7.62x54R surplus dropping 11" at 50yds?

LUTNIT

LUTNIT

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I bought a crate of surplus 7.62x54R (the same stuff SFRC is selling, Russian 147gr corrosive) and upon first firing some I noticed they are hitting the target page below the one I was aiming at. They are dropping 11" at 50yds from PoA. I checked and the sight was at 100m like I normally keep it and tried some of my handloads and they all shot PoA like normal. I started to ramp up the sight and had to set it to 450m for the bullets to hit PoA at 50yds. The recoil feels like it should and the groups are about 2" which is normal for me at 50yds. I thought maybe it was really low velocity from compromised powder but in order to get that much drop when shooting cast bullets I normally have to go down to around 700fps or lower which doesn't seem possible. I didn't have my chrony that day to check the velocity but I can't see it being too low with normal recoil levels.

I've tried ammo from both cans and I bought 20rnds from another can they had open in the store to test that as well. I have shot MFS, S&B, Prvi, and my handloads in this rifle without issue previously.

Any ideas?
 
Everything seems tight on the rifle. I pulled some bullets and will be loading them into some brass cases. I will also have my chrony out on Sunday and chrony everything.
 
It may be a bit of a stretch, but is there the possibility it's a short range gallery round or the heavy ball (really stretching)? What is the bullet diameter compared to your bore diameter? You may have found the only lot with a smaller diameter bullet (again really stretching it).

Keep us posted, this could be interesting.
 
I took the action out of the stock, checked everything I could, and put it back together making sure the action screws where really tight.

Pulled some of the surplus ammo. Forgot to weigh the powder. Bullets measure .311" and 148gr; they're supposed to be .311" and 147gr so that works out.

With everything back together and tightened down, sights to 100m, shooting off a bench at 50yds, I got the following:
Surplus ammo is now shooting 6" low
Pulled surplus bullets in S&B brass over 46gr of IMR4895 are also shooting 6" low (same load I use with 150gr SP's that shoot PoA)
My handloads of Hornady FMJ/BT 174gr .3105" over 51gr of H4831 are shooting 1.5" low (were previously shooting PoA)

I neglected to load any 150gr handloads

I managed to find two people to test the ammo in other rifles. One other Mosin Nagant and one SVT40. Both shot the ammo just as well as their own ammo. Maybe there is just some incompatibility between my rifle and these bullets? I only need to set my sights to 250m instead of 450m as before to hit PoA. Odd that it's shooting my handloads low as well now. The rifle is only used for plinking so I suppose I can just live with it. Still seems really odd to me.
 
Hmmm. Maybe you have an ever so slightly out of spec bore? Are the surplus bullets steel cored? Maybe if the bore is slightly oversized, the steel core rounds aren't deforming enough to seal the bore whereas the Hornady lead core will spread and seal? Could be a situation similar to some 303's only shooting flat based bullets with any accuracy. Also, have the other shooters tried your hand loads? Keep in mind it's late and I'm several glasses of rye in.
 
I don't know if they are steel core but there is lead exposed at the base and they have a magnetic bimetal jacket. The surplus bullets are boat tail but so are the Hornady. I've pretty much just accept that something is off about it but it seems safe so I'll just deal with it for now.

My handloads have not been tried in anyone elses rifles.
 
Karl,

I've had a similar experience with a Mosin carbine. With sights set at 100, the round dropped 6" at 50m and a full 12" at 100. I set the sight to 400 and it held steady and hit POA at 100. I blamed it on surplus ammo/heavy bullet/short barrel combination and moved on.. But interesting to see what you've done.
 
I've had S&B 7.62x54 soft point hunting ammo, used in an old 'finn not even penetrate the inner bark of a var tree before, call me a fool if you want but it happened. And it was at 25yds!!! I was hunting moose with the older brother, and we couldn't figure out why he was always missing, he always hit, and it turned out to be the ammo. Made me think and always go to the range more. The people running the machines who make that ammo are like us I guess, human, and sick of the grind, or the machine ran out of powder at that specific time. Make your guess. But it happens. Good luck.
 
cainesy said:
I've had S&B 7.62x54 soft point hunting ammo, used in an old 'finn not even penetrate the inner bark of a var tree before, call me a fool if you want but it happened. And it was at 25yds!!! I was hunting moose with the older brother, and we couldn't figure out why he was always missing, he always hit, and it turned out to be the ammo. Made me think and always go to the range more. The people running the machines who make that ammo are like us I guess, human, and sick of the grind, or the machine ran out of powder at that specific time. Make your guess. But it happens. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I think the Finnish rifles have a .308 bore. Might be something to do with it.
 
LUTNIT said:
I don't know if they are steel core but there is lead exposed at the base and they have a magnetic bimetal jacket. The surplus bullets are boat tail but so are the Hornady. I've pretty much just accept that something is off about it but it seems safe so I'll just deal with it for now.

My handloads have not been tried in anyone elses rifles.
Click to expand...

russain x54r 147gr is light steel ball the steel core is in a lead envelope and then the jacket this was a measure to save lead the core is made of soft steel something the russains have plenty of
 
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