What next?

[Ryan500]

okay so I started reloading, with some product recommended to me by a friend. Now, I have 7.62x54r loaded with IMR 3031 and 150 gr bullets. Good recipe's, pretty good results. But what next?

I can group 2" at 100 yards now and am looking for less. Should I go bigger bullets? Smaller bullets? Slower powder? Faster? I know it a pretty general question and i will probably get a lot of "try them all answers". However I'm wondering what you experianced guys do first, like others my funds are not unlimited so I don't want to buy 1 of everything.


Thanks.

 

[sunray]

What bullet? You are using a .311" bullet, aren't you? The 7.62 x 54 doesn't use .308" bullets.
In any case, your next step is to change powders. 55.0 grains of IMR4350 is given for the accuracy load for a 150 grain jacketed bullet in my Lyman book. Work up the load. Don't just go with 55.0. 50.0 to 55.0(compressed). 2439 fps and 2695 fps, respectively. Don't worry about compressed loads.
A great deal depends on the rifle too. Some rifles (I'm guessing a Mosin?) just won't shoot MOA groups. Target rifles they ain't. Consistent 2" groups is dandy for hunting.

 

[Ryan500]

What bullet? You are using a .311" bullet, aren't you? The 7.62 x 54 doesn't use .308" bullets.
In any case, your next step is to change powders. 55.0 grains of IMR4350 is given for the accuracy load for a 150 grain jacketed bullet in my Lyman book. Work up the load. Don't just go with 55.0. 50.0 to 55.0(compressed). 2439 fps and 2695 fps, respectively. Don't worry about compressed loads.
A great deal depends on the rifle too. Some rifles (I'm guessing a Mosin?) just won't shoot MOA groups. Target rifles they ain't. Consistent 2" groups is dandy for hunting.

You bet, .308" would be like a hotdog down a hallway. Just looking for an idea, lighter or heavier bullets next, or keep the 150's and switch powder? Theirs a million options just want to get pointed in the right direction so i don't have to buy 60 kinds of powder and 60 kind of projectiles.

I beleive that these mosins will moa if they are treated right.

 

[sunray]

"...these Mosins will moa..." Maybe, some of 'em can give astounding accuracy, but most just won't. Standard battle rifles weren't made for MOA accuracy. Wasn't required. Sniper variants certainly will, but not the regular PBI rifle. Have a 1903A4 that'll shoot one hole groups with carefully loaded match bullets.
Try the IMR4350 with the same bullet. I've always started with whatever powder is given for the accuracy load for a specfic bullet weight.
"...There's a million options..." Not really. Readily available .311" bullet weights are kind of limited. Hornady makes a .3105" 174 grain FMJBT. Sierra makes a .311" 174 grain Matchking(pricey) and the 150 SP's. Speer makes .311" 150 spitzer and 180RN SP's.
Heavier bullets will increase the felt recoil and won't necessarily give you better accuracy.
Must admit that I'd screw around with it too. It's fun.

 

[Ryan500]

thanks for the advice, my manual shows IMR 3031 for their Accuracy load, however thats a speer manual that uses .308 rounds in a M44, which is dumb as #### unless it's a swiss.

I think a slower powder is next step, i'm happy with 150 gr. Surplus ammo (147gr) had a drop of about 18" @300 yards where my loads are not even close to that.

Wish i had the magic answer for what is the next step but from my research it looks like it's trial an error, 1 component at a time, in limited quantities (200 rounds or so).

All said and done, it's a 170 dollar rifle, is MOA required? No. Is it fun to make guys with scopes and 1000 dollar rifles feel stupid at the range? Yes.

 

[sunray]

"...a Swiss..." A 7.5 x 55 Swiss uses a .308" bullet. Your Speer manual gives data for their bullets only. That's the biggest advantage of Lyman manuals. Lyman doesn't make bullets or powder. Their manual(mine is old) has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any powder or bullet maker's book. Has data for a bunch of long obsolete cartridges too. I've learned to trust Lyman. Latest one runs around $50 though.
Anyway, IMR4350 is way slower than IMR3031. Number 91 vs 63 on Hodgdon's burn rate chart.
"...fun to..." More fun to tell the guy's on U.S. forums what I paid for my '03A4. Cost me $175Cdn about 30 years ago. They tend to ignore it. '03A4's run 3 to 4 grand U.S. now. Mine would be worth more if I had spent the $200US on an original scope. Didn't have the $200US then. Friggin' things run $400ish US now.