Lighter .308/7.62 loads?

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Beadwindow

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Hello All!

I'll be getting an 1916 Spanish Short Rifle in 7.62 in the next couple of days, and already have both an FR8 and Israeli Mauser 98k in the same chambering.

I've got some 150gr Win PP bullets and a couple of powders, namely IMR 3031 (which has served me particularly well with cast bullets in 8mm Mauser and 8x56R, and looks the most promising for my .303 cast loads). I also have some H414 that I use for a couple of calibres, some H4198 and a few others.

Could someone here provide some reduced loads for milsurps that have been rechambered to 7.62 NATO, perhaps at the most a tad more potent than 30/30 Win. Loads that shoot from about 2300-2500fps with relatively low pressures are what I'd like to make so as not to put too much strain on these rifles or use up too much powder. I'd be shooting them up to 200 yards max and might consider taking one of them deer hunting in the fall, though I have several other rifles that I'd probably take out beforehand.

I recall seeing in an older Lyman manual a fairly low pressure load of about 39grs of IMR 3031 pushing 150 gr bullets at around 2300-2400 fps, which would probably serve me fine. Can anyone here confirm that load, either out of a manual or from their own experiences?

Cheers,

Frank
 
Thanks Mysticplayer!

I actually have the Lee Manual, whose instructions on bullet casting have been most valuable.

My original post was a bit unclear. While I use cast bullets and IMR 3031 for a number of different calibres, I haven't any moulds or sizing dies for .30 cal yet and am interested in producing some slightly reduced/lower pressure loads for jacketed 150gr bullets. Even the starting loads in the Lee manual seem closer to .308 pressures than 7.62NATO, and I wanted to be a little bit more conservative, especially for the 1916 Spanish Mauser, which is a pre 98 action. Besides, the short rifle and FR8 would probably kick a bit too wildly with full loads to be much fun to shoot.

IIRC, the jacketed 150 gr load that I saw in an old Lyman manual several months ago began at just under 40 000 psi, which would be perfect for my requirements.
 
Thanks for the advice! I have used the Hodgdon site before, but by comparing the .300 Savage and .308 loadings in IMR 3031 and 150gr bullets, it seems as though the 39gr load that I saw elsewhere would give the performance and pressures that I was looking for. It might even be just the ticket for my Norinco M14s.

Cheers,

Frank

10x said:
http://www.hodgdon.com/ just may help you...

Not to mention the case capacity of the 300 Savage is almost identical to the 7.62x51. You should be able to use the lower pressure 300 Savage data with no issues.
Click to expand...
 
i use 300 savage data in an FR-7. i use 4064, i cannot remember the charge offhand. but with 170 grain bullets (meant for 30WCF), i am around 2300 fps.
 
I shoot 44 grains of H4350 under a 150 gr Hornady FMJ-BT.

This load should be a little under 40,000 psi. I try to keep pressures at 7X57 Mauser levels which is what this action was originally chambered for.

Craig
 
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