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Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:38 pm
by crbutler
Finally got around to sorting out brass from last summer at FRPC (after matches pick up- I don't find even 10% of the .40 I shoot)...

Someone has a really screwed up AK out there.

This is Fiocchi 7.62x39 brass... not bad stuff.

Image

Looks like a fire forming load- false shoulder.

It probably could be FL resized and reused after trimming, but with what surplus 7.62x39 goes for, I won't bother.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:43 pm
by westhope
7.62x39 can be fire formed to make 401 WSL or 351 WSL cases. I haven't done it, but it is one way to get cases for those.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:55 pm
by Holland&Holland
7.62 x 39 improved :D ?

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 9:09 pm
by smurfman
I've formed 401 WSL from 7.62x39 but did not need to make a false shoulder. I just ran the brass through the 401 sizer after expanding the neck in a couple of steps. The pictures appear to have been necked down which would not have been needed with the 401. Plus, the 401 is a more or less straight swapped case and would not have a shoulder.

I hadn't heard of the 351 WSL being made from the AK round but I hadn't heard of using it for the 401 at one time. I've made my 351 cases from 357 Maximum cases when necessary. I don't think a falseshoulder would be needed here either for the same reason as the 401. It too, is a straight walled case when done.

My best guess (though not an overly scientific one) would be a poorly cut chamber. Or, maybe it's from a Ruger Mini 30 as they use a .308" groove rather than .310" or larger. No matter what, the Fiocchi is good brass and forms nicer 401s than Winchester brass.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:01 am
by crbutler
They are not necked down-

These were cases I picked up in the dirt out at FRPC- someone fired them.

By measurement the "narrow" part is proper neck diameter.

That is, in effect, a chamber cast of someone's AK (or whatever 30 short russian) chamber.

They LOOK liked what you try and make for a false shoulder while fireforming, but that isn't what these are.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:53 am
by Holland&Holland
More case capacity that way.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:04 am
by Ghost
Every time I see this thread title I think of things like this

Image

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:13 am
by crbutler
Yeah, that’s an odd range pick up, all right.

I’ve been told that this is probably a Saiga AK, that lots of folks have seen these from those rifles per another forum.

Good reason not to get one of those, I guess.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:40 am
by Holland&Holland
crbutler wrote:Yeah, that’s an odd range pick up, all right.

I’ve been told that this is probably a Saiga AK, that lots of folks have seen these from those rifles per another forum.

Good reason not to get one of those, I guess.

Oh I don't know. Bet it feeds reliably!

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:42 am
by Holland&Holland
Ghost wrote:Every time I see this thread title I think of things like this

Image


If I was single and managed to pick her up at the range I would not consider her odd looking.

Oh, wait did you mean the truck?

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:06 am
by OldmanFCSA
Based on content of last posting, I would need pictures of both to make that decision.





Based on topic, the odd ones I see are 300 Win Mag cases fired in a 300 Weatherby Mag chamber ---- and other like comparisons.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:39 pm
by crbutler
I’ve seen plenty of cases from firing in the improper chamber, but this was the first false neck in an “appropriate” chamber.

I used to have a .308 case (although it looked like it had been redone into a wildcat by shoulder and neck) that some yahoo fired in a .284 win... that looked.... interesting.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 12:23 pm
by 870TC
could be from blanks, have not seen fiocchi ones- but privi has them and they look very similar

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 8:33 pm
by crbutler
I was told (as above) that this is a feature of Russian made civilian AK’s.

It’s a government mandate to tell the difference between civilian guns and military, supposedly. I have been told that all Izmash made 7.62x39 (like the Saiga AK) have this.

It is functional. Probably degrades accuracy a bit, but AK rifles aren’t that terribly accurate; it doesn’t affect reliability.

It has nothing to do with the brass.

I discovered what it was, so I got what I wanted out of posting it. I’m adding this so others know.

I wonder what Sam would have said, probably something about if you wanted to risk yourself... it may shorten case life, but I’m told it is perfectly safe to resize them, but check case length afterwards.

Re: Odd looking range pick ups

PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 9:56 pm
by Holland&Holland
crbutler wrote:I was told (as above) that this is a feature of Russian made civilian AK’s.

It’s a government mandate to tell the difference between civilian guns and military, supposedly. I have been told that all Izmash made 7.62x39 (like the Saiga AK) have this.

It is functional. Probably degrades accuracy a bit, but AK rifles aren’t that terribly accurate; it doesn’t affect reliability.

It has nothing to do with the brass.

I discovered what it was, so I got what I wanted out of posting it. I’m adding this so others know.

I wonder what Sam would have said, probably something about if you wanted to risk yourself... it may shorten case life, but I’m told it is perfectly safe to resize them, but check case length afterwards.


You may have been told that but my izmash made saiga AK does not do that to brass.