Reloading 7.62x54r - Your results?

GunsNotPuns

GunsNotPuns

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I have very little free time in my life so I've decided to spend it reloading yet another calibre, this time 7.62x54r -- mostly to squeeze out maximum accuracy out of my M91/30 PU and not have to clean the SVT-40 when it comes out to play. Just curious what results you've achieved reloading this round.

Bonus points if you've used BL-C(2) or Varget, one of the two powders I plan on utilizing...mostly because they're the powders that I have a tonne of but also because I rather like BL-C(2) for the .30-calibre class rounds.
 
i reload using 147gr bulgarian silvertip surplus ammo. I pull the bullet, use 49 gr of the surplus powder and the original bullet in a new brass case with cci#200 primer and get significantly better groups for cheap.
 
Gillen1 said:
i reload using 147gr bulgarian silvertip surplus ammo. I pull the bullet, use 49 gr of the surplus powder and the original bullet in a new brass case with cci#200 primer and get significantly better groups for cheap.
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Interesting idea -- now if I could find that Bulgarian. It was my favorite surplus but I haven't seen it anywhere in a long time.
 
This may be a little off topic....

How do you pull the bullets?

Is an SVT-40 as hard on brass as everyone says? How about one run through an SVT then a few through a MN? Do the flute marks smooth out and are there any safety concerns?

I so have a cheap kinetic bullet puller, dies, etc.
 
The easiest way to pull military bullets is to run them into a seating die and push the bullet in deeper 1/16" or so breaking the seal. Some countries use a tar for waterproofing then I use a collet puller or RCBS impact hammer.Harold
 
NaviDave said:
This may be a little off topic....

How do you pull the bullets?

Is an SVT-40 as hard on brass as everyone says? How about one run through an SVT then a few through a MN? Do the flute marks smooth out and are there any safety concerns?

I so have a cheap kinetic bullet puller, dies, etc.
Click to expand...

Mine puts a ding in the side of the brass and the fluted chamber makes the neck a little "fluted" for lack of a better word. Seems reloadable after though. No issues yet but case life might not be as good as an unfluted chamber but it doesn't keep me up at night.
 
My svt likes pointy bullets only though. Had minor occasional feeding issues with some soft points that were fairly pointy but not pointed. yrmv.
 
Also it's worth slugging your bore to see what yours is like before you buy bullets. Though mine will shoot 308 bullets reasonably well 312 is better. Some Finnish ones were 308 I think it says in the hornady reloading manual but I don't think they are common in Canada. maybe the states?
 
I've loaded a first batch of Privi Partizan brass and Hornady bullets. The initial batch was two 10 round batches of IMR 4895 at 41.0gn and the other batch of 10 was with H4350 at31.2gns. Neither was any better. Both looked promising with me and my old guy eyes still able to hold to within a roughly 3 inch group at 100. A feat which I can match with my Mosin and factory Privi ammo. So nothing special but a decent enough start.

While I was shooting this batch it occurred to me that the brass was a rather sloppy fit due to being factory fresh. Before I go any further I'm going to use some pistol powder and corn meal filler with a little wad of paper towel to fire form the brass to the rifle's chamber. THEN I'll start working on doing batches of 10 at different charge weights in the two suitable rifle powders I've got. And needless to say I'll neck size from that point on unless I find the shoulders need a minor bump of a few thou to chamber easily.

Now it's fun to shoot at 100 and 200. But the old eyes just don't see the target very clearly with the plain sights. So from now on I think I'm going to do my load testing at 50 yards where I can see the target more clearly and give the loads more of a chance by taking more of my issues out of the picture.
 
My svt dings the brass, so I full length resize and then shoot it through the mosin which pops it out a bit. No failure to brass yet (also using privi brass). Oh, and .312 bullets from budget, or pulled from surplus.
 
Dwag said:
Where do you get your brass and what are you paying?
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$77 per 100 at TradeEx.

I have recently acquired some Spanish Mauser? projectiles - maybe 1200 of them. The are .312 or .31225 (boat tail/fmj/147gr). Would these be good to load up?
 
I've done extensive reloading for 7.62X54R! My full house load is using .311 174gr Sierra Match Kings (TradeEx) with Varget and WLR.

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These next two are the same load at 100 yds.

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CF27712F-867F-4AD0-8FC0-3258A97D5FEE.png


I think this was with Lapua Brass obtained from Prophet River however I've had similar results with PPU brass from Tradex and S&B brass from factory softpoints I bought before I was into reloading. My testing revealed neck sizing was much more accurate so I use a Lee 7.62X55 SWIS collet die to neck size.


I ran a ladder test with my particular Mosin which has a 24" cut / crowned barrel slugged at .311 and found a node at 44.3 gr Varget and approx 2500 fps.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...ists-need-not-open-this-thread!!!-(pic-heavy)

I was able to get much tighter groups however at a more stout charge seen above of 47.3 gr Varget.

For more affordable shooting and fire forming brass I have developed a number of loads for cast bullets by almost every LEE mold that can work with the Mosin. I'm currently working up a load for the Lyman 314299 mold I was able to get from Budget Shooter Supply. Mine casts my pewter sweetened WW alloy at .312 and 206 gr with a gas check.

H4895 is a great powder for cast at higher velocities if your alloy and lube can take em. Most of my reduced loads are very accurate with UNIQUE powder in the 13.5-15 gr range. According to quickload software you want to watch for pressure signs if you're going over 13.5 gr UNIQUE with a 150-200 gr cast bullet.

I haven't used BLc(2) but wanted to give it a try because it's a ball powder is it not? My Lee perfect powder measure works great with ball powders and can almost eliminate the trickling up to charge all together.

I have loads for PPU 150 gr SP and FMJ's as well if you're looking at those bullets. They can be bought cheap from Budget Shooter Supply.
 
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Very informative.........do share your other loads ,both target and hunting if you would........Harold
 
Dwag said:
Where do you get your brass and what are you paying?
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I got mine from Budget Reloading out here a few years ago when he had it. It's the Prvi Partizan brass. Don't recall what I paid. I bought it early on after my move to the 'Wack and was knee deep in house renos. So it took three or four years to finally get around to opening up the boxes.
 
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