Substituting 150gr bullet for 147gr?

[Westbound]

I'm able to find incredible deals on 147gr FMJ ammo in 7.62x54R, but I have no use for FMJ as my range will not allow it.
Would it be safe to pull the 147gr bullets and replace them with 150gr soft points?
I'm also thinking about reclaiming the powder and re-using it from each cartridge.  Is this safe??

[Graybeard]

Tough question to say with certainty on. In theory changing bullets and going up only 3 grains should be safe. BUT there is far more involved than just bullet weight. If bearing surface increases drastically or you seat them deeper thus reducing the case volume for powder or if the new bullets are harder than the old you can run pressures up.

But in general if you just pull the bullets and insert a 150 on top of same powder charge and make sure you seat it to same depth ie base of both at same spot and if the new bullet isn't longer to mean closer to the rifling it "should be OK" at least in theory.

[Westbound]

Graybeard, Thank you for the reply.
I haven't commited myself to any purchases yet, so I might buy some of the surplus and pull one bullet to look at before I decide on which 150gr. to go with.
I will pay special attention to seating depth.

[res45]

Well I been doing the Mexican Match reloads on some 54r LB 147 gr. and HB 187 gr. FMJ  Bulgarian brass case surplus ammo for a couple years.  I replace the 147 and 187 gr. FMJ's  both with 150 gr. SP bullets in .311 dia.

I also download the rd. by 1 1/2 grs. of the original powder,the original factory ammo is pretty hot in it own right,by lowering the powder charge slightly,felt recoil is less and accuracy is greatly improved in my M44 which slugged out at .313

I have used the Speer 150 gr. .311 Hot-Core and Prvi-Partizan 150 gr. .311 BTSP as replacement bullets.  I also use the Hornady 150 gr. .312 SP and Hornady .312 174 gr. FBRN. Once I pull the original FMJ bullet I weigh a random sample of powder charges for several case in the lot.  With the Bulgarian LB or HB the powder charge  run between 48.3 and 48.5 grs. per case,I back it down to 47.0 grs. even,which seem to be the optimal charge weight for either powder used in the LB or HB case out of my rifle.   

Then I resize the neck trim the case to proper length and load which ever bullet I choose to use and finish it off with a crimp ffrom the Lee FCD.  I seat the replacement bullet to the cannelure if it has one,the Speer is the only one I use that doesn't have a cannelure so I seat it to factory specs in the reloading manual.

The two pulled bullets are on the lefts the replacement bullet I use are on the right


Original surplus fired ammo


Downloaded ammo with replacement bullet


 

[anweis]

I would think that you are OK to do that, but my experience reloading is not very long.
As far as powder charges go, you may want to dump the powder from 20 or 40 cases, average to see what is the weight per case, and reduce the charge by 1 or 1.5 grains.
The bullets heavier by 3 grains should not cause you problems, especially if you reduce the powder charge by 1 grain.
Would i do this? No. Are you safe doing this? Not 100%. Has it been done before? Yes.   

[Siskiyou]

 My brother gave me a Swedish M96 that had been sporterized.  Along with it he gave me a few boxes of military ammunition which he had pulled the hard ball and replaced it with 140-grain Nosler Partitions.  The load proved to be potent on Mule Deer. 

The modified ammunition did not display any pressure issues; I believe the original bullet was 139-grains, so replacing it with a 140-grain bullet did not present a problem.

[wreckhog]

This is for plinking at a range which bans FMJ? Can't you just snip the tip?

[res45]

This is for plinking at a range which bans FMJ? Can't you just snip the tip?

Thats not a good idea,most FMJ bullets especially the old surplus ones have an exposed or open base where you can see the lead or mild steel core.  Cutting the tip can cause the jacket to separate under pressure when fired.  Some or all of the copper or mild steel jacket can become stuck in the bore and possibly cause an obstruction,which on the next rd. fired would most likely cause injury to yourself and bystanders and destroy the rifle.

[Westbound]

This is for plinking at a range which bans FMJ? Can't you just snip the tip?

I'd thought about it, but as res45 pointed out, I was concerned about separation.  The ammo is lead/steel core, so I didn't want to risk it.
I'll give new bullets a shot after reducing powder charge a small amount, all the while watching for pressure signs.
The thought of cheap plinking ammo is great, but not at the expense of damaging myself or the gun 

[Blackhawker]

Why not save yourself the hassles and question of if it's safe or not and just reload your own ammo?  It's the only way to be sure.  In my mind, if safety is a concern, then stay safe.  As tempting as it may be, what if you have a problem and either you or someone else gets hurt?  ....all in the mind of saving a few pennies.  I don't think that's worth it and should an accident happen (low probability) I don't think you'd find it very cost effective either.
 
When you think about it, you have no idea of the primer type or the powder type, only the bullet weight.  You have three variables and are only in control of one. (and I haven't even addressed seating depth and case volume, etc)  With that in mind, why would one think about changing the powder charge (as suggested above)?  That doesn't sound very safe to me.  I'd scrap the idea, sell the cheep ammo and buy yourself some loading equipment with the extra money.

.....just my thoughts.

Blackhawker

[Couger]

I'm able to find incredible deals on 147gr FMJ ammo in 7.62x54R, but I have no use for FMJ as my range will not allow it.
Would it be safe to pull the 147gr bullets and replace them with 150gr soft points?
I'm also thinking about reclaiming the powder and re-using it from each cartridge.  Is this safe??

Whay you're talking about doing is called "Mexican match" - to coin a term, and its usually quite safe.

Something I would do is check each powder charges to see how consistant each one is, and might sacrifice a couple rounds to add a tenth grain here or there to make all loads "consistant."  Of course I wouldn't load several dozen or a couple hundred of them without safely test firing a couple of the M-M loads.  If they're okay, then you're probably safe.

What you could also do and this might be the most prudent option yet is to pull the FMJ bullets, pour the powder into a measure each time until you're statisfied you know what each [average] powder charge is supposed to be, then reduce that amount by 5% - CONSISTANTLY measured to within the same 1/10th grain.  Pressures would be reduced with the 150grn bullets and despite being perhaps (ever so) slightly less in velocity, still give you some excellent "range ammo."

And with good brass, bullets, primers and good components being scarce during the nightmare of obomi-nation, I don't think that's a far-fetched way to use up components you already know are good.

[res45]

Thanks Couger for adding some info on the subject and just for clarification the reason it's called "Mexican Match" is that in 1968 the US shooting team went to Mexico City for the Olympics. They were shooting match M14's. They took the M118 Special Ball and pulled the 173gr FMJ/BT out and swapped it with the Sierra 168gr Match King. They took the gold and from then on out it was called the Mexican Match.

As far as the 147 and 187 gr. FMJ bullets go there not wasted,I shoot them in my SKS rifles there good plinking bullets and better suited to the bore dia. of my SKS than the 54r.