7.62x40 WT

Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
Okay Josh, I'm hooked on the 7.62x40 and am going to order a barrel to swap out with one of my 16" ARs.
I'm over on another forum's archives reading the 66 page thread on the original development of the cartridge to try to pick up some pointers.
Anyone have any experience with this cartridge or words of wisdom to impart to me regarding barrel length, load data, etc., to help keep me out of trouble (God knows, I need all the help I can get staying out of trouble!)?

I am building this rifle mainly to hunt hogs and coyotes with supersonic loads, so at this point, I'm not looking to go subsonic. Although that make be something I get into down the road.

Working 60-65 hour weeks doesn't leave a lot of time to play.
Planning on retiring later this year (wahoo!), so no telling what I can branch out into.
 
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Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
In my experience with the 7.62x40 I have used 300 BLK data as a starting reference, much like you would use 7x57 data for the 7x57 AI. I have used bullets no heavier than 150 gr, and those were of the flat base variety like the Sierra 150 gr Pro Hunter.

This caliber thrives on the 135 gr and under weight projectiles as it has a very K-31ish throat, I did design a bullet for it that comes in at 147 gr checked and lubed and have successfully pushed it into the high 2100's. If you have any particular questions just ask here or in a PM
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
Thanks, I'm sure I'll have more questions.
Gotta order a barrel ordered and get this put together.
Looks like Wilson may be the only choice for barrels as it is his baby and is not standardized..
By the way, thanks for turning me on to this. I think it is a much better choice, or at least more interesting, than the 6.8 I was looking at.
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
Guess your the only one loading this caliber. I don't mind. I don't need a herd to follow.

I need to get off my but and decide if I'm going to get a barrel, upper or complete rifle. It appears Wilson is the only source, but their complete rifles or uppers are pretty expensive, for me anyway.
Saw in another thread you don't make molds anymore.
Do you have pixs or a detailed drawing for your cast bullet?
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
Hawk said:
Guess your the only one loading this caliber. I don't mind. I don't need a herd to follow.

I need to get off my but and decide if I'm going to get a barrel, upper or complete rifle. It appears Wilson is the only source, but their complete rifles or uppers are pretty expensive, for me anyway.
Saw in another thread you don't make molds anymore.
Do you have pixs or a detailed drawing for your cast bullet?
Click to expand...
I have a new mould for it, one of the few left, this one is .310:
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
You say a new mold for it. You mean a new mold or a new design
I assume you have cast with this design. Was it designed for the 300 Blackout or the 7.62 x40 or does it make a difference? Crimp on the front driving band?
What will it probably drop with COWW?
Sorry for all the questions? I'm in a learning curve on this one.
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
That design is the one I use exclusively in my x40, it was originally a 6.8 spc bullet that I orbited up to 30 cal. When designing it I made it for short throats and to feed in an AR platform, it does this very well, I sold it as a 300 BLK midweight bullet. Fiver here has this exact design.

This one is spec'ed to come out at .310 and you seat to the middle of the drive band for the x40. Weight sits at 147-150 gr. It will also run well in the short throated K-31, my Dad has launched this bullet in that rifle out to 300 yds for a military silhouette shoot and did well. Overall it is a very useful design, from the K-31 to the 7.62x40, and 300 BLK it just likes to shoot.
 
F

freebullet

Guest
Very nice mold Josh.

Having x39 & x51 I've held off on the blk, x40, & similar others but, I'm still listening with interest.
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
freebullet said:
Very nice mold Josh.

Having x39 & x51 I've held off on the blk, x40, & similar others but, I'm still listening with interest.
Click to expand...
I have a lot of 30 calibers, from the 300 blk, x39, x40, 06, 308... ya just can't go wrong with a well put together 30 cal. Funny thing is my daughter (oldest) runs the 300 blk like a champ (6 years old) my wife runs the x39 as well, and I run the x40. The 2 women's rifles are bolts, Elli can drill 4" plate steel at 100 yds with the 300, if her patience holds she will get a deer.
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
That's great. I started teaching my daughter gun safety and to shot starting at age 6.
Started out with .22s. She had a Smith and Wesson model 64 and an old youth model single shot rifle.
Then advanced to a Ruger 10/22. We had steel spinners at 15 and 25 yards. I couldn't load those 50 round mags fast enough to keep up with her! (That was back when a brick of .22s was $10.00)
She's 36 now, has her CHL and lives about 60 miles away. She usually carries a 9mm.
Those were really good day when she was young and we could shot more often.
If you make her laugh every day, even when she's grumpy, and make sure she knows that is todays laugh, she'll remember it when she's grown and it will always bring a smile to her face when she thinks of you.
Make memories every single day! They grow up quick, before you know it she'll be grown and moved out and you'll miss the times and laughs you had together!
 
RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
Thanks Hawk I needed that to remind me the my girls ,Al the kids are now spread to the 4 corners of the country..... I'm not sure if I miss the kids or the grands more .......
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
Okay, I'm kind of on a budget right now so I'm going to buy the dies and headspace gauge and start forming some brass.
I've got a Rock River Varmint in a 223 Wylde chambering that I was going to swap barrels on, but it shoots so well, I don't want to mess with it.
I'll get the dies first, then the barrel and then another AR15 to swap barrels with. That way if the SHTF, I can swap the barrels back and I've got another AR for a family member.

I am pretty knowledgeable about wheel guns and bolt rifles, not so much AR15s.
Anyone have any opinions about AR15 brands? I'm not looking for negative comments or trashing a brand of gun, just what you have that you like.
I'll probably get another Rock River, but I want to get some opinions from people that know what they're talking about as to the importance of spending a lot on a name band gun.
I figure the barrel and the chamber are the most critical components, and that will be from Wilson Combat.
This gun will be for hog and coyote hunting to 300 yards and not competition. But, as a famous person once said, "only accurate guns are interesting".

The truly great thing about this forum is I can ask this question and not have a troll jump all over me for not knowing.
I appreciate any comments anyone has.
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
I would purchase a PSA rifle, wait on one of the daily deals for the most bang for your buck. Just pull the barrel and guards and sell em to recoup some investment. This is how I did it, BTW my Wilson barrel is the thinnest they make and it turns in inch groups at 100.
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
Well, I've ordered the dies and case gauge. Need to scrape up some more funds to get the barrel and rifle.
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
I would argue the best bang for the buck would be a S&W M&P-15, even since they quit putting those super-nice 5R barrels on them from the factory. That's about the only "name brand" I can think of that's affordable and really worth something more than just the name. If you went that route you'd probably want to get a new gas block, tube, free-float handguard/nut as well so you don't disturb the Smith parts.

I don't have any experience with PSA stuff, but I know a lot of people who have bought their parts and stalked the daily sales until they build a whole rifle from sale parts and they all seem very happy.

I can't imagine buying a complete AR-15. All mine except my Colt are put together from 80% lowers I finished myself and sale or trade parts. There are too many good deals on really excellent parts right now and they are far to simple to put together exactly the way you want them to start with to bother buying one and modifying. Heck, if you look into Sportsman's Guide right now they have some really good deals on handguards that come with a hex barrel nut which requires no timing to the gas tube and no special wrench. With one of those, you can put together the whole gun from scratch with nothing but a set of roll pin punches, crescent wrench, and some hex keys.

Gotta get away from this thread because I'm starting to want one of these, already have one of Josh's 140-ish moulds for it, and a spare lower waiting for the next project!:p
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
Ian said:
Gotta get away from this thread because I'm starting to want one of these, already have one of Josh's 140-ish moulds for it, and a spare lower waiting for the next project!:p
Click to expand...

I am tellin ya Ian, you NEED a 7.62x40 it is a solid cast bullet shooter... :)
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Uuuuihm....all I need is a barrel and some one to install it.

Oh ya .....dies and mold.

Gotta ask , have you tried any of the Lee bullets. 155 2r or L160 tl?
 
Josh

Josh

Well-Known Member
quicksylver said:
Uuuuihm....all I need is a barrel and some one to install it.

Oh ya .....dies and mold.

Gotta ask , have you tried any of the Lee bullets. 155 2r or L160 tl?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately the lee 312-155-2r is the perfect bullet with a nose that is too large. It fits that cartridge like a glove for OAL and seating depth. If only it had a .300 nose
 
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