7.62 Nagant - Reloading with a Lee Loader, Two Part Post
This is part one of a two part post. These are the preparatory steps needed to modify a Classic Lee Loader made for .30 MI Carbine for use in making 7.62 Nagant revolver cartridges.
For those of you who are considering reloading for your M1895 Nagant revolver chambered in 7.62 Nagant (7.62x38R), here is an option you might want to consider. A little long winded, but I thought it might be of interest to some, since the M1985 Nagant revolvers are so common.
Instead of buying an expensive set of dies, with a little tweaking, you can use the Classic Lee Loader made for .30 MI Carbine. The steps here do not involve any permanent changes to the Lee Loader, so you can still use it for its original purpose.
I have done this successfully using once fired, boxer primed, Fiocchi 7.62 Nagant brass and it has also been tested by another individual. Boxer primed Hotshot brass also works.
IMPORTANT - The reloading data and dipper that come with the .30 M1 Carbine Lee Loader are NOT for the 7.62 Nagant cartridge and you must not use either. Gather appropriate load data for the 7.62 Nagant cartridge from a reloading manual and use that data. Once you have the appropriate data, get a new dipper from Lee in the appropriate size. I use a .3 cc dipper with the appropriate powder instead of the original dipper.
Before you decide to purchase a Classic Lee Loader in .30 MI Carbine, you might want to review the instructions available as a PDF file at the Lee Precision web site. See the link called Rifle Lee Loader here:
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata...uct/index.html
Unfortunately, the site does not have instructions for the Pistol Lee Loader, which are slightly different, but you will get the idea.
First, you need to make a new seater.
Here's how I did it:
1) Size an empty 7.62x38 (7.62 Nagant) case, per Lee Loader instructions. Using lube makes the job much easier.
2) Place the die body with the case on the decapping chamber. Remove the empty case from the die body using the priming rod to tap the case free from the die body into the decapping chamber.
3) Get a two inch long 5/16 bolt with 24 threads per inch. The bolt should have one inch of threads and one inch clear shaft at the bolt head. Cut the shaft of the bolt off as close to the head as possible, as square as possible.
4) Ensure that the cut portion of the shaft is flat. Taper or step the cut (non-threaded) portion of the shaft for about 3mm - 4mm. The diameter of this portion will be about .295".
5) Verify that the tapered or stepped portion of the shaft will fit into the sized case from step 1 above.
Next, you need to make case supports to fit into the decapping chamber. These are necessary because of the difference in the overall length of the .30 M1 Carbine cartridge compared to the 7.62 Nagant cartridge.
You can use nuts or washers. If using nuts, round the angles off just enough to fit into the decapping chamber.
Drill out the center hole in nuts / washers to about 7/32" (.218"). The hole must be larger in diameter than a primer, to avoid accidentally setting of a primer during the seating step. Having a mix of both nuts and washer provides for some flexibility, depending on the case length.
You will use these parts to load the 7.62 Nagant revlver cartridges per the steps in the second post below.
This is part two of a two part post describing how to use a modified Classic Lee Loader made for .30 MI Carbine to make 7.62 Nagant revolver cartridges.
It is important to make the parts needed as described in the first post, above.
Once the parts described in the first post have been made, the rest of the process is almost identical to steps in the Classic Lee Loader instructions. Here are the steps, with details about the changes in the process.
As noted in the previous post, I used once fired, boxer primed, Fiocchi 7.62 Nagant brass and once fired, boxer primed, Hotshot brass.
1) Replace the existing bullet seater with the new seater, including the original lock nut.
2) Prepare the cases. This can be done in advance. Clean the cases. Deprime, per Lee Loader instructions. Chamfer case mouths - makes seating bullet easier. Bevel primer pockets - makes seating primers easier. You may want to consider trimming case length by a millimeter or two.
3) Size the case, per Lee Loader instructions. Use of lube makes it easier. Leave case in die body.
4) Prime the case, per Lee Loader instructions. It will be a little wobbly, but it works. Beveled primer pockets help guide the primers.
5) Put the case supports described in the previous post in the decapping chamber. This is necessary because of the difference in the overall length of the .30 M1 Carbine cartridge compared to the 7.62 Nagant cartridge. You will have to determine proper number to use based on cases used.
6) Place the die body with case onto the decapping chamber.
7) Use the priming rod to tap the case free from the die body. The case will drop onto the case supports in Decapping Chamber. Leave the case and die body in this position. The case should stay in the die body, slightly held in by friction.
There should be a proper fit between the die body and the decapping chamber, with the bottom of the case just touching the case support(s) that were added to the decapping chamber
8) Add powder, per Lee Loader instructions. IMPORTANT - The reloading data and dipper that come with the .30 M1 Carbine Lee Loader are NOT for the 7.62 Nagant cartridge and you must not use either. Gather appropriate load data for the 7.62 Nagant cartridge from a reloading manual and use that data. Once you have the appropriate data, get a new dipper from Lee in the appropriate size. I use a .3 cc dipper with the appropriate powder instead of the original dipper.
9) Drop in bullet, per Lee Loader instructions.
10) Adjust new seater, per Lee Loader instructions.
11) Seat bullet with new seater, per Lee Loader instructions. This should also free the loaded cartridge from the die body.
12) This is probably not necessary, but if desired, slightly crimp the loaded cartridge, per Lee Loader instructions. Don't overdo it or the case may bulge or stick in the die body!
13) Clean off any lube, if used.
, and doubly so when it means measuring the powder and fiddling with the cases for antique loadings...
... 
, when I came across this I just felt it'd be interesting to share with the rest of you ! 
