Anyone reload 7.62x54r?

[pinshooter45]

Maybe I'm crazy for wanting to reload this cartidge. Prices for new and surplus are all over the place saw spam cans from $79-$149 at the 1500. So I'm going to buy some new reloadable stuff here and there and give it a try. If anyone does what's you favorite powder, load, bullet, ect. My intrest would be improved accuracy for Vintage Rifle matches. Also how do you tell the different mfg of the surplus stuff? Bought 60 rnds of some silver tipped rounds to break in my new to me 1932 Mosin. I'm also going to start reloading 8mm Mauser.

 

[indymadcaster]

I load both jacketed180 and 150 dr and cast 185 and 155 gr for this round also use 31 cal roundball lubed with mule snot over 2 grains bulleye Quiet and more thump than a 22lr i got lucky and traded for 500 new boxer cases and was given 200 rounds of lapua factory ammo

 

[Andre46996]

Yes I reload 7.62x54r..

I don't remember my load it is written down somewhere, it has been about 2 years since I loaded any for it.

Pay close attention to OAL. I matched mine to my chamber I am just .003 off the lands, it just barely fits in the box mag.

I know I was using IMR4895.

Sierra Pro-Hunter Bullets 303 Caliber, 7.7mm Japanese (311 Diameter) 180 Grain Spitzer

With Federal Match Large Rifle Primers.

I don't remember my groupings but I know I could hit 12" round steel at 225yds.

If you decide to load the proper bullets .311 diameter instead of the .308 you will need to change the expander in your die set.

 

[pinshooter45]

Yes I reload 7.62x54r..

I don't remember my load it is written down somewhere, it has been about 2 years since I loaded any for it.

Pay close attention to OAL. I matched mine to my chamber I am just .003 off the lands, it just barely fits in the box mag.

I know I was using IMR4895.

Sierra Pro-Hunter Bullets 303 Caliber, 7.7mm Japanese (311 Diameter) 180 Grain Spitzer

With Federal Match Large Rifle Primers.

I don't remember my groupings but I know I could hit 12" round steel at 225yds.

If you decide to load the proper bullets .311 diameter instead of the .308 you will need to change the expander in your die set.

I have noticed the diameter difference a couple of times and wondered about that. Was going to start with maybe the pulled .308's that one can purchase cheap on the web. But I thought 7.62 was 7.62? I know the early WWI Mausers were .311 and later changed to .323, that actually was they widened the groves to .323. And all that was considered 8mm. Looks like I'll need to do more research, got plenty of time got the dies and press. But need primers, powder & bullets for large rifles, currently only load hand gun & 5.56.

 

[Andre46996]

Most will slug out between .311 and .313 in my experience.

You can use the .308 and many people do, I did when I first started reloading. When I couldn't get the accuracy I wanted an old timer at the range said to slug the barrel. I did and sure enough it is actually .311

After some research to make sure mine wasn't just wore out it turns out they are .311 as is most of the Russian stuff. the 7.62 x 39 is also .311 IIRC.

 

[ekg98]

I have 40 rounds of winchester brass that I would like to reload one day. I just have not got around to slugging my barrel. With proper annealing and just neck sizing these 40 cases could last a very long time.

 

[Leo]

My 91 rifle had a new Tikka rebarrel job when I got it. It was a .308 barrel, so it was easy to get bullets. I used minimum loads of 4895 with a 150 gr remington hunting bullet. I also used 162 gr gas checked lead bullets that I made for my 30/30. I could not find load info so I used light .308 load data, not wanting to sacrifice my face to stress testing 100 year old Russian metalurgy. Brass from Hansen ammo was reloadable. I hear the PPV brass is reloadable these days.

 

[indymadcaster]

measure a fired case @ the mouth inside dia that will get you in the ballpark some are .313 seen one @ .318 Used resized 8mm bullets in that one it shot pretty good

 

[J man]

Everything I have found in bulk has been steel cased, where are you getting brass cased ammo from?

 

[88E30M50]

My son reloads 7.62x54r and a lot of our reload cases come from factory Winchester ammo. They sell it for something like $17 per box of 20 down at Atterbury. That's pretty good since we've paid close to $1 a round for empty cases at the 1500.

He has a couple of loads he has developed that work pretty well, with one using Hornady XTP bullets in a very light load. Another is a recreation of a German WWI design that seats the standard bullet backwards to act as a wad cutter. I was skeptical but have to admit it works well and is still accurate. The Germans did it as an armor piercing round but it does cut the target nice and cleanly.

I'll have to try to document the recipie for some of those.

 

[johntheplinker]

I reload for a few select Mosins, one a original PU and a couple of Finns. As far as bullets, I use the Sierra mentioned by Andre4696 and also the Sierra 123gr. for 'yote loads in the PU. Powder is H4350 with the heavy bullets and H4895 with the lighter. Cases are Privi.

Oh, and to i.d. surplus, the ammo page at 7.62x54r.net can't be beat.

 

[xring62]

I'd never suggest using .308's in the Nagant unless its Norwegian. I tried it and wasted good 308 bullets , I use bullets meant for 7.62x39 .310dia. [seirra 123gr] and seirra .311 dia. 174gr Matchking for best results. With IMR 4064

 

[WLW]

I load both jacketed180 and 150 dr and cast 185 and 155 gr for this round also use 31 cal roundball lubed with mule snot over 2 grains bulleye Quiet and more thump than a 22lr i got lucky and traded for 500 new boxer cases and was given 200 rounds of lapua factory ammo

Love the idea of the 31 cal round ball. Great idea!!!

 

[pinshooter45]

Thanks guys!

Thanks for the info, now all I have to do is see if any of the suggested powders will workl well in my 8mm Mauser I plan to reload. I try to keep my powders to a minimum. I use Accurate No.5 for handgun reloads because theres a load for every hand gun I own. Unfortunatly I don't think 2230 will work for the big rifles, although I haven't checked.

 

[N_K_1984]

Everything I have found in bulk has been steel cased, where are you getting brass cased ammo from?

In my experiences, Sellier & Bellot, Prvi Partizan, and Winchester.

 

[johntheplinker]

Everything I have found in bulk has been steel cased, where are you getting brass cased ammo from?

In my experiences, Sellier & Bellot, Prvi Partizan, and Winchester.

If I'm not mistaken, the Winchester is actually made by S&B. Also, Wolf Gold is loaded by Privi. There is also some brass cased surplus, mostly Albanian, old Bulgarian, and Chinese. All are corrosive, Berdan primed. The Albanian can be either very good or very bad, depending on lot. The old, old,(late 40s-to about 51) Bulgarian is at best junk due to poor storage and using reformed 8x56 cases. The mid 50s light Bulgarian that hasn't gone bad due to poor storage is o.k.. The heavy Bulgarian is actually fairly good, while the Chinese is probably average to slightly under.