I have been looking at this idea a bit. When you break down a case of milsurp to its components it is a lot of powder and bullets for cheap . I have loaded up some .303with Czech x39 powder and bullets , and some with a slightly bumped up charge of Czech x39 powder and bullet and some Chinese x54r bullets over some r19 ( there was a spill incident with the x54r powder ) unfortunately haven't got out to try these loads yet . The one other option I want to try is a x39bullet over a x54r powder charge . Buy my calculations I will still need to drop the powder charge 2 grains ( any of the ballistic experts want to correct my calculation please feel free) This reuse of surplus ammo has to be the cheapest way to feed a 303 short of cast bullets and with the varying groove diameters of 303's a bit easier
Dumping MN components in .303Br safe?
- Thread starter h.letourneau
- Start date
^? I thought the projectiles were the same in the 7.62x39 and the 7.62x54...is there a difference in weight (projectile grains)?
- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
Are the x54 flat based or boat tails? I'm really thinking of doing this. I haven't shot my .303 rifles much in a year and am saving all of my .311 180gr Sierra projectiles and 4895 for my repro 4T. Rest of the rifles are getting neglected.
You don't use the powder because you have absolutely no idea what powder is in there. Looking at it only tells you the colour and the shape of the grains.
You really should just sell the ammo. Pulling the bullets will be time consuming and your .303 Brit rifle may not have a .311" barrel. Lee-Enfields are like that.
An 8 pound keg of H335, a .303 Brit powder, runs $240 at Budget Shooter's Supply. snicker.
You really should just sell the ammo. Pulling the bullets will be time consuming and your .303 Brit rifle may not have a .311" barrel. Lee-Enfields are like that.
An 8 pound keg of H335, a .303 Brit powder, runs $240 at Budget Shooter's Supply. snicker.
Yeah, but we're talking MN, apples and oranges. Getting into that shady area of powder burn rate comparisons can be tricky. Quarter grain in a pistol is a lot, not so much in a rifle.
Grizz
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The OP was discussing its use in 7.62TT, a pistol cartridge. You asked if it wasn't usually used in pistol cartridges; yes, that's the example he used. No one was suggesting it for use in x54R or comparing burn rates. The point he was driving at is that given what he pointed out about 7.62TT loads, it is very reasonable to infer that the powder the Russians use in it is the same as Bullseye.
The x39 (123 grain {thanks D-Bomb}) is a boat tail...the x54...I don't know.
I pulled the projectile on an Russian manufatured 7.62x54 round, and the projectile has a boat tail. Nowhere near as prolific as the BT on the FNB .303 round so they might shoot ok with the five groove enfield rifling.
I'm going to try some in my Ross Mk2.
I agree I also like to have chronograhed the surplus ammo to see the performance I am getting with it. This plus weighing the powder charge gives me a base line to what the burn rate is of the surplus powder , I also consider that a steel core bullet is longer than a lead core bullet thus having a greater bearing surface and reducing case capacity . Ganderite's dropping 6 grains is a whole bunch simpler
I totally agree with IDing based on looks is not the best idea. I've yet to try 54r surplus powder in 303's yet.
Based on my experience with both cartridges I would still lower the charge by 10%.
- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
So take the weight of a load of 4895 say for each cartridge, compare the difference in weight as a percentage, compare that to the weight of the surplus charge as taken as average from several cartridges, then figure out the proper weight if that based on the earlier 4895 comparison then further reduce that by 10% as a starting point? Is that what you mean Steve? I'm going to try this as I can't wait anymore and I'm getting bored of shooting only my SVT. So the plonked rifles will get this load for now.
The only sure way to deactivate them is to fire them off. Primers are made to be rugged - they have to be.
That "a squirt of WD-40 will deactivate them" is a myth. Soaking the entire cartridge in oil results in messy oily cartridges. When cleaned of the oil, even after several days soaking in it, the primers can still be live. Same applies to water. I've tried it, and you can too.
Yet there are still people who think that a tiny bit of normal skin oil from a finger will kill a primer.
Sorry guys, I don't have any x54 or scales around so I'm relying on your help. Taking Ganderites advise by reducing the 7.62x54mm cartridge by 6 grains in order to make a load for the .303 British, and understanding that some here are recommending taking the load from a 7.62x39mm cartridge to shoot light .303 British loads, I wondering if anyone can calculate how many grains a full house x39 holds vs. a full house load of x54 minus 6 grains?
You should have the tools to do it right when playing with this stuff. I use a Lee scoop for most of my pull down loads, but checked the weights first.
a x39 rd holds approx 23 grains, approx half the x54, but different powder, of course.
a x39 rd holds approx 23 grains, approx half the x54, but different powder, of course.
