 01:39 AM

The fowling of the gas port could be a issue, I think a hard cast 150gr at 1,800 FPS may work using 2400 but I'm just guessin

look here; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
I've been temped to try this with my Russian SKS but the clean up could be a PITA.

100W_Warlock · June 10, 2007, 10:56 AM

Your going to get some leading no matter what.

I have read of folks using Lee Liquid Alox to coat the bullets so that leading can be reduced, but, never eliminated.

Plated bullets may be your best bet, but, those don't work terribly well above 1500fps.

ok41 · June 10, 2007, 02:19 PM

hey cajun,
Seems lot a lot of workto cast bullets for the one ammo that I can buy oh so cheap! Perhaps there's a 357 or 44 in your future. Much more profitable for casting your own pills.

Rimrod · June 10, 2007, 09:57 PM

You will want to alloy the lead to make it harder. Pure lead is only good for blackpowder and shotguns.

Lee makes a couple of bullet moulds for the 7.62X39 which work pretty well. Use gas checks to keep leading down too.

cloudcroft · June 10, 2007, 11:19 PM

cajun47,

The short answer is no, you can't: The rule is no lead bullets in semi-auto guns with gas tubes/pistons. This goes for rifles/carbines and even pistols (like the Desert Eagle).

In bolt actions they're just fine...at reduced velocities. Or use paper-patched lead bullets for higher velocities if you MUST have that.

The long answer has already been addressed by other posters above.

Buy bulk FMJ bullets instead if available and forget casting for the AK.

-- John D.

Gewehr98 · June 11, 2007, 11:10 AM

They shut off the gas port via the Yugo's grenade launching valve.

Problem is, even as a single-shot 7.62x39, the cast bullet still runs across the gas port in the barrel, shaving off a smidgen each time. Cleaning lead fouling out of a gas port is a royal pain in the tuchus. Gas-checked cast bullets tend to alleviate the problem a little bit, but the bullet's bearing surface still smears against the gas port enroute to the muzzle.

Berry's makes a plated 7.62x39gr bullet, 110gr, for $64.39/1000. I buy Golden West Brass brand 124gr jacketed bullets for my AK/SKS rifles, they go $75.00/1000. I still shoot and cast all sorts of lead alloy bullets, but not for my gas guns. It's not worth the hassle.

snuffy · June 12, 2007, 11:40 AM

Take a look at this write-up;
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=13453

As long as the bullet has a gas check,(most of them do), the fouling of the gas port and piston is minimal. That does NOT mean that it don't have to be cleaned! Sure, you can shoot boatloads of jacketed bullets through one of those AK's or SKS rifles without cleaning, but with a little more care cast bullets can be used.

As far as the AR-15, there's some on the cast boolits forum that have been doing it. Again there's more cleaning involved of the gas system. The main question always is WHY? Because we can! Or more importantly, some day we may HAVE TO! Knowing how in advance, and knowing it will work in a SHTF scenario, could be the difference between survival or not.

Gewehr98 · June 13, 2007, 10:42 AM

Doesn't mean it's the smartest thing to do, though. Clark used to publish some seriously ohmygawsh handloads here that converted a .380 ACP into a .357 Magnum, too.

I've found considerable lead build-up in my AK and SKS rifle gas systems after shooting a magazine or two of jacketed soft points. I would cringe at the amount of leading I'd have to clean after running a cast bullet at 2400fps, with or without gas checks or super-dooper bullet lube. Cast bullets obturate to fill the bores, lest we forget. Gas checks are somewhat after the fact, and will scrape the bore clean, but not the gas port.

Now if you're fighting off the waves of U.N. Blue Helmets marching up your driveway, go for it, lead fouling is of only minor concern at that moment. Just make sure you have a "Plan B" when their artillery or close air support finds the exact range to your position.

June 10, 2007, 12:38 AM	#1
cajun47 Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: swamp people Posts: 539	casting bullets for the ak47? i have ton of lead weights from shrimp trawls and diver weights. im wondering if i can cast lead 7.62 bullets for the ak47. is it alright to shoot pure lead bullets in a rifle?(no copper).

