Does Anyone Load For Their AK ?

redrick · May 11, 2013, 05:00 PM

I just bought a AK-47, SAM7R ( 7.62x39 ) .

Does anyone reload for yours ?

What is your recipe for it ?

Mostly all I see is steel case ammo.

guncheese · May 11, 2013, 05:36 PM

well good luck finding brass
i just got a couple hundred used brass cases in the mail the other day
but i do have dies
and ill buy up a mold and do some casting
so all of that will be a few months off for sure

Gdawgs · May 11, 2013, 06:18 PM

I have an AK in the safe that's been there for like 3 or 4 years, and I haven't even shot the thing yet. Definitely haven't thought about reloading for it. Maybe someday.

grisbald · May 12, 2013, 12:18 AM

I don't. Always found the cheap Russian ammo just couldn't be beat price wise.

RC20 · May 12, 2013, 10:31 AM

Yep same here. Now its gone (at least for now, should have bought that case of 1220 corrosive as the MAK doesn't care!)

No brass and not sure on getting bullets.

Don't shoot it that much and will see.

Not all that accurate so not much value in reload and if the cheap stuff comes back then none.

redrick · May 12, 2013, 10:48 AM

The reasons that I was thinking about reloading for it are :

Safety of the Russian ammo.
Cleaner less corrosive ammo.
Better accuracy.

Tennessee Jed · May 13, 2013, 09:56 AM

I'm gonna start soon. Seems to me that the price and non-availability of commie and other cheap ammo is getting high enough to justify it.

spacecoast · May 13, 2013, 10:28 AM

I would, but I bought a lot of steel case when it was (relatively) cheap and as others have mentioned, the brass is hard to find and bullets cost as much as loaded Russian rounds.

Boomer58cal · May 13, 2013, 10:32 AM

It's only really worth it if you're loading for accuracy or to get better hunting bullets. Hornady SST's are awesome in my buddies SKS. I'm saving brass to do the same.

Boomer

TimSr · May 14, 2013, 09:16 AM

Quote:

It's only really worth it if you're loading for accuracy or to get better hunting bullets.

Agreed! I have an SKS, and loaded some 150gr deer rounds. Its hard to find reloadable cases, but I had a bunch of Samson Israeli ammo that was reloadable.

thump_rrr · May 14, 2013, 08:41 PM

I load 7.62x39 for an SKS.
I use 24.5gr of IMR 4198 over a 123gr Hornady SP using CCI large rifle primers.
Starting load is 22gr.

chris in va · May 15, 2013, 09:23 AM

I reloaded for my Saiga.

In a nutshell it was a PITA. First you have to find reloadable brass, then the 'special' 311 diameter bullets, and finally chase your fired brass that gets flung 20' down the firing line.

I sold it and got an AR.

Rangefinder · May 15, 2013, 02:52 PM

I guess you guys have a mil-surp ammo source I don't know about... I use to get it for about $80 a case, now it's over $300. BUT, since I cast AND reload for it...

I still shoot cheap and don't sweat it much. My cast loads are real performers, too.

bravo2zero · May 17, 2013, 09:30 PM

a guy on youtube uses lee bullet mold 311 160gr pointed bullet and reuses steel ammo cases too his name is mainejunker i think i will try myself when i can get the mold............its sold out,i like this cause once i figuered out how to resize and trim 9x19 cases and cast my own 365 diameter bullets i have unlimited makorov ammo to feed my 4 maks i guess im a mak daddy

hodaka · May 17, 2013, 10:03 PM

I reload for my Mini 30. Either Benchmark or H-322 with Hornady .311's. Vast improvement over the commie stuff. I've just scavenged brass over the years.

redrick · May 18, 2013, 06:00 PM

I found some brass for it today at the gun show. New Remington unprimed brass, 100 cases. I also bought 500 rds. in 20 rd. boxes. A mix of TUL, Wolf and Brown Bear, $6.50 a box.

Tomas · May 19, 2013, 12:16 PM

I posted this on the AK forum a while back and they didn't seem to respond to it, but the GT forum did.

I reposted for the AK reloaders. I hope you find it useful.

Tom

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...52#post5529252

spacecoast · May 19, 2013, 12:48 PM

Good report Tomas, thanks. If steel cases were reloadable, life would be good. Alas, 7.62x39 brass is hard to come by in quantity.

May 11, 2013, 05:00 PM	#1
redrick Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,041	Does Anyone Load For Their AK ? I just bought a AK-47, SAM7R ( 7.62x39 ) . Does anyone reload for yours ? What is your recipe for it ? Mostly all I see is steel case ammo. Last edited by redrick; May 11, 2013 at 05:28 PM.

May 17, 2013, 09:30 PM	#14
bravo2zero Junior Member Join Date: September 7, 2012 Location: west texas Posts: 2	you tube a guy on youtube uses lee bullet mold 311 160gr pointed bullet and reuses steel ammo cases too his name is mainejunker i think i will try myself when i can get the mold............its sold out,i like this cause once i figuered out how to resize and trim 9x19 cases and cast my own 365 diameter bullets i have unlimited makorov ammo to feed my 4 maks i guess im a mak daddy

May 11, 2013, 05:36 PM	#2
guncheese Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2013 Posts: 128	well good luck finding brass i just got a couple hundred used brass cases in the mail the other day but i do have dies and ill buy up a mold and do some casting so all of that will be a few months off for sure

May 11, 2013, 06:18 PM	#3
Gdawgs Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: MN Posts: 657	I have an AK in the safe that's been there for like 3 or 4 years, and I haven't even shot the thing yet. Definitely haven't thought about reloading for it. Maybe someday.

May 12, 2013, 12:18 AM	#4
grisbald Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Posts: 75	I don't. Always found the cheap Russian ammo just couldn't be beat price wise.

May 12, 2013, 10:31 AM	#5
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Yep same here. Now its gone (at least for now, should have bought that case of 1220 corrosive as the MAK doesn't care!) No brass and not sure on getting bullets. Don't shoot it that much and will see. Not all that accurate so not much value in reload and if the cheap stuff comes back then none.

May 12, 2013, 10:48 AM	#6
redrick Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,041	The reasons that I was thinking about reloading for it are : Safety of the Russian ammo. Cleaner less corrosive ammo. Better accuracy.

May 13, 2013, 09:56 AM	#7
Tennessee Jed Member Join Date: July 14, 2010 Posts: 92	I'm gonna start soon. Seems to me that the price and non-availability of commie and other cheap ammo is getting high enough to justify it.

May 13, 2013, 10:28 AM	#8
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	I would, but I bought a lot of steel case when it was (relatively) cheap and as others have mentioned, the brass is hard to find and bullets cost as much as loaded Russian rounds.

May 13, 2013, 10:32 AM	#9
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	It's only really worth it if you're loading for accuracy or to get better hunting bullets. Hornady SST's are awesome in my buddies SKS. I'm saving brass to do the same. Boomer

May 14, 2013, 08:41 PM	#11
thump_rrr Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2010 Posts: 403	I load 7.62x39 for an SKS. I use 24.5gr of IMR 4198 over a 123gr Hornady SP using CCI large rifle primers. Starting load is 22gr.

May 15, 2013, 09:23 AM	#12
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I reloaded for my Saiga. In a nutshell it was a PITA. First you have to find reloadable brass, then the 'special' 311 diameter bullets, and finally chase your fired brass that gets flung 20' down the firing line. I sold it and got an AR.

May 15, 2013, 02:52 PM	#13
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	I guess you guys have a mil-surp ammo source I don't know about... I use to get it for about $80 a case, now it's over $300. BUT, since I cast AND reload for it... I still shoot cheap and don't sweat it much. My cast loads are real performers, too.

May 17, 2013, 10:03 PM	#15
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I reload for my Mini 30. Either Benchmark or H-322 with Hornady .311's. Vast improvement over the commie stuff. I've just scavenged brass over the years.

May 18, 2013, 06:00 PM	#16
redrick Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,041	I found some brass for it today at the gun show. New Remington unprimed brass, 100 cases. I also bought 500 rds. in 20 rd. boxes. A mix of TUL, Wolf and Brown Bear, $6.50 a box.

May 19, 2013, 12:16 PM	#17
Tomas Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 1999 Location: Blue State Posts: 441	I posted this on the AK forum a while back and they didn't seem to respond to it, but the GT forum did. I reposted for the AK reloaders. I hope you find it useful. Tom http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...52#post5529252

May 19, 2013, 12:48 PM	#18
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Good report Tomas, thanks. If steel cases were reloadable, life would be good. Alas, 7.62x39 brass is hard to come by in quantity.