Author Topic: Does anyone reload the 7.62x54r?  (Read 784 times)

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Offline hardertr

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Does anyone reload the 7.62x54r?
« on: November 22, 2004, 06:25:14 PM »
I have dies for EVERY rifle and pistol in my safe EXCEPT the 2 Mosin-Nagants I bought at the gun show this weekend.

I know the surplus ammo is DIRT CHEAP, just like the guns themselves.  At some point in the future, I would like to use the gun for hunting.  Ammo options are fairly limited to FMJ rounds.

Does anybody reload for hunting purposes??

Thanks in advance.
The problem with troubleshooting is....sometimes it shoots back!

Offline warf73

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Does anyone reload the 7.62x54r?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2004, 11:41:40 PM »
Yes I do and I don't.

LOL I have everything for the 7.62X54R and loaded some cast bullets.
But no I haven't done any serious reloading for it (accuracy) yet. Deer season is upon me and I'm swamped with reloading for many people. So my own pet projects get the back burner treatment for now.

The M44 will be sporterized for my son by Christmas (nice dad) and we will be loading for it shortly after.

As of right now I have 180gr. Rem Core locks in .308 spitzer and 180gr. Rem Core locks in .311 RN. As of right now I have 500 pieces of Graft & Sons brass. I'll be trying the H4895 powder (its super in my 308) to start with. With probly Winney Large Rifle primmer (think it takes large).

It was promising with the cast 3" groups at 100yards with Iron sights (was my first load attempt with the cast bullet for it) not bad for first try.

Sorry can't help more than that.

Warf
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Offline Reed1911

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Does anyone reload the 7.62x54r?
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2004, 02:36:36 AM »
We load and re-load the 7.62x54R. Unless you are using true match grade surplus ammunition, you'll never realize the accuracy potential until you load it yourself. The 7.62x54R is a very capable round and the Mosin Nagnats are very capable rifles. Most people see at least a reduction in group size by 1/2 from our ammunition as compared to commonly available surplus. Needless to say if you work up loads for your own rifle you will see even better performance. It's a fairly easy round to re-load, the only trick is to make sure you match your sizing stem to the bullets (i.e. .311 or .308).  Bullets in .311 are easily available from Speer, Hornady, Remington and Winchester.
Ron Reed
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Offline Robert

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I agree with Ron..
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2004, 05:35:09 AM »
Some of these carbines have really big bores, can vary between .310, .311, .312...so .308 bullets might not get very good accuracy.  I slugged the bore of mine with a dead soft cast bullet and came up with .310...so .308's would work to some extent.  Winchester loads an excellent 180 soft-point w/ a semi flat nose and they run about 12 bucks a box at Big 5 stores.  You will not save very much money re-loading them unless you can find cheap bullets. The180 gr .310 bullets are usually more money than .308 bullets, and harder to find.  You can use the .310 123 gr bullets that are usually for 7.62x39, they work fine but are a little on the light side for large game. Cast bullets also work well, dont run them through a sizing die though just pop a gas-check on the bottom and tap it with a wood block.
  These are very powerful little rifles, I was very amazed with mine. The case capacity is right up there with a 8mm Mauser, just slightly less than a 30-06.  I kept mine in my rig throughout deer and Elk hunting for a back-up rifle.  For an average of 79 bucks on sale...I cannot se any reason for NOT having one of these for a camp gun or truck beater.
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Offline hardertr

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Does anyone reload the 7.62x54r?
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2004, 10:35:11 AM »
I noticed the only dies you can find are full-length.  Wouldn't you benefit from fire formed brass being neck sized in an old bolt action like these??
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Offline Val

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7.62X54R Reloads
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2004, 11:06:23 AM »
RCBS makes a neck sizer for the 7.62X54R.

My MNs are fairly new to my arsenal and my load development has been severly interrupted by the fall hunting seasons. I got a pretty promising load using 48 grains of RE15 and 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunters. I got a couple of 1" groups at 50 yds with the iron sights with my 91/30. My old bifocal  wearing eyes are having problems with the MN iron sights at 100 yds. I'm experimenting with Mojo peep sights on my 91/30 and a no drill and tap scope mount on my M38. I'm also playing with some light loads for my MNs. I still have a lot of work to do with my MN load development.

I'm using .311 and .312 bullets.
Hunting and fishing are not matters of life or death. They are much more important than that.