Reloading 7.62 IVI brass, your opinion on starting load.

W

wcat

Regular
GunNutz
Rating - 100%
200   0   0
Location
Gaspe
Hi,
I'm currently using R-P brass with a mild but very accurate load. The charge I'm using in the R-P is 42.5 grains of powder.
I have some IVI 7.62 military brass that I'd want to use and duplicate the same result.

I've weighted the brass, the fired R-P brass with the primers in are averaging 172gr while the IVI are averaging 190gr.
I know I must reduce the charge in the IVI, but I'd like to hear from people that used IVI brass about where would you start in charge weight to get about the same result?
I was thinking about 3-4 grains less, since the weight in the brass is about 10% diference, I'd start about 10% less charge weight. Althougt 38-39gr of the same powder seems a bit weak.

Your thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Chrony your current load and I'd drop 1gr or so and chrony the load with the IVI brass. I find the difference between RP and IVI to be a lot smaller than most people seem to say it is. Between Lapua and IVI it's almost non-existent.

Volume, pressure, powder charge, and muzzle velocity do not have linear relationships. A 10% heavier case will not require a 10% reduced charge to match velocity.
 
FWIW, I use IVI brass in my accurized M14. The two loads that work really well for me are: 168gr Hornady HPBT, 41.5gr H4895, Winchester LR primers and OAL of 2.800". The other load is: 155gr AMAX, 43gr H4895, WLR primers and OAL 2.800". These loads give me 5 shot MOA or less groups with no signs of pressure. In fact, I consider them fairly mild. I have tested this brass with these loads and the test batch was reloaded 25X. I had one or two cases that started to show signs of head seperation after that and discarded the whole batch afterwards. I did prep the cases by deburring and uniforming the primer holes/pockets and sorting by weight. I know, just being anal.
 
Well here my 2 cents take what you want from it .....so I’m presently doing load development in my fnh fnar 7.62x51 and it has a 20” barrel on it ...semi auto ......I’m using h4895 sierras 168 and my lower node accuracy round is around ...38.7 grains ...don’t quote me because I do t have my book with me but it’s around there ....and the speed is 2390 fps.....win large primers.....did the same test with cci #34 and got about 35 fps faster ....go figure that one ....I’m still doing load development but as I go hotter the rifle starts to kick more .....I will experiment and see .....I use a magneto speed to see
Yes I know that the speed is low it bugs me a wee bit ....but I’m not going to destroy a beautiful gun in my eyes
I have not use regular 308 bass ....but I’m going to try .....if you want hit me up down the road and I’ll tell you how it went
Have fun
 
Interesting thread, as I'm looking for a lighter load that will still cycle my M305 reliably.
 
Excellent, that ^ is just what I'm looking for. I'm getting a bit tired of beating up my shoulder.
 
For standard loads, I would use the same starting charge and reduce the maximum by 1-2 grains compared to commercial .308 brass, per the Lyman manual. This works out to a powder reduction of approximately 10% of the difference in weight between cases, rather than cutting the powder charge by 10%.
 
5.56 and 7.62 Case Capacities
LoadData.com

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0ahUKEwj_sfeAopLaAhWKpFkKHbIjAOUQFghIMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.loaddata.com%2Farticles%2FPDF%2FBenchTopics%252087.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0vF6HhAfKmON5UiiSCUlSY

At the link below it only shows a .4 reduction if using Lake City brass vs Winchester brass, And the old thumb rule was reduce by 1 to 2 grains for military brass.

The "staying power" of the .308 Winchester
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/practicalriflerfr/the-staying-power-of-the-308-winchester-t2185.html

All Winchester brass. Reduce by .4 grains if using Lake City, or Federal brass. Reduce by .3 grains if using Lapua brass.

155 grain Sierra Matchking (or any comparable 155 grain match bullet)
45.6 grains of IMR 4895
or
46.5 grains of Varget, IMR 4064, or W748
there is a high node with Varget at about 47.8 grains (Nosler's max is 48 grains).

168 grain Sierra Matchking (or any comparable 168 grain match bullet)
43.6 grains of IMR 4895 (my all time favorite accuracy load)
or
44.5 grains of Varget or IMR 4064 or W748
there is a high node with Varget at or near 46 grains, Hodgdon's max...
or
39.0 grains of IMR 3031 (slower, but very accurate to 300 yards, a great close range tactical load).

175 Sierra Matchking
43.5 Varget, or 45.0 Varget (high node, be careful).
or
42.4 grains IMR 4895
or
43.4 grains of IMR 4064 (high node)
42.2 grains of IMR 4064 (low node)
or
43.5 grains of RL15

With 178 AMAX (Hornady)
42.0 grains IMR 4895
or
43.1 grains of Varget
or
43.0 grains of IMR 4064 (high node)
41.8 grians of IMR 4064 (low node)
or
43.1 grains of RL15

190 grain Sierra Matchking
40.9 grains of IMR 4064

200 grain Sierra Matchking
40.2 grains of IMR 4064

These load recipes are approximate (but very close) to where the accuracy nodes are. Work up from a grain or two below, to be safe.
www.BANGSTEEL.com
Practical Long Range Rifle Training... OCW handload consulting...
 
Last edited:
davide montini said:
Well here my 2 cents take what you want from it .....so I’m presently doing load development in my fnh fnar 7.62x51 and it has a 20” barrel on it ...semi auto ......I’m using h4895 sierras 168 and my lower node accuracy round is around ...38.7 grains ...don’t quote me because I do t have my book with me but it’s around there ....and the speed is 2390 fps.....win large primers.....did the same test with cci #34 and got about 35 fps faster ....go figure that one ....I’m still doing load development but as I go hotter the rifle starts to kick more .....I will experiment and see .....I use a magneto speed to see
Yes I know that the speed is low it bugs me a wee bit ....but I’m not going to destroy a beautiful gun in my eyes
I have not use regular 308 bass ....but I’m going to try .....if you want hit me up down the road and I’ll tell you how it went
Have fun
Click to expand...

CCI #34/41 are equivalent to their mag primers, probably why you saw a little extra velocity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom