Favorite 7.62×39 loads for the SKS using Ed Harris designed mold?

yodgs…., Not long after C.E. Harris’ SKS “blueprint” appeared in the “American Rifleman (1992 or ’93),” I ordered one from Veral Smith/LBT.  If I recall correctly, it dropped a .315″ 143r. GC SP bullet, which I sized to .314″.  The two powders I used most, and got excellent results  (i.e., accuracy) from were WC 820 (AA #9 burn rate) and Alliant 2400.  Charge weight was the same for both: 13.0 – 15.0 of either WC 820 or 2400 with ~145gr. CB’s.

*After slugging the bore of my first SKS, I discovered that neither the Lee nor Lyman copies of Harris’ design would cast large enough.  I.e., theirs are spec’ed to .312″, my bbl.’s largest dimension was >.312″, leaving me few options but to go to a custom mold.

I got my new, 4 cavity, Ed Harris designed, 314-160 mold on Monday and had to cast some right up! Using COWW’s +2% tin the boolits dropped from the mold at .315″ and weigh 158.5gr +/-, just as I wanted. Arrrgh, I forgot to special order an RCBS/Lyman type .315 sizer/lubing die! Guess I’ll just have to wait to shoot them. We’ll call it age hardening time (even though I plan to oven heat treat and quench them).

I got great boolits almost right away. My only mold preparation was washing the mold thoroughly with 95% alcohol on a paper towel and very lightly lubing the sprue plate, top of the mold and alignment pins with STP on a Q-tip. I think I would have cast perfect boolits right away at the first cast if I hadn’t overheated the mold just a little pre-heating it on the hot plate. So, it took 4 casts instead, my own fault.

Which mold is this again? I want something that feeds better in my SKS…

Here’s a pic of a Lee 175r. SPGC CB meant for the 8mm Mau., but resized to .3155″ to fit the bore of my Type 56 SKS.  The NOE .316″ x 160gr. SPGC CB is the top one and has not yet been tested in the gun.

They feed beautifully, sukivel.  However, they drop from the [Lee Precision] mold @ .324″ and have to be resized to .3155″ to suit my particular SKS.  In so doing the .314″ Lee push through sizing die became enlarged to .3155″, a serendipitous result for certain.