Making 303 brit from 7.62x54r

[kyle700]

Had an idea today, maybe it's been covered but I can't find it.

I sold my Mosin Nagant and am left with a bunch of 7.62x54r. Thought about pulling the bullets and using the powder and bullets for reloading 303 british. No reason it shouldn't work but does anyone know anything about the powder they used in the 54R? Wondering about burn rates/charge weights! Thanks

 

[DiMP]

Here's a couple threads to get you going. It used to be very common when crates of 54r were cheap and plentiful

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...eap-plentiful-affordable-303-british.2314400/

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/i-had-an-idea.2258674/

 

[kyle700]

Thank you!!

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

If you go that route, the primed casings still have use for people like me who cast bullets for 7.62x54r.

 

[flying pig]

I used to do this a lot. I believe the formula was to weigh the powder from a x54 and reduce it by 10% then load that and the bullet into a 303 case. It was a great load.

 

[kyle700]

If you go that route, the primed casings still have use for people like me who cast bullets for 7.62x54r.

I'll keep you in mind!

 

[antiqueguy]

If I was to do something along these lines I would make sure all the ammo was of the same lot number and I would probably only use surplus to do it as there is known powder in them. Last I checked soviet/russian the powder type is on the can.

 

[M1-Garand]

Had an idea today, maybe it's been covered but I can't find it.

I sold my Mosin Nagant and am left with a bunch of 7.62x54r. Thought about pulling the bullets and using the powder and bullets for reloading 303 british. No reason it shouldn't work but does anyone know anything about the powder they used in the 54R? Wondering about burn rates/charge weights! Thanks

I've done it a lot, the powder seems to have a burn rate similar to h4895, tested with the old Chrony.
The loads I pulled all had 49 to 49.5 grains of powder, it smelled totally different from our powders, but it works great, I reduced the loads to 39 grains and used the same bullets, pretty accurate in my nr1 mk3*.
Very little smoke, velocity similar to WWII ammo that I shot.

 

[kjohn]

If you go that route, the primed casings still have use for people like me who cast bullets for 7.62x54r.

That's what I do.

 

[kyle700]

I've done it a lot, the powder seems to have a burn rate similar to h4895, tested with the old Chrony.
The loads I pulled all had 49 to 49.5 grains of powder, it smelled totally different from our powders, but it works great, I reduced the loads to 39 grains and used the same bullets, pretty accurate in my nr1 mk3*.
Very little smoke, velocity similar to WWII ammo that I shot.

Good to know! Sounds great, thanks!