Noob reloading questions
- Thread starter Jericho
- Start date
they're all about .311 diameter- try typing in your search engine and that'll give your bullet diameter and a whole lot of reloading data- try 7.62x39, 7.62 russian, and 303 british- use the spaces- as for your powder, the 7.62x39 is the odd man out- i don't have a listing for a common powder but there's a plethora of powder choices for the other 3- 303 brit, 7.62x54, and 30-30-
frankly if the manual you're using doesn't provide a simple thing like BULLET diameter and a choice of powders, it's time to TRASH YOUR MANUAL- IT'S JUNK
frankly if the manual you're using doesn't provide a simple thing like BULLET diameter and a choice of powders, it's time to TRASH YOUR MANUAL- IT'S JUNK
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It's the new Lyman one. It shows powder choices, but I just figured it'd be great if there was an all around great powder for those calibers. so, as long as I can get .30 cal bullets with the same diameter, I can go by bullet weight for the powder charges and I'll be fine eh?
What about casting? Another story I know...
What about casting? Another story I know...
No - its not that simple. Better bone up some more before you hurt yourself, or hook up with someone that knows the ropes. Forget about casting for the time being, learn the basics first, you've got a long way to go...
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- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Shooting cast bullets is great for a number of reasons including cost and for making reduced loads for small game. I won't get back into casting as long as there are makers like MT Chambers producing very good bullets at reasonable prices. Coming by the metals to make a useful alloy up here is cost prohibitive.
The 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R use a .310" bullet but .311 will work, .308 bullets not so well in some barrels. The .303 uses .312" bullets and you can see them in Hornady's line up for the .303 and 7.7 Jap.
You could get by with 4895 in all 3 cartridges, but the 7.62X54R would do better with 4350 and lots of folks like 3031 in the .303.
The 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R use a .310" bullet but .311 will work, .308 bullets not so well in some barrels. The .303 uses .312" bullets and you can see them in Hornady's line up for the .303 and 7.7 Jap.
You could get by with 4895 in all 3 cartridges, but the 7.62X54R would do better with 4350 and lots of folks like 3031 in the .303.
if you read it PROPERLY there should have been no reason to ask your inital question- being lyman, i know it well and KNOW THE INFORMATION IS RIGHT THERE- THAT'S A GOOD MANUAL-i use ww748 for almost everything except the very big magnums, but i've never seen a load for the 7.62x39 with it- and while 30 ( 308) will work, they're typically 2 thou UNDER bore and you need 311-312 diameter bullets
but evert rifle is different and what lyman says may not be true necessarily- IT'S WHAT THEY FOUND DURING TESTING WITH THEIR PRESSURE BARRRELS- your actual results may vary- i've got 4 m14s and each one of them while liking the 748, takes a slightly different powder charge - recommendations mean nothing in the real world- if you're looking for "shortcuts" to a good load , you won't find any- it takes time to work up to a good load, and if you vary one component, you have to work all over again-
but evert rifle is different and what lyman says may not be true necessarily- IT'S WHAT THEY FOUND DURING TESTING WITH THEIR PRESSURE BARRRELS- your actual results may vary- i've got 4 m14s and each one of them while liking the 748, takes a slightly different powder charge - recommendations mean nothing in the real world- if you're looking for "shortcuts" to a good load , you won't find any- it takes time to work up to a good load, and if you vary one component, you have to work all over again-
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The 7.62 x 39 uses a 123 or 125 grain .311" bullet. Hodgdon suggests IMR4198 or IMR4227 with a 125 grain jacketed bullet.
The 7.62 x 54 also uses a .311" bullet and can use the same bullet weight, but it will prefer a heavier bullet, say 150 or 175ish. IMR4350 with a 180 grain jacketed bullet should do nicely.
The .303 used a 174 grain bullet(after 1909) also of .311" diameter, however, Lee-Enfield barrels can measure from .311" to .315" and still be considered ok. If it measures larger than .315", it's shot out. Slug your barrel first(hammer a cast .30 cal bullet through the barrel using a brass rod and plastic mallet and measure the bullet), then use a bullet diameter that's as close as you can get. IMR4320 with a 180 grain jacketed bullet. IMR4064 will do for both though. Using a 150 grain bullet with either powder will give you less felt recoil.
Before you think about casting, find a well ventilated room to set up in first. Casting in a poorly ventilated room can cause lead poisoning. Lyman puts out a how-to book with data(I think).
.303british.com has lots of loading info and data. Add the W's.
The 7.62 x 54 also uses a .311" bullet and can use the same bullet weight, but it will prefer a heavier bullet, say 150 or 175ish. IMR4350 with a 180 grain jacketed bullet should do nicely.
The .303 used a 174 grain bullet(after 1909) also of .311" diameter, however, Lee-Enfield barrels can measure from .311" to .315" and still be considered ok. If it measures larger than .315", it's shot out. Slug your barrel first(hammer a cast .30 cal bullet through the barrel using a brass rod and plastic mallet and measure the bullet), then use a bullet diameter that's as close as you can get. IMR4320 with a 180 grain jacketed bullet. IMR4064 will do for both though. Using a 150 grain bullet with either powder will give you less felt recoil.
Before you think about casting, find a well ventilated room to set up in first. Casting in a poorly ventilated room can cause lead poisoning. Lyman puts out a how-to book with data(I think).
.303british.com has lots of loading info and data. Add the W's.
They take dif. sized bullets that's for sure, cast bullets usually will give as good accuracy but it will take more experimenting and trying diff. loads, in these cals. your most accurate cast bullet loads will be at less vel. than jacketed factory loads. The 30/30 is a diff. story as cast bullets will let you equal or exceed factory ballistics/accuracy. For cast bullet loads in all those cals...I start out with IMR 4759 powder. M.T. Chambers can send a sampler of diff. cast bullets to try in your various rifles.
For cast bullets IMR 4759 and H 2400 work very well.
The 7.62x 39 uses a 123 gr jackets bullet of about .311 (unless your rifle is a Ruger, it uses 308). The 303 and 7.62x54 can use the same jacketed bullet of 150 to 180 grains.
A 30-30 needs a 308 bullet with a flat tip so it won't fire in the tublular magazine.
A medium powder like BLC(2) or H335, Varget, 4895 or RL15 works well with jacketed bullets in all except the x39. It needs a faster powder. I use 4198 and Re7. The ball powders H335 and BLc(2) can get enough powder in the x 39 and are the correct speed for the bigger cases. If you need a "universal" powder one of these two are about the only choice. Win 748 would work, but velocity in the x 39 woulkd not be quite up to full speed.
I shoot cast bulets in 30-30 and 303 all the time. A gas check bullet is a good idea. i get the best results with the heavier bullets and use both 4759 and H2400.
The 7.62x 39 uses a 123 gr jackets bullet of about .311 (unless your rifle is a Ruger, it uses 308). The 303 and 7.62x54 can use the same jacketed bullet of 150 to 180 grains.
A 30-30 needs a 308 bullet with a flat tip so it won't fire in the tublular magazine.
A medium powder like BLC(2) or H335, Varget, 4895 or RL15 works well with jacketed bullets in all except the x39. It needs a faster powder. I use 4198 and Re7. The ball powders H335 and BLc(2) can get enough powder in the x 39 and are the correct speed for the bigger cases. If you need a "universal" powder one of these two are about the only choice. Win 748 would work, but velocity in the x 39 woulkd not be quite up to full speed.
I shoot cast bulets in 30-30 and 303 all the time. A gas check bullet is a good idea. i get the best results with the heavier bullets and use both 4759 and H2400.
