Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39

[RobertTaylor]

Finally found one. Want to get brass and reload some.

Anyone done any for it? .308" or .310" bullets? What seemed to shoot well?

Anyone have any die recommendations, bullets and powder? Never done anything with 7.62x39 before

 

[FrankT]

Had 2, neither accurate no matter the time or money I spent..I think they all should be melted for scrap...good luck

 

[RobertTaylor]

Had 2, neither accurate no matter the time or money I spent..I think they all should be melted for scrap...good luck

Weird. This'll be my 4th American, 2nd ranch. All have shot extremely well so far.
Ranch I had in 5.56 would hold right at 3/4" at 100 yards with a hornady 68gr hpbt and BLC2 (forgot how much), wolf .223 brass, winchester small rifle primers

 

[Raven]

Weird. This'll be my 4th American, 2nd ranch. All have shot extremely well so far.
Ranch I had in 5.56 would hold right at 3/4" at 100 yards with a hornady 68gr hpbt and BLC2 (forgot how much), wolf .223 brass, winchester small rifle primers

It's the 7.62x39 caliber and lack of hand loaded Hornady HPBT for it that makes Franks "inaccurate" when compared to the same rifle in 5.56.

I would much rather have one of the Zastava M85, Ruger M77 or CZ527 mini Mauser's with a wood stock and iron sights in 7.62x39 than a Ruger American. But the American is built to a much lower price point. For $100 more than the American one can get a nice milled SKS 7.62x39 semiauto with 200-700% higher capacity, a side charging bolt capability and a gas piston system... all features that cost 200-300% more in an AR

 

[RobertTaylor]

It's the 7.62x39 caliber and lack of Hornady HPBT for it that makes Franks "inaccurate" when compared to the same rifle in 5.56

We'll see what it does. Had one so far that would stack them on top of each other (steel case). Just hadn't tried this one yet

 

[RobertTaylor]

Will get back with you all after I shoot some then. Got some of these I'm going to try out

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Stacks deer too.... my SIL. Never put a round thru it. BOOM. She wanted one but we could not find one at a decent price. I found her a 350L. ( thanks Fir!) She loves shooting it. 180gr sp.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

It's the 7.62x39 caliber and lack of hand loaded Hornady HPBT for it that makes Franks "inaccurate" when compared to the same rifle in 5.56.

I would much rather have one of the Zastava M85, Ruger M77 or CZ527 mini Mauser's with a wood stock and iron sights in 7.62x39 than a Ruger American. But the American is built to a much lower price point. For $100 more one can get a milled SKS semiauto with 200-700% higher capacity

View attachment 190013

The RARR is for hunting not rappelling out of helos! -but.... works too!

 

[Raven]

350L

By the way... there's a revolver chambered in 350L now

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

By the way... there's a revolver chambered in 350L now

Cool! That's my clear-cut mag, lol.

 

[Raven]

Cool! That's my clear-cut mag, lol.

Trench mags on bolt guns have been popular for over 100 years, for good reasons

 

[Raven]

Yours is just the most recent in a long line of good ideas

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Derail, back on track. I bought the .311 sizer,decapping pin. British 303. Lee dies. Forget the part #. I'll dig around in my phone and look for it. I've got brass, bullets hornady 123 sst. and powder, no primers though( large rifle). ** found it.

 

[Raven]

.311

Definitely go fat

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Also @Daezee has done some work with this round / rifle. He knows his stuff. Bore is .310 btw.

 

[Daezee]

I couldn’t get mine to shoot .308” bullets accurate enough to satisfy myself. It shoots .310-.311 bullets fine. I’ve only used mine for non hunting purpose, reloading with pulled 124gr fmj 7.62x39 bullets.

 

[RobertTaylor]

Derail, back on track. I bought the .311 sizer,decapping pin. British 303. Lee dies. Forget the part #. I'll dig around in my phone and look for it. I've got brass, bullets hornady 123 sst. and powder, no primers though( large rifle). ** found it. View attachment 190022

I'll have to check into them. Didn't know you could get them to use large rifle primers? That's really good. Got tons of large rifle needing to be used. The little brass I have uses smaller rifle

 

[Daezee]

Some makers of 7.62x39 use large rifle and some use small rifle. Regarding the expander diameter rods, my Lee set came with both sizes. I found using the .308 size worked fine for all diameter bullets, so that’s all I use.

Note: one of my 7.62x39 (an old Ruger M77) loves .308 frangible bullets so that’s why I use that smaller expander rod.

 

[RobertTaylor]

Some makers of 7.62x39 use large rifle and some use small rifle. Regarding the expander diameter rods, my Lee set came with both sizes. I found using the .308 size worked fine for all diameter bullets, so that’s all I use.

Note: one of my 7.62x39 (an old Ruger M77) loves .308 frangible bullets so that’s why I use that smaller expander rod.

Doesn't try to shave the bullets when you seat them?

 

[Daezee]

Doesn't try to shave the bullets when you seat them?

The M160 frangibles made of compressed Bakelite and lead powder certainly are more fragile. I inside chamfer all brass regardless of cartridge that I load them in. Even then there can be a little shaving off. It causes no problems. I’ve shot 10’s of thousands of them In various cartridges.