Crazy idea #213 :-)

Assuming I can have the 7.62x39 Baikal reamed out to take a 308 case...

I understand that the 7.62x39 bore is .310 or .311, so the chances of .308 projectiles being accurate is not very high.

If I then load 123gr .310 (7.62x39) projectiles or 150gr .311 (303) projectiles, what do I need to do for neck sizing ?

Will a chamfer tool be sufficient to get the 310 or 311 pills started into a case that has been neck sized using 308 dies ?

Or will I need to use a expander die / oversized bushing to flare the case mouth after neck sizing ?

My reloading background is pistol cases, so used to flaring the case mouth and then crimping.

Second question - any comments about using lightish (mid 120 gr) projectiles in 308.

Put an expander ball from a 7.62x39/7.62x54R/.303Brit die on your .308 die


you'll be working the necks a lot doing that though. Other option is a neck bushing die.

What about just getting a .308 barrel for the Baikal? Would assume after the smithing and buying bits and pieces for reloading it would be cheaper in the long run?

X39 Neck die and don't screw it down into the press as far.
I do all my 30 06 on a Lee hand press using 308 dies

so what your planing on doing is makeing a 308 that fires 303 pills why????????????????????? your bullet choice goes down to almost nothing imo
buy a std 308 and run light pills

Presumably he's trying to improve the capability of the rifle he already has.

Ill try and seat some 303 pills tonight, can't see it being a problem.

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by madjon_

X39 Neck die and don't screw it down into the press as far.
I do all my 30 06 on a Lee hand press using 308 dies

---

Cheers madjon. Is that using RGB or collet dies ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gimp

Presumably he's trying to improve the capability of the rifle he already has.

---

Correct, existing rifle, no more space in the safe and have invested some money in sorting the current one's trigger. Happy to stick with single shot, break down option - works for me. Basically just want to give it some extra legs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Ill try and seat some 303 pills tonight, can't see it being a problem.

---

Tx VC

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ebf

Cheers madjon. Is that using RGB or collet dies ?

---

Hornady New Dimension

Can't imagine there'll be much resale on a .311" bore .308 rifle.

Full length sized in lyman dies lapua brass.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/27/bugyge5u.jpg

150sst .3125 dia

170 unknown. .3080 dia


No noticeable difference in pressure to seat. Runout the norm for my set up.

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

I concur - the cost the chamber etc - you are ALMOST at another Baikal
Legs - 30-06?

I am picking he doesn't want too much extra recoil hence light pills?

Surely it wouldn't cost the price of another rifle to poke a reamer up a barrel that isn't attached to an action! ?

If you do end up doing it. Whatever belmont load as there 130gr hp 308 (speer? serra?) could be worth a go .

Shot well out of one of my 308s i had to put two patches on to clean:D and worked well on light game

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

Why not simply rechamber to 303 British - which will be moreorless the correct bore size (.310 v .311) and, I expect, be better with a modified Baikal extractor (given it is a rimmed case you will not need the silly little spring loaded pin that is on the 7.62x39?).

Or buy a whole new gun as others have said for the purposes of swapping barrels (but would still pay to check head space and I am not sure Baikal engineering is sufficiently accurate to allow fore-end/attachment etc to swap straight over?)

That's a pretty clever idea huntsika :thumbsup:

The extractor on my 7.62 is not spring loaded. It has a cross pin that rides in a slot, and is forced backwards when you open the action.

I checked a 308 case this morning, and suspect that because of the angle you load the cartridge, a 308 will not load without modifying the extractor in some way.

VC, light pills was more a 310 thing, only really get 123gr

Maybe 308 pills will be ok, but I'm guessing minute of barn door :D

With 311, the projectile choice is a bit wider - 150 to 180, with some nice 174 hpbt sierras available.

Recoil with anything more than 7.62x39 is going to be interesting, coz it is effectively a shotgun style stock.

Yep and there are some modern pills available for it

So far so good.

I've discussed reaming it to 303 with 3 smiths, and got good response from 2 of them.

Baikal has 1:10.twist, so that is same as 303

Max pressure for both 7.62x39 and 303 are around 50k, very similar. 308 is 62k

No major concerns about using 311 heads...

So definitely looks like an option. Be pretty cool to hunt with a cartridge that has such an iconic place in kiwi hunting history.

There is always room for just one more in the cabinet.
Wouldn't mind trying a hunt with a 303




VC - is that a dishwasher in the background?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Full length sized in lyman dies lapua brass.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/27/bugyge5u.jpg

---

Yep

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by huntsika

Why not simply rechamber to 303 British - which will be moreorless the correct bore size (.310 v .311) and, I expect, be better with a modified Baikal extractor (given it is a rimmed case you will not need the silly little spring loaded pin that is on the 7.62x39?).

