I'm loading 7.62x54R for my Mosin & SVT. I've being having issues with two different powders not igniting and turning my powder in the cartridge into a grey/yellow chunky blob. The powders are Winchester 748 and Hodgdon H335.
For my issue, the primer fires but the powder does not ignite. The projectile lodges in the barrel about 2-4" from the chamber and I use a dowel or my cleaning rod to tap the projectile out. The crud of the powder spills out and I have to clean the barrel/chamber to try another round. I have since pulled all of the cartridges with these powders and projectiles.
Cases: tried both once-fired and brand new PPU boxer primed brass. Trimmed to length, full length sized, primer pockets reamed and cleaned.
Primer: tried both Federal Large Rifle and CCI Large Rifle
Projectile: using 123gr FMJ, 0.311 dia (I bought 500 rounds of pulled steel core 123gr FMJ projectiles)
From 9th Edition of Hornady, the load with Win 748 is 41.6gr (min) to 51.3gr (max). I have had 6 of 9 of my 42gr W748 loaded rounds fail to fire (4 were Federal primer, 2 were CCI primer).
From Hodgdon's website (or the 2018 Annual Manual) for the 125gr projectile the load with H335 is 50.0gr (min) to 53.0gr (max). I have had 2 of 5 of my 50.0 gr H335 loaded rounds fail to fire.
Observations:
(i) neither of these two powders are listed in my Lyman 48th Edition (for the 125 gr jacketed).
(ii) from my 2nd Edition Lee manual the W748 is not listed, but the same values for H335 are listed (it is my understanding that Lee uses data from the manufacturers).
(iii) so far, none of my BLC(2) loads in 7.62x54R have failed to fire but I have not shot more than 15 rounds (56gr and 58gr of BLC(2) as per Hodgden/Lee)
(iv) From 48th Lyman for 303 British I have used 41.0gr Win 748 with this same projectile and primer without issues (maybe 20 rounds).
(v) From my 2018 Hodgdon Manual for 303 British I've used 42 gr H335 with same projectiles and primers without issue (maybe 20 rounds).
From my burn rate chart I note that BLC(2) and W748 are very close (#105 & #106), while H335 is #83 on the fastest (1) to slowest (150).
Question: is there anything about these powders that would make them unsuitable for 7.62x54R with this projectile? What would be a "good" powder? I have not tried Varget but I see it is listed in Hornady, Hodgdon, and Lyman.
With ~500 projectiles to share between my 303 British and 7.62x54R I'd prefer a single powder that will work reliably.
Thanks
For my issue, the primer fires but the powder does not ignite. The projectile lodges in the barrel about 2-4" from the chamber and I use a dowel or my cleaning rod to tap the projectile out. The crud of the powder spills out and I have to clean the barrel/chamber to try another round. I have since pulled all of the cartridges with these powders and projectiles.
Cases: tried both once-fired and brand new PPU boxer primed brass. Trimmed to length, full length sized, primer pockets reamed and cleaned.
Primer: tried both Federal Large Rifle and CCI Large Rifle
Projectile: using 123gr FMJ, 0.311 dia (I bought 500 rounds of pulled steel core 123gr FMJ projectiles)
From 9th Edition of Hornady, the load with Win 748 is 41.6gr (min) to 51.3gr (max). I have had 6 of 9 of my 42gr W748 loaded rounds fail to fire (4 were Federal primer, 2 were CCI primer).
From Hodgdon's website (or the 2018 Annual Manual) for the 125gr projectile the load with H335 is 50.0gr (min) to 53.0gr (max). I have had 2 of 5 of my 50.0 gr H335 loaded rounds fail to fire.
Observations:
(i) neither of these two powders are listed in my Lyman 48th Edition (for the 125 gr jacketed).
(ii) from my 2nd Edition Lee manual the W748 is not listed, but the same values for H335 are listed (it is my understanding that Lee uses data from the manufacturers).
(iii) so far, none of my BLC(2) loads in 7.62x54R have failed to fire but I have not shot more than 15 rounds (56gr and 58gr of BLC(2) as per Hodgden/Lee)
(iv) From 48th Lyman for 303 British I have used 41.0gr Win 748 with this same projectile and primer without issues (maybe 20 rounds).
(v) From my 2018 Hodgdon Manual for 303 British I've used 42 gr H335 with same projectiles and primers without issue (maybe 20 rounds).
From my burn rate chart I note that BLC(2) and W748 are very close (#105 & #106), while H335 is #83 on the fastest (1) to slowest (150).
Question: is there anything about these powders that would make them unsuitable for 7.62x54R with this projectile? What would be a "good" powder? I have not tried Varget but I see it is listed in Hornady, Hodgdon, and Lyman.
With ~500 projectiles to share between my 303 British and 7.62x54R I'd prefer a single powder that will work reliably.
Thanks
