Reloading 7.62x39

[Stegall Law Firm]

Count me as one of the recent converts to the church of reloading.  I stocked up well on factory ammo the last few years, but in the future I believe reloading is where it'll be.  Don't have a press or any tools yet, but I have begun buying powder and primers.

 

I've been thinking about reloading berdan primed 7.62x39.  I've read a good bit about it, and some say it's too much work to bother with and others say it's not that difficult at all.  It's appealing to me because 1)I have a lot of x39 ammo so I can use those cases, and 2) berdan x39 primers are actually in stock right now. 

 

With the cost and availability of everything so uncertain right now, I wonder if you'll see more people reloading steel/berdam primed cases.  When you could get it loaded for less than 20 cents a round there wasn't much incentive to reload, but now that's changed. 

 

All I know so far is that is seems possible to reload berdan, if you're willing to put in the work and get the special tools.  Is that a fair statement?  Also, can brass cases be used more times than steel?  I have a little over 1,000 rounds of the excellent brass-cased Yugo 7.62x39, and was thinking of designating them for future reloads.  Seems like I read that steel cases last only a couple times.

[RED333]

The steel cases will mess up your dies, I dont even try to keep steel cases.

Brass will reload well for a few times, the neck will work harden after a few reloads.

You can make it soft with the right amount of heat.

You can convert a berdan case to a standerd case with a bit of work.

Now me,  i dont keep berdan cases after I shoot, well I do resale the brass at scrap.

My advice, if you can find them, buy brass cases to reload, and reuse them.

[roverboy]

If you want to load berdan cases, good luck. There's decappers to get primers out with.

[jaysouth]

How many rounds of Boxer primed brass cased ammo are you looking for?