converting either 303 or .308 to 7.62x54R

The rim is enough to stop you. See if you can trade your brass for some x54.

The reason that 7.62 X 54 brass is not cheaply available is the Russian surplus is still so cheap. I reload the brass that I get from Graff & Son and I purchase mail order ammo for a lesser amount. Try natchezss.com. Also Google 7.62X54 ammo and there will be a lit of results. It is not as cheap as last year but still reasonable with respect to other calibers. Olimpic, Privi Partisan, Wolf gold line and Sellier & Beloit are some of the makers that produce reloadable brass ammo for less than the US makers do.
No the other ones listed will not easily be converted. Also note that reloadable 303 BR will cost as much as the Russian and then would need to be sized besides.

Lemme see if i can dig some up for you.

It's out of stock now, but this is the cheapest source of 7.62x54R brass (register to get notified when it comes back in):
http://www.grafs.com/product/266859

They have loaded ammo using the same brass at a decent price:
http://www.grafs.com/product/266787

The cheapest I've found boxer primed non-corrosive ammo lately is here:
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=AP76254FMJ150&groupid=40

So I want to know if you can convert a 303 or 308 to 7.62x54R.

Click to expand...

The short answer is NO.
Neither one is even close.

The .308 is a rimless case and simply won't work.
The .303 is a rimmed case like the 7.62x54R.
But it is .031" smaller around at the base and has a .030" smaller rim diameter.

rc

I have been investigating a means to reload cheaper than I am now for a couple of years and have come to a conclusion that it may not be possible. If I find a solution I will post it here.

Hey 4,

When I first got a 7.62X54 Russian, I also had some problems finding Boxer primed ammo. I had a bunch of .303 Brit, however, and I thought I might try to make some Russian ammo out of the Brit ammo. The .303 was a bit smaller than the Russian as RC mentioned earlier, but I thought I would see if I could fireform it to the Russian chamber.

I sized the .303 in the Russian die, and I guess I probably had to trim it to length. I then charged the .303 case with a very light charge of probably 2400 powder, added a 155 grain cast bullet, and touched it off.

Listen to what RC said. My .303 want to be 7.62X54 Russian expanded the case so far it split from the shoulder to near the base. It was a very light charge, so the rifle held together just fine, and in spite of the case splitting that much, there was no gas coming back from the chamber. The bullet flew down range, but it was clear the .303 was not quite big enough to make into a Russian.

Not long afterwards, Southern Ohio Gun had a sale on new Boxer primed 7,62X54 ammo, and I bought a case from them. I think it is always better to buy reloadable ammo rather than fireforming cases if reloadable ammo is available somewhere. Wait a while, and you will find it.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

Just working from memory it seems the 45-70 case can be made into 7.62X54R but is a lot of work. My manual for caseforming is out in shop and I'm hurting too much to go out from stomach surgery. 45-70 brass is available but so is boxer primed 7.62X54R. I've got several hundred peices of brass that I've picked up over the years at gun show, ground and used old boxes of ammo. I enjoy reloading that old turkey and even shoot some lead bullets for fun.

Converting a Mosin to another caliber is possible, but not prudent. Far too expensive to do it right.
It would be more sensible to make the effort to Google "7.62x54R Brass" and do a search.

I found this link on Gunbroker.com offering brass up for bid.

www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx?Keywords=7.62X54R+brass



NCsmitty

Well here's some Winchester on the midway site. Both FMJ and soft point is currently available.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=529434



I lucked out at the last two gun shows locally. There was a guy there with a table that had bags of 50 rounds of bulk Winchester brass. I bought 50 rounds each time,(this was factory primed). I also bought two boxes of the Winchester FMJ loads when I ordered dies and bullets when I got my Mosin back in November '09.

I'm also messing with cast bullets for mine. I haven't been able to get to the range, too much snow and cold!

I would be very interesded in learning how to do this, I've got nothin but time.

Click to expand...

Shoot either RCBS or Redding an e-mail or phone call, and ask them. I'll guarantee that if it's possible, the dies required to do it will cost several times what you paid for your Mosin-Nagant.

Here's how to convert 45/70 to 7.62 x 54r Russian.

Swage base to .490" dia. Turn rim to .570 and backchamfer. Anneal case. Use 7.62 form die set or form .40-65 then .33 Win neck. Trim to length.

Taken from The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversion.

There you go--simple right?

BTW you need a RCBS # 13 shellholder.

Try this place, they used to offer reformed brass.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/