7.62x54 Russian Dies

[sean69]

Hi;

I have the 7.62x54 Russian full length die set from Lee, the sizing die actually sizes the case mouth to .308 ... my mosin & SVT like a .310/.311 bullet.

Does anyone know which brand sizing die actually sizes the case mouth correctly? [RCBS? Lyman?]

-thanks
-sean

 

[fiddler]

I use a .312 bullet on my Hornady dies, the sizer/decapper measures .310. If its not slightly tight, the bullet falls out. You can order the size you want from Lee.

 

[fred0000]

Get a lee .303 britt decapper and install that in your lee dies. That's what I did.

 

[LUTNIT]

It sizes it down to .308" or it sizes it for .308 bullets (usually .307" or so)?
Does a .308" bullet slide in with your fingers or does it need to be seated in the press to move at all?

I push .311" cast bullets into sized cases designed for .308" bullets all the time. I'm also loading .314" bullets into 303 Brit cases which are sized down to .310" but meant for .311".312" bullets. In both cases I'm expanding the necks by about .004" when seating the bullet and not having any issues. If using flat based bullets that catch the edge you may need to flare the case mouths a bit. A Lee universal case mouth flaring die is $13. This applies to cast bullets or flat based jacketed bullets. Speer deep curl 170gr .30-30 bullets have very sharp edges on their base and I need to flare the case mouths or 1 in 5 will curl the edge when it catches.

 

[Billythreefeathers]

My RCBS set works just fine,, .311

 

[Cdn303]

Direct from the Lee website

This die set includes a .308 expander. The 7.62 x 54 Russian load data has been developed around the .308 diameter. If your rifle has a .311 groove dimension, order the .311 expander here: /EZ-X-EXP-303-B.html

 

[Holleyman]

I use RCBS as well and the expander is .310 as measured. .308 bullets are a loose fit in a casing that has been resized.
I slugged out two of my rifles and my M44 is .311 and the M38 is 312 + a blonde one.
I use .311 Sierra 180 and 150 grain pro hunters. I have also loaded the 174 Match Kings in the past but spending money on Match Kings and lobbing them with an old M44 seems like a waste.

 

[jongun]

Get a lee .303 britt decapper and install that in your lee dies. That's what I did.

Same here,well kind of. I just got the whole 303 die set knowing that eventually I'll be reloading 303.

 

[sean69]

I gave up and just ordered the RCBS set. same cost as the .303 neck die anyway and save me the step of full length sizing with the lee set then resizing the neck ...

 

[gpracer]

I bought the rcbs set many years ago, it came with .308 and .311 decappers..

 

[hk33ka1]

As above you install the Lee $4 303 (.310") decapper rod. I had a spare one in an extra 303 Brit die.

 

[sean69]

As above you install the Lee $4 303 (.310") decapper rod. I had a spare one in an extra 303 Brit die.

I could probably get the same results by using my 7.65 Belgian/Argentine de-capper then? [same as .303]