7.62x39 Bullet Swap

Any of you guys ever swapped bullets from steel cased 7.62x39 with decent accuracy results? I am thinking of pulling some of the bi-metal 123 gr FMJ and neck sizing the case (yeah, I know the steel case is going to be harder than the brass case, don't get it stuck in the die, etc,) and replacing with either Hornady's .310" 123 gr. SST or Speer's .310" 125 gr. Hot Cor soft point for a better performing hunting round. I may eventually pick up some 7.62x39 brass and load them from scratch but think I will try this route first.

I've tried it just with Wolf but it didn't work out. The 123 didn't shoot well in my Mini-30 so I pulled the bullets and powder and reloaded them with what worked with normal brass and components. In other words, I was just getting the primer out of the deal. It was a terrible waste of time and components. Didn't go too far with it thank goodness. Gave away the ammo.

Hornady already makes a great hunting round in that caliber. I have a bunch for my mini 30, albeit steel case as well. When they're all shot up I will be moving to brass and making my own though. Will use either Hornady Vmax or Nosler green tip ballistic. No comment on neck sizing steel. May wear on your dies? I suspect you have a lot of steel case that's not appropriate for hunting. You may have the right idea but also may want to re-think the existing powder type and/or charge for you new and improved bullet. I'm sure some more experience loaders will respond when they wake up. Good Luck.

I've been doing it for years. Pull FMJ w/ collet puller and replace with Hornady SP's. I tried resizing neck a few times, but I found it unnecessary. I do put a good crimp on the cannelure with Lee collet crimper though to keep bullet in place. Reduces group size by half in my Bushmaster upper, and I get 1" groups from my CZ527 at 100 yards.

I rarely load brass from scratch anymore as Ive found my "Mexican Match" ammo entirely satisfactory, it's easier and faster to make, and I'm not concerned with finding lost brass that I slaved over any more.

Brass catcher...

Well of course I use a brass catcher at the range, but didn't care for one on my rifle when hunting. I've used bags and the rigid ones both.

Mexican Match Ammo...done it a few times pulling fmj silver tip 7.62x54r 147gr and swapping them with various other bullets.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/educational-zone-177-mexican-match-ammunition/