June 10, 2007, 10:56 AM	#3
100W_Warlock Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2004 Posts: 267	Will work, but, must be prepped... Your going to get some leading no matter what. I have read of folks using Lee Liquid Alox to coat the bullets so that leading can be reduced, but, never eliminated. Plated bullets may be your best bet, but, those don't work terribly well above 1500fps.

June 11, 2007, 11:10 AM	#7
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	Some folks run cast bullets in their Yugo SKS rifles. They shut off the gas port via the Yugo's grenade launching valve. Problem is, even as a single-shot 7.62x39, the cast bullet still runs across the gas port in the barrel, shaving off a smidgen each time. Cleaning lead fouling out of a gas port is a royal pain in the tuchus. Gas-checked cast bullets tend to alleviate the problem a little bit, but the bullet's bearing surface still smears against the gas port enroute to the muzzle. Berry's makes a plated 7.62x39gr bullet, 110gr, for $64.39/1000. I buy Golden West Brass brand 124gr jacketed bullets for my AK/SKS rifles, they go $75.00/1000. I still shoot and cast all sorts of lead alloy bullets, but not for my gas guns. It's not worth the hassle. __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

June 12, 2007, 11:40 AM	#8
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	It CAN be done Take a look at this write-up; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=13453 As long as the bullet has a gas check,(most of them do), the fouling of the gas port and piston is minimal. That does NOT mean that it don't have to be cleaned! Sure, you can shoot boatloads of jacketed bullets through one of those AK's or SKS rifles without cleaning, but with a little more care cast bullets can be used. As far as the AR-15, there's some on the cast boolits forum that have been doing it. Again there's more cleaning involved of the gas system. The main question always is WHY? Because we can! Or more importantly, some day we may HAVE TO! Knowing how in advance, and knowing it will work in a SHTF scenario, could be the difference between survival or not. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

June 13, 2007, 10:42 AM	#9
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	Yeah, folks will always find a way to do something, that's a given. Doesn't mean it's the smartest thing to do, though. Clark used to publish some seriously ohmygawsh handloads here that converted a .380 ACP into a .357 Magnum, too. I've found considerable lead build-up in my AK and SKS rifle gas systems after shooting a magazine or two of jacketed soft points. I would cringe at the amount of leading I'd have to clean after running a cast bullet at 2400fps, with or without gas checks or super-dooper bullet lube. Cast bullets obturate to fill the bores, lest we forget. Gas checks are somewhat after the fact, and will scrape the bore clean, but not the gas port. Now if you're fighting off the waves of U.N. Blue Helmets marching up your driveway, go for it, lead fouling is of only minor concern at that moment. Just make sure you have a "Plan B" when their artillery or close air support finds the exact range to your position. __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

June 10, 2007, 01:39 AM	#2
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	The fowling of the gas port could be a issue, I think a hard cast 150gr at 1,800 FPS may work using 2400 but I'm just guessin look here; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/ I've been temped to try this with my Russian SKS but the clean up could be a PITA.

June 10, 2007, 02:19 PM	#4
ok41 Member Join Date: May 31, 2007 Posts: 20	hey cajun, Seems lot a lot of workto cast bullets for the one ammo that I can buy oh so cheap! Perhaps there's a 357 or 44 in your future. Much more profitable for casting your own pills.

June 10, 2007, 09:57 PM	#5
Rimrod Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Behind enemy lines Posts: 1,309	You will want to alloy the lead to make it harder. Pure lead is only good for blackpowder and shotguns. Lee makes a couple of bullet moulds for the 7.62X39 which work pretty well. Use gas checks to keep leading down too.

June 10, 2007, 11:19 PM	#6
cloudcroft Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 565	cajun47, The short answer is no, you can't: The rule is no lead bullets in semi-auto guns with gas tubes/pistons. This goes for rifles/carbines and even pistols (like the Desert Eagle). In bolt actions they're just fine...at reduced velocities. Or use paper-patched lead bullets for higher velocities if you MUST have that. The long answer has already been addressed by other posters above. Buy bulk FMJ bullets instead if available and forget casting for the AK. -- John D.