The 7.62x54R for hunting: I'm a believer.
- Thread starter meanmrmustard
- Start date
- Status
meanmrmustard
Member
Can't go wrong a 203 gr SP. Thats a lot of kinetic energy .
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produ...n-bear-203gr-sp-ammo/cName/762x54r-soft-point
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produ...n-bear-203gr-sp-ammo/cName/762x54r-soft-point
TrickyDick
Member
I'm using my 1939 MN 91/30, with Prvi Partisan 147 Gr SP, just iron sights.... except here in maine, we're limited to 1 deer a year (or at least per season) I saw 2 does and a fawn last saturday, about 50-75 yards, i had a doe permit (required in our state to shoot doe) but i'm not the kind of person to shoot a doe with its fawn. hopefully i'll see a nice buck this saturday.
meanmrmustard
Member
Good luck with the rifle, and your upcoming hunt.
I'm not opposed to shooting a doe with yearling in tow; they're resilient animals with great survival skill. I've not taken one with spots and do not aspire to. I do, however, put meat in the freezer when need be.
Get your buck!
WardenWolf
member
If I wasn't so terrible with iron sights, I'd use my Mosin for hunting. I've seen what that 203-grain soft point can do to a hard drive. 
FYI, the drive exploded into multiple pieces. The bullet hit a screw that goes into the base, resulting in the heavy aluminum base shattering into 3 pieces scattered about 10 feet apart, with other bits of the drive here and there. Don't worry, we cleaned up our mess, including our shell casings.
FYI, the drive exploded into multiple pieces. The bullet hit a screw that goes into the base, resulting in the heavy aluminum base shattering into 3 pieces scattered about 10 feet apart, with other bits of the drive here and there. Don't worry, we cleaned up our mess, including our shell casings.
mickeydim468
Member
Hope I didn't hijack the thread, but really do appreciate the ammo info.
Isn't 203Gr a bit heavy for this rifle? What about ballistics? Are they available somewhere for this round?
I would like to hunt elk with this rifle next year maybe. Should be good for that here in Oregon huh? Black bear too I would imagine.
Sure a good story Mr Mustard... Keep up the good hunting and story telling too!
Mike!
Isn't 203Gr a bit heavy for this rifle? What about ballistics? Are they available somewhere for this round?
I would like to hunt elk with this rifle next year maybe. Should be good for that here in Oregon huh? Black bear too I would imagine.
Sure a good story Mr Mustard... Keep up the good hunting and story telling too!
Mike!
Ignition Override
Member
Finns vs. Soviets in the Winter War on the Karelian Peninsula.
The Eastern Front. "Enemy At The Gates".
Did the Russian Military Rifle Team with MN 91/30s do quite well against some US Marines in a match?
Their snipers might still be using the SVD.
The Eastern Front. "Enemy At The Gates".
Did the Russian Military Rifle Team with MN 91/30s do quite well against some US Marines in a match?
Their snipers might still be using the SVD.
firesky101
Member
the original military loading for the 7.62x54r was a 210gr round nose bullet. The twