Author Topic: 7.62x54r Reduced Load ?? (Read 451 times)

slider · « **on:** February 13, 2004, 06:59:09 AM »

I'm shooting a mosin m-38 I just received. My starting load is 51.0grs of h4350, .311 dia, 180gr pro hunter bullets. Primer is CCI 200, case is norma. My question is, what would be safe reduced load for this rifle,since recoil is tuff!!! Is there a general rule for reduced loads?

Thanks for your time!!

OhioCruffler · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2004, 11:08:27 AM »

Quote from: slider

I'm shooting a mosin m-38 I just received. My starting load is 51.0grs of h4350, .311 dia, 180gr pro hunter bullets. Primer is CCI 200, case is norma. My question is, what would be safe reduced load for this rifle,since recoil is tuff!!! Is there a general rule for reduced loads?

Thanks for your time!!

You can take 4895 down to about 2/3 capacity without any problems, it won't blow up. You can use slower powders and get less recoil and velocity as well.

Are you using cast or jacketed bullets?

ricciardelli · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2004, 11:51:39 AM »

Any of the starting loads at:

http://stevespages.com/310_2_180.html

slider · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2004, 05:19:15 AM »

Thanks for info! I,m using jacketed, never tried cast before. Just looking for a mild load for the range,and a little close range hog work.Also have some imr 4831 on hand, can't find very much info on this powder for 7.62x54r. Do you think h4895 better choice for this rifle?

OhioCruffler · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2004, 12:33:37 PM »

H4831 is a good powder for this rifle with heavy bullets and powerful loads; but it is not very suitable for reduced loads; it is too slow for that. This is getting into the range of powders that are possibly dangerous when underloaded.
For lighter recoil the easiest thing to do is to reduce bullet weight and use the starting weight of powders. A 150 grain bullet with around 40 grains of 4895 would be in view. If you used 30-30 bullets you would actually even get good performance; this should be really close to 30-30 velocities. I do not know what the velocity would be; I shoot 35-40 grains 4895 in 30-'06 with cast bullets with good results. 38 grains and above will cycle the Garand action as well.

When shooting reduced loads in rifles with jacketed bullets you need to stay up in speed lest you stick a bullet; that is a miserable, damaging thing to deal with. A cast bullet is removed far more easily; I shoot .30 caliber rifles down to 500 fps using heavy cast bullets.

thecowboyace · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2004, 02:29:05 PM »

THIS IS A SUGGESTED LOAD THAT I WOULD USE IN THE PLACE OF WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO USE BECAUSE I KNOW THIS LOAD IS NICE, some RECOIL BUT NOT NEAR FACTORY
USE OF ANYTHING HERE IS AT YOUR RISK. I HAVE USED THESE LOADS BUT CAVEAT EMPTOR? Anyways it your bacon!

IMR4895 @ 44.5 gr WITH A 110 grain JHP. I have not put a chronograph to it so?

?? It works though.

Well, I have been working on a light load for a lightweight person, 1st time ever centerfire rifle, some pistol, some shotgun. I like the IMR 3031 or the H380.

Now if you think that you will ever work up to factory load this almost duplicates it, IMR 4350, 53.1 grains, 2570fps. So from there start at 49.5+/- .0.20 grains with the 180 grain bullet which will equal out to about 2275fps ++/-. DO NOT GO OVER 55.0 grains!