Or buy a whole new gun as others have said for the purposes of swapping barrels (but would still pay to check head space and I am not sure Baikal engineering is sufficiently accurate to allow fore-end/attachment etc to swap straight over?)

---

You might be plesently surprised with the Baikals Huntsika.

I have two, one in .222 and the other.223, Barrels and forends are interchangeable without any noticable difference.

But @ $399 I'd just buy a new Baikal in the calibre I wanted and sell the one I didn't want to keep.

Resale on these Baikals is around the $250-$300 mark

Cheers
Pete

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by P38

You might be plesently surprised with the Baikals Huntsika.

I have two, one in .222 and the other.223, Barrels and forends are interchangeable without any noticable difference.

But @ $399 I'd just buy a new Baikal in the calibre I wanted and sell the one I didn't want to keep.

Resale on these Baikals is around the $250-$300 mark

Cheers
Pete

---

Pete, are both your baikals wood ?

Not sure of the synthetic stock and wood bits are interchangeable. reloaders only have the plastic 308, and my 7.62x39 is wood.

If you ever need someone to work on the triggers, I can highly recommend Scott @ SSRNZ in Featherston, he did a brilliant job on mine.

If you go with the 303 options you can eps improve it and gain a heap of performance and brass life :thumbsup:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gunworks in Christchurch rechambered one to .303 brit, that would be my choice or stay russian with 7.62x54

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gimp

Can't imagine there'll be much resale on a .311" bore .308 rifle.

---

the rifle is only worth a couple of hundred dollars so why worrie about the resale value

Couple of hundred > zero

its going to be a bit of a laugh when all the dust settles to see how much you have over capitalised on a dirty old bikal
It reminds me of some people on trademe
Rifle $399
rail $140
Rings $150
suppressor $500
cleaning kit $150
nikko sterling POS scope $400
shortening and threading $100
trigger work $75
40 bodgy hand loads $50

total value 1,964.00

But ill sell it to you for 1200 saving you OVER $700............

actual value of rifle? $400 max, trying to recoup your moron purchases........ PRICELESS.


I laugh when I look back at my past projects(ar15) and how much they have creaped up and cost me.

buy another 308 bikal assemble it with the x39 barrel and sell it. reaming to get a standard caliber that is freely avialble is foolishness

Exactly

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bill999

buy another 308 bikal assemble it with the x39 barrel and sell it.

---

Hey Bill, the thread title DOES say "Crazy idea" ;)

Yup, slowly heading to 3 x 308: omark for target, 788 for general, shorty russian with open sights for bush. Only need one set of dies, haha

you could just sell the russian and use the 788 for a do all, that way skill with that rifle for snap shooting will increase

for bush ranges there will be little in it between the 308 and x39

true, but the 788 is a heavy bitch and does not break into pieces to fit into a pack :D

having said that, I am really starting to lust after a 22-250 ... so the russian's days may be numbered !

bit hard to shoot a deer when your rifle is in pieces inside your pack

sounds a bit poachy poachy to me

yea right Bill, ask anyone who knows me, I'm about the last guy on the planet to consider poaching...

sub-sonic ammo and NV is poachy poachy

carrying a break down rifle in a pack is common sense if you do lots of tramping and want low stress interaction with other trampers and hut users...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ebf

yea right Bill, ask anyone who knows me, I'm about the last guy on the planet to consider poaching...

sub-sonic ammo and NV is poachy poachy

carrying a break down rifle in a pack is common sense if you do lots of tramping and want low stress interaction with other trampers and hut users...

---

I find having a rifle is low stress... No one talks to me:)

odd, everyone allways talks to me weather iv got a rifle or not,
welly does seem to attract the wierdos tho

I really do need a Nv scope for my 308 subsonic rifle

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ebf

true, but the 788 is a heavy bitch and does not break into pieces to fit into a pack :D

having said that, I am really starting to lust after a 22-250 ... so the russian's days may be numbered !

---

SUCH a gunslut ;) ;) ;)

We can do a bulk order on 224 projectiles :)

Had a mate rechamber a Baikal 222 to 22.250. Easy peasy, and just a bit if gunsmithing to sort the trigger and extractor. Cost very little and shoots like a dream! You own the rifle, dont have to pay for another, just run a 308 or 303 reamer in to it, and go have some fun. Who gives a s*** about the resale value!