.303 reloads using 7.62X39 components?

[cantom]

This may appear to be a reloading question but it's highly Milsurp applicable. As we know .303 ammo isn't so easy to come by anymore.
Someone once posted that they just pull the bullets and powder from 7.62 X39 Milsurp ammo and reload it into .303 brass.
Since Canada Ammo's price leads to having ammo in hand for about 20cents a round...

Aren't the bullets 123 grain? How's the diameter of the bullet vs .307-.311 in the average .303? (some much bigger apparently) Would they actually tightly engage the rifling or just rattle down the bore with pressure blasting out around them while flame cutting your barrel?

Would you/could you use the same powder charge, just transfer it to the bigger .303 case?

The thing is, sometimes we need to use a workaround to get around scarcity. It's not a perfect idea but then it's not a perfect world either...if it's safe, doesn't hurt me or my rifle and delivers acceptable performance at a cheap price...it's interesting.

 

[OLD RSM]

7.62x54R is what they talked about.
Cheers

 

[m39a2]

The twist rate of the .303 barrel is way faster than what is required for the little 123 grain bullets, that having been said, I rebarreled an SKS with a P-14 .303 barrel several years ago and I have an SKS that shoots 1.5 min or 4" at 300m!!
I would, however, research my loads a bit better. Thats an awfull lot of airspace left in that case when it's only roughly half full. You might want to actually load it with a different powder.
Bulet wise, it will work fine.
Scott

 

[cantom]

7.62x54R is what they talked about.
Cheers

Okay, thanks, now that you mention it it might well have been. Certainly the case capacity would be a lot closer. Anyone got any info/experience on that?

I think I've read that 7.62 x 54 isn't so easy to come by anymore either is it?

What's the most economical way to reload .303 using hardball is the bottom line?

 

[Calum]

It will work fine, just reduce the powder loads accordingly as the mass is lower in the 125 grain 7.62x39 bullets. If you pull them from surplus czech stuff they will make reasonable priced plinkers for your Enfield.

Or one can just by the FMJ bullets anyway.

I have some 7.62x25 tokarev bullets (85 grain) I pulled out of the snow after target practice last winter that I'm going to use in a few grouse load shots in my P-14.

Okay, thanks, now that you mention it it might well have been. Certainly the case capacity would be a lot closer. Anyone got any info/experience on that?

I think I've read that 7.62 x 54 isn't so easy to come by anymore either is it?

What's the most economical way to reload .303 using hardball is the bottom line?

For target practice in your Enfield just order in some .311 dia 174 grain FMJ bullets and reload away.

 

[CanAm]

I do it all the time with x39. Make a great plinking round. A just use the powder as is. fairly low pressure, but works great.

 

[Beater]

CANAM have you ever run one of those loads over a crony to see what they are doing?

and i would think that doing that with 7.62 x 54R would be poor accuraccy, as the bullet is undersize . .308 ver .311

 

[Calum]

CANAM have you ever run one of those loads over a crony to see what they are doing?

and i would think that doing that with 7.62 x 54R would be poor accuraccy, as the bullet is undersize . .308 ver .311

A heads up...7.62x39 is generally a .311 bullet.

 

[CanAm]

As is X54

No chrony data. I will do at some point.

 

[snowhunter]

Most 303 British, Lee-Enfield's will shoot the plentiful .308 bullets will very little or no problems in the accuracy department.

All what you have to do is to change the .303 expander in the .303 reloading dies, with a .308 expander, in order to have a proper cartridge case/bullet fit.

 

[Beater]

7.62x54R is .311 ?

 

[CanAm]

7.62x54R is .311 ?

Yes, all the Russian rifle 7.62's are basically the same

The X54 mics at .310, the 7.62x25 Norinco mics at .307 at the case mouth.

 

[Spencer]

7.62x54R is what they talked about.
Cheers

I think that was me They work great in my M-44 and I would not hesitate to use them in the No 4. The use of light bullets dictates a faster powder, I use BL-C (2) 56 grns in the mosin, It's a real high velocity flat shooting load with great accuracy. I would start quite a bit lower with .303 loads due to the weaker action of the Lee Enfield.

 

[Pete04]

So you could use 7.62x25 @85gr up to over 200gr bullets and have a more versitile round than the 30-06?
Pete

 

[Spencer]

So you could use 7.62x25 @85gr up to over 200gr bullets and have a more versitile round than the 30-06?
Pete

According to my loading manual the Tokarev round is .309. Try it and report your findings.


I'm going to experiment with the powder I have left when I pull the bullets from the 7.62 X 39 as soon as i have amassed enough. I think it is only the primers that's corrosive.

 

[happydude]

I shoot Sierra 125 .310's in my No.4. I'm in the process of working up a load but 42.5grns of IMR 4895 was getting good groupings.

 

[CanAm]

I think it is only the primers that's corrosive.

That is correct.

 

[Calum]

According to my loading manual the Tokarev round is .309. Try it and report your findings.

I just measured:
7.62x25
7.62x39
7.62x54R
.303

And they all gauged out at .311, mind you I'm new to this gauge.

Speers reloading manual #10 mentions a reduced load recipe for .303 brit using 100 grain plinker bullets.

More on tokarev...
http://members.nuvox.net/~on.melchar/tokarev/

I might use a 80 grain .32ACP bullet recipe which is 8 grains of unique, for my .303.

So you could use 7.62x25 @85gr up to over 200gr bullets and have a more versitile round than the 30-06?
Pete

Yes.

 

[sunray]

"...and powder..." Do NOT use the powder. You have no idea what it is.

 

[CanAm]

"...and powder..." Do NOT use the powder. You have no idea what it is.

You don't need to know. You know the powder weight for a given bullet weight. People use pulldown powders without load data all the time. You work up the load based on known properties. I use military pulldown powders all the time. I certainly wouldn't recommend it to a new reloader, but for someone who knows what they are doing, it is perfectly safe.