Myosin. 7.62 x 54R. Bullets

I have just started with this bullet from the bullet barn: 303 British FP GC DLG.
180 gr cast and so far have good results with reduced load.
 
This is my first time reloading for cast bullets so these loads are in no way proven.
I got a lot of info from the "castboolits.gunloads.com/" site. Also the Lee Modern Reloading has a section on cast bullets.
After reading a lot on-line and using Lee's data and formula I ended up with 25 to 30 grains of H4895 as being safe.
I have only loaded and fired 40 rounds so far. Twenty at 26 gr and twenty at 27 gr. Both were satisfactory. 5 shot group of 5.5 inch at 100 yards with
the 27 gr. This required setting the mosin sight at 400yds. As always this may not be suitable or safe in your rifle. My mosin slugs at .312.
 
Reloading this cartridge is very easy. Any 150 grain 308 bullet will be accurate. People think they need 310 or 312 diameter bullets for Mosin to be accurate. Not really need that ,7.62 is .300 so 308 bullets that are quite affordable will expand and fill the grooves of rifling. It is ok to use up to 180 grain, but for plinking, fmj in 150 grain will do the job.
 
gewehr76 said:
Reloading this cartridge is very easy. Any 150 grain 308 bullet will be accurate. People think they need 310 or 312 diameter bullets for Mosin to be accurate. Not really need that ,7.62 is .300 so 308 bullets that are quite affordable will expand and fill the grooves of rifling. It is ok to use up to 180 grain, but for plinking, fmj in 150 grain will do the job.
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Really depends on your bore size and condition. If you had a very worn out barrel that was maybe .313" or .314" then a .308" bullet wont do much and may tumble.
7.62mm being equal to .300" doesn't mean anything as it's only a nominal designation and military bores have such a large variance. It also doesn't tell you a thing about the groove diameter or barrel condition.

For the base of any bullet to expand it also has to be a flat base. A boat tail design wont help at all.
You are right that most Mosins can shoot .308" bullets quite well but it isn't a guarantee.

@powdergun
If you can't find .310" or .311" bullets, which is quite likely with the current shortages due to so many manufacturers suspending production to try to meet demand for other bullets, you can try a .308" flat base bullet of the same weight as the load data you have. If it works, great, if it doesn't, you need a larger bullet. Cast is an option and the Bullet Barn as a couple different .313" hard cast bullets that should work. Do keep in mind that cast bullet data is different from jacketed as there are different considerations like much lower max velocities and different ideal burn rates for powder. I recommend picking up the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook as it has a lot of great information and a couple pages of load data for cast bullets of different weight for the 7.62x54R.
 
I agree with what you saying, each rifle is different, bore may be worn or something. However my point is that 308 diameter bullets are easier to come by than 312. And the 308 bullets will work in this cartridge that OP is looking to reload for plinking. Before he goes out of his way and looks for weird diameter bullets, in my opinion he should start with 308 diameter 150 grains flat or boat tail its his choise and what is available for him.
Anyway OP asked for data and bullets size. here is my load
Hornady 150 gr SP
Varget 45 gr
Win primers
COL 2.875

LUTNIT said:
Really depends on your bore size and condition. If you had a very worn out barrel that was maybe .313" or .314" then a .308" bullet wont do much and may tumble.
7.62mm being equal to .300" doesn't mean anything as it's only a nominal designation and military bores have such a large variance. It also doesn't tell you a thing about the groove diameter or barrel condition.

For the base of any bullet to expand it also has to be a flat base. A boat tail design wont help at all.
You are right that most Mosins can shoot .308" bullets quite well but it isn't a guarantee.
(QUOTE]
Click to expand...
 
I have loaded several .308 diameter bullets in different weights for several different Mosin rifles over the years,including one sniper,and they have performed OK.Now,none of my rifles have worn out,nasty,pitted or otherwise pooched barrels but for the AVERAGE shooter such as myself,most people will do just fine with .308 diameter bullets,in my opinion.If you are looking for MOA degree accuracy out of your Mosin you may want to use other bullet diameters.My personal favourite is the Hornady 150gr FMJ boat tail for general purpose shooting,relatively inexpensive and not too hard to find.
 
Thanks for all the information. We were out today to give the gun a run with a box of privy bullets. With open sights it shot reasonably well. My son (who has way better eyes that me manage to bang the 200 and 400 yard gongs a few times ) Like a bonehead I did not measure the bullets before I ran out. Does anyone know if privy loads with .308 or other caliber bullet ?
 
If you're going to load for a Mosin you need to slug the bore. Mosin rifles can have vast differences in diameter right from factory. I'm not sure why the tolerances vary so much but suspect it was from hasty production possibly during wartime. A larger Mosin bore does not mean its warn out, it means that it is made larger.

Having that said, using American .308 diameter bullets may be ok in some Mosin rifles, but are very poor in many. Commercial loads such as PRVI and S&B use a .310 diameter bullet if I recall correctly. My best success has always been with a .312 diameter bullet for loading Mosin rounds, and being thorough to this, I have Never had better success with a smaller .308 bullet over the larger one.

And even further to this , American made bullets loaded for .308 rifles, are usually a .305 or .306 diameter bullet, and thus why we have such poor success loading American specs to Russian rifles.
 
Was just about to suggest Mystic but I see Jerry beat me to the punch. I've shot those prvi 150gr FMJBTs before and have more on the way right now. And like everybody said, .308 bullets work ok, but with .308s and S&B .309s I usually get about 2.5-3 MOA at <300 whereas with the .311s and Hornady .312 SSTs I was getting 1-1.5 MOA with a .3105 bore. If you're just screwing around, flat base .308s will do just fine, but if your looking for a little bit better accuracy you will need to slug your bore and fit a projectile to it.
 
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