Thread: Baikal Take Down Rechambered

I noticed a comment on a thread in the buy/sell section about rechambering a Baikal take down 7.62x39 into 303 or 7.62x54R. If you have gone down that road could you tell me about the pros and cons of the process and how successful the end result was please?

Originally Posted by rupert

I noticed a comment on a thread in the buy/sell section about rechambering a Baikal take down 7.62x39 into 303 or 7.62x54R. If you have gone down that road could you tell me about the pros and cons of the process and how successful the end result was please?

The one in 303 I saw, I am pretty sure was done by gunworks. The tapered case from the 303 works well in this style of action. Not sure about accuracy with the rifling twist, but I suspect as long as the muzzle velocity remains similar they should be reasonable. Factory 303 and x39 are similar velocities with the 303 having the heavier projectile ...

I would add, that whie I have seen one, I did not get the chance to try it out....

Like all things, just because something can be done, does not mean its a good idea...

Originally Posted by timattalon

The one in 303 I saw, I am pretty sure was done by gunworks. The tapered case from the 303 works well in this style of action. Not sure about accuracy with the rifling twist, but I suspect as long as the muzzle velocity remains similar they should be reasonable. Factory 303 and x39 are similar velocities with the 303 having the heavier projectile ...

I would add, that whie I have seen one, I did not get the chance to try it out....

Like all things, just because something can be done, does not mean its a good idea...

Tim-your thought od reloading some .303 loads with 123/125 gn 7.62x39 slugs or would these be better in a subsonic load

Originally Posted by kotuku

Tim-your thought od reloading some .303 loads with 123/125 gn 7.62x39 slugs or would these be better in a subsonic load

I am not sure I would bother putting 125gr on a 303 case unless you have a barrel twist suited for the higher velocity. ..or lots of 125gr that you want to use......I have had both 303 and x39 but never really tried 125s in the 303 nor 150+ in the x39. I know a few who have tried larger projectiles in the x39 and most seem to get the best results keeping the velocity to a similar speed to the original projectile. The 125 could be worth trying in a 303 if someone on here has not already, platter and faster but not sure what I would use it on that I would not use a 150 for.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

The twist rate is 1:10 from memory so a .303 will be fine if I've not gone senile.

A few guys have used the .311 projectiles of 123grns in the 303brit. Results vary but consensus seems to be no worse than a lot of other options.when they work they are fine. The wee x39 round is perfectly adequate out to 150 all day long.some will argue much further.

The only real advantages are more expansion/ less perturbation and lower recoil.

I had to google perturbation - that's a very flash word...

Fooking autocorrect... penertration!!!! But after googling lol,yeah that works rather well too.