cast reloading for rifle
- Thread starter hoveycat
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rfwobbly
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First you need to find a reloading manual listing 7.62 x 54R loads and use one of those suggested powders to start with. I believe the Sierra, Lyman and Hornady manual all list that cartridge with about 10 different powders between them.
Second you need to find some boxer-primed brass that's reloadable. That may be the hard part!
Second you need to find some boxer-primed brass that's reloadable. That may be the hard part!
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jcwit
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Reloadable brass is available, hard to find but available.
highlander 5
Member
You'll need an expander die to load those cast bullets,bell the mouth slightly to seat. Check Accurate Arms 5744 powder for loads as this is one of the better powders for cast bullets
TEDDY
Member
loads
why not use the harris formular 13.5 gr of RED DOT.
I load all my military with it.my 06 with 13.5 and 311291 or 312 160 TL.
the 311291 cronys at 1680.and gives one inch at 100 yds in a 1903 [1914].
the 312-160 does same but did not check for vel.
why not use the harris formular 13.5 gr of RED DOT.
I load all my military with it.my 06 with 13.5 and 311291 or 312 160 TL.
the 311291 cronys at 1680.and gives one inch at 100 yds in a 1903 [1914].
the 312-160 does same but did not check for vel.
There are actually quite a few powder choices for shooting cast bullets in the 7.62x54R.
As mentioned above, Ed Harris’ “The Load” using Red Dot works and is worth trying. This link (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=2751) will take you to a pretty good discussion of “The Load” as well as some alternatives, including the use of 2400. There is also a link there to many more of his articles.
Ed Harris also wrote an article titled “The Moisin Rifle: Ugly but Effective” in the March 1991 edition of the “American Rifleman” magazine in which he discusses reloading for this cartridge. For cast bullets, he suggests several powders, including 2400, H4198 and SR4759.
Another helpful Ed Harris article, “Cast Bullets are Best in Military Surplus Rifles” provides a lot of useful information for many surplus rifle cartridges, including the 7.62x54R. The article is in the 13th edition of the “Handloader’s Digest” from 1994.
I have PDF versions of these articles, but I do not know how to post / share it here or whether it is legitimate for me to do so.
Another option is Hodgdon’s H4895. At the Hodgdon web site (http://www.hodgdon.com/) if you click on the tab labeled “Data” you will find a selection labeled “Youth Loads.” Clicking on that selection will give you a PDF file that explains Hodgdon’s “60% rule” for H4895. It works well with cast bullets.
From my own experience, I have used the following powders in the 7.62x54R with varying degrees of success: Winchester 231, Accurate Arms XMR 5744, Hodgdon H4895, IMR 4227, IMR 4198, Unique, Red Dot. Depending on the bullet and rifle, I can get pretty good results. I posted some of my (not so satisfactory) results with a couple powders here: http://www.migunowners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=38443
There really are a lot of options with this cartridges and I hope this helps.
Dan
As mentioned above, Ed Harris’ “The Load” using Red Dot works and is worth trying. This link (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=2751) will take you to a pretty good discussion of “The Load” as well as some alternatives, including the use of 2400. There is also a link there to many more of his articles.
Ed Harris also wrote an article titled “The Moisin Rifle: Ugly but Effective” in the March 1991 edition of the “American Rifleman” magazine in which he discusses reloading for this cartridge. For cast bullets, he suggests several powders, including 2400, H4198 and SR4759.
Another helpful Ed Harris article, “Cast Bullets are Best in Military Surplus Rifles” provides a lot of useful information for many surplus rifle cartridges, including the 7.62x54R. The article is in the 13th edition of the “Handloader’s Digest” from 1994.
I have PDF versions of these articles, but I do not know how to post / share it here or whether it is legitimate for me to do so.
Another option is Hodgdon’s H4895. At the Hodgdon web site (http://www.hodgdon.com/) if you click on the tab labeled “Data” you will find a selection labeled “Youth Loads.” Clicking on that selection will give you a PDF file that explains Hodgdon’s “60% rule” for H4895. It works well with cast bullets.
From my own experience, I have used the following powders in the 7.62x54R with varying degrees of success: Winchester 231, Accurate Arms XMR 5744, Hodgdon H4895, IMR 4227, IMR 4198, Unique, Red Dot. Depending on the bullet and rifle, I can get pretty good results. I posted some of my (not so satisfactory) results with a couple powders here: http://www.migunowners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=38443
There really are a lot of options with this cartridges and I hope this helps.
Dan
Remo-99
Member
I've also had good results with cast bullet loads for rifle calibres using these powders, as well as reduced charges of H4895.
snuffy
Member
That warning does not apply in this case, since the 7.62 X 54R is a bolt action rifle.
I just bought one at the loacal fleet farm, $99.99. I have an order ready,(in my cart), at midway. The only brass that's available, new, unprimed, is Norma at $32.49/ 20!!! So I went to the ammo page, found winchester ammo, 180 FMJ $20.99/20 that's reloadable, boxer primed. I may just shoot it up to reload it, or pull the bullets and use the primed case for my own lead loads.
I have a lee mold for 7.62 X 39 loads, BUT it casts small for what it's SUPPOSED to. It's suposed to fall from the mold at .312, but barely makes it to .308. I going to keep it, I ordered another one, hopefully it comes full sized.
The bore on my rifle has definetely seen better days. It was ocviously fired and not cleaned using corrosive primed ammo. There's still strong rifling present, she's just pretty pitted.
Although the OP did not say/I did not read which 7.62X54R caliber rifle the bullets are intended, it could be a Russian semi-auto SVT38/40, and in this case I would feel better with gas checks. My Lyman #45 has some good data for 173 grain bullets that could be used with the 165's. Feel free to PM me Hoveycat, and I will send it your way.
snuffy
Member
Well ya learn something every day. I didn't know the ruskeys made a semi-auto in 7.62 X 54R. Yeah, in that case a gas checked cast bullet would work just fine. M-1 garands are fired all the time with gas checked lead boolits. So are the SKS and AK's in 7.62 X 39. I even have heard of some doing .224 60 grain cast in AR-15 type rifles with no problems.
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