7.62 L44A1 Reloading

[celica]

Hi, ive got a Helicopter machine gun belt of 7.62 cases and im wanting to load bulltets into them. i just wondered if anyone on here has any experiance in doing this, and possible suppliers. Thanks

 

[peashooter]

The best results are if you resize the neck and then seat a correct size/weight bullet, do you know anyone who reloads .308 for hunting or target shooting..

Richard

 

[celica]

No i dont know anyone, i contacted a sporting goods website who recomended surplus 30cal 147grain full metal jacket bullets only 14 for a 100. so just need the reloading tool now. thanks

 

[peashooter]

Yes but you will need a reloading press and the dies, you will find a 2nd hand press on fleebay for about 20-30 quid and the dies will be about 20 quid for Lee RGB die set. shame you are not a bit closer I could have done them for you. Is there a shooting club your way .

Richard.

 

[Dronic69]

Perhaps your local Gun store /Gunsmith could do them for you and save the run around (if there are no Shooting Clubs)?

After all you are only wanting the completed rounds /belt as a "display Item" - right?

Cheers
drew

 

[celica]

i wouldn't mind buying the equipment and making more bullets. what dies would i need i've been loonkin on midwayuk their prices aren't too bad.

 

[peashooter]

send me an email and I will go through it with you, have a look at my photo's in my profile and you will see my den.

Richard.

 

[navyman]

Hello,
Peashooter will be able to give you the info you require. I would have offered to do them for you but again distance is a problem as also is sending any sort of ammo via Royal Mail and most couriers. Had you thought of joining a shooting club? You would find a wealth of help there, and would also of course be able to enjoy the pleasures of shooting. I can highly reccomend the sport, even after 47 years of doing it myself, I still enjoy every meeting. I can still shoot although I am now a wheelchair user.
Best regards,
Guy.

(Richard, I just love that 2 bore, have you fired it. Did you eventually get the belt?)
All best,
Guy.

 

[celica]

i looked into joining a shooting club, but find much info on any localy. I've sent you a pm Richard

 

[exat808]

There is a big club and range facility at a place called Euroguns, near Finingley in South Yorks. They should be on the web.

 

[celica]

Ok, i bought a Lee Hand press and Lee RGB 308 Wincehster Dies but when i try to resize the brass the decapper just slides up through the collet. i looked down the inside of the bullet case and found theres no centre flash hole but two small holes opposite each other. pls can any one help.

 

[peashooter]

That's fine all you want to do is resize the case not push out the primer, when you size the case and the pin comes up hold the handle down and tighten the nut on the top this will hold the pin in place for you to raise the handle and the case is sized and ready for you bullet leaving the primer intact "which is fine because they are fired primers".

any problems send me a pm and I will explain step by step for you

Cheers
Richard.

 

[Dronic69]

Humm, sounds like you have a shell case with a "berdan" (twin flash holes) primer! These were typical for Military issued 7.62 ammo, although now the .223 is single (well Aussie army is anyway)

For the "normal" reloading (i.e. with a reloading press) you would use a shell case with a "Boxer" primer which has the single central flash hole, hence the press just punches the old primer out and resizes the case in one process (you need to lub the case prior as well).

To decap Berdan primers is a long messy process - there are two ways:

1) Water hydrolics - involves a special "sleeve" in which the case is placed into the sleeve and then filled with water. A special steel, O-ring steel knob is then inserted on the top, and this is hit with a hammer - the water pressure pops the primer (wear ear muffs!)

2) There are special tools which "picks" the old primer out - never seen or used these.

In my "mis-guided" I decapped about 1000 New Zealand HF cases - never again!

Also, the construction of the Berdan and Boxer primers are totally opposite - *BEWARE* - the Berdan case has the "anvril" inside the primer pocket - you must only insert the berdan "Flush" to the base - else...... The Boxer on the other hand has the anvil as part of the primer itself and can be inserted further using say a Lee hand primer tool.

Cheers
Drew

As these are just for display use the die to re-size the case only - adjust it so as the primer pin doesn't reach

 

[celica]

ok, managed to sort it, thanks for the info richard and drew. just made 100 rounds, got another 100 7.62 to go then im moving onto 5.56. ill post pics later of both belts i've made.

 

[Darrol]

I resized the necks of 230 7.62x51 shell cases by rolling the necks on a piece of smooth steel then with the aid of a vice and a adapted socket seated all new f m j heads . Got some serious blisters .belt looks awsome though .