7.62x54... do you use 308 or 311 bullets?
- Thread starter eltorro
- Start date
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
Or pick up a box of sierra bullets in 311 , could see if a .308 slides inside the bore, if so your good to go on the 311's.
D
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Guest
Ah yes, the lee dies. The long and short of it is, if your barrel is not a Finnish build/rebuild, you will need to call Lee and order a new expander for the inside of your resizing die. The Lee supplied is designed for a 308 diameter projectile. Cost for 2 new expanders was under $10 including shipping IIRC. Get two as I hear they break occasionally.
As a side note, for brass ($$$$), get either 7.62x54r (designed for Russian Mosin Nagants) or 7.62x53r. The latter is designed for Finnish Nagants but the dimentions of the case are the same with the exception of the mouth. Running the .311 expander will open the mouth up enough for use of .311.
I got my brass from ### here on CGN.
As a side note, for brass ($$$$), get either 7.62x54r (designed for Russian Mosin Nagants) or 7.62x53r. The latter is designed for Finnish Nagants but the dimentions of the case are the same with the exception of the mouth. Running the .311 expander will open the mouth up enough for use of .311.
I got my brass from ### here on CGN.
The expander is a very good point canadiankestrel. Before I started reloading russian 3 line, I saw lots of posts about slugging barrels. Well, that is all fine and good, but with my RBCS dies, a .308 tip will fall out. The expander for the RBCS dies appears to be ~.310, so .308 bullets would not work. Never tried .310 tips on a .308 expanded case though.
As for brass, Norma is 53r. Igman can be trimmed to either. I am not so sure that the chamber on most mosins is tight enough to know the difference between 53r or 54r. Mine don't seam to care anyway. I mostly shoot m39, m27, and a 28/30, but Also shoot the loads in a PU and an 1892 m91.
Now off for one last hunt until the 30th. With an m39.
As for brass, Norma is 53r. Igman can be trimmed to either. I am not so sure that the chamber on most mosins is tight enough to know the difference between 53r or 54r. Mine don't seam to care anyway. I mostly shoot m39, m27, and a 28/30, but Also shoot the loads in a PU and an 1892 m91.
Now off for one last hunt until the 30th. With an m39.
I use a Lee 7.62 X 54 die. I've used it with .308 bullets in my .311 bore m/n and they work fine. I also use the same dies with Lapua .311 bullets, using the expander that came with it. The .311 bullets go in tight but they don't damage the cases and I'm not getting any split necks yet. I do put a good chamfer on the inside of the neck to help the .311 bullets start in the neck. I did notice that when I tried to pull a bullet using an inertial puller that they didn't come out easily!
thank you for the advice, gentlemen.
A Finn would be next, but for now... I'll try the 308 slugging technique. Slugging the bore with lead and so on is out of my competence.
good tip on ordering the expanders. Was wondering if I could get by with the 308 one.... maybe wiggle it a bit ?
Now a source for brass is another task itself. Found some US suppliers , but for starters, I'd try something less $ then the Norma-Lapua version.
Any sources? AN please keep on coming any other advices for a new 7.62x54 user.... Thank you.
A Finn would be next, but for now... I'll try the 308 slugging technique. Slugging the bore with lead and so on is out of my competence.
good tip on ordering the expanders. Was wondering if I could get by with the 308 one.... maybe wiggle it a bit ?
Now a source for brass is another task itself. Found some US suppliers , but for starters, I'd try something less $ then the Norma-Lapua version.
Any sources? AN please keep on coming any other advices for a new 7.62x54 user.... Thank you.
Big JD-From the hills
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan.
My finish m91 works well with hornady 312" 150grain soft points. Infront of 50 grains of varget its a real deer killer. I use lapua and norma brass hirschprecision.com/brass.htm. the norma was from factory ammo that I picked up for a reasonable price(under $20 a box)
If I remember corectly my finish bore slugged aprox .312, same with my polish m44.
If I remember corectly my finish bore slugged aprox .312, same with my polish m44.
I can't slug the bbl... no tools, but I tried to put a 308 SGK (165gr) down a bit. I placed the bullet at the crown, thinking it's going to clide down.... no move. Pressed down more - nothing. Used full force - nothing.
Does this mean I have a 308 bbl?
the Newb
Does this mean I have a 308 bbl?
the Newb
Big JD-From the hills
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan.
I would say all you can do if your not going to slug the bore is start with .308 bullets, and if they don't shoot try .310",.311", .312" bullets, watch for high preasure.
I got a sinker from my tacklebox and sanded the sides- a little so it would fit... An I slugged the bore. I measured the diameter of the slug. .313.
Is it safe to say that I'll have to use 311 bullets?
I got a bunch of 308, but not sure if it's worth the try. Plus I have to order the expander for 311 from Lee
Is it safe to say that I'll have to use 311 bullets?
I got a bunch of 308, but not sure if it's worth the try. Plus I have to order the expander for 311 from Lee
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
Finns
Finnish Mosins (I mean Mosins with Tikka or VKT barrels) can have .309",.3095" or .310" bores. An M-39 usually has a .310" bore whereas one of my 1941 Tikka-barreled M-91 mikes out at .3095"... well, all my Mosins seem to like the 174gr. .3105" Hornady FMJ-BT bullet #3131, go figure!
I once stumbled on a box of oversized (perhaps rejects) 170gr. jacketed flatnose bullets made for 30-30. They measured exactly .3095" and they shot great in one of my tightest M-91s, a Tikka-barreled Chatellerault action. Just for fun and education purposes, I also tried some .308" J-Bullets in it and they were very accurate too; I guess they upset just enough to obturate, these bullets having a "softer" boattail end. If I remember well, I think I used H-335, which created just enough "bumping" action to start them in the leade.
Anyway, slugging a barrel always gives one some measure of reassurance when reloading.
PP.
Finnish Mosins (I mean Mosins with Tikka or VKT barrels) can have .309",.3095" or .310" bores. An M-39 usually has a .310" bore whereas one of my 1941 Tikka-barreled M-91 mikes out at .3095"... well, all my Mosins seem to like the 174gr. .3105" Hornady FMJ-BT bullet #3131, go figure!
I once stumbled on a box of oversized (perhaps rejects) 170gr. jacketed flatnose bullets made for 30-30. They measured exactly .3095" and they shot great in one of my tightest M-91s, a Tikka-barreled Chatellerault action. Just for fun and education purposes, I also tried some .308" J-Bullets in it and they were very accurate too; I guess they upset just enough to obturate, these bullets having a "softer" boattail end. If I remember well, I think I used H-335, which created just enough "bumping" action to start them in the leade.
Anyway, slugging a barrel always gives one some measure of reassurance when reloading.
PP.
Thank you!
I appreciate all this information as I am not such a great reloader.
The .311 go in just fine in the factory sized brass. I chamfered them and that's all. Priming them with an RCBS priming tool and a Lee shellholder asked for more inventivity that I was capable of. Those Lee shellholders are soo sloppy...
How far off the lands is it recommended to start with? I got a 2.989 OAL .
I appreciate all this information as I am not such a great reloader.
The .311 go in just fine in the factory sized brass. I chamfered them and that's all. Priming them with an RCBS priming tool and a Lee shellholder asked for more inventivity that I was capable of. Those Lee shellholders are soo sloppy...
How far off the lands is it recommended to start with? I got a 2.989 OAL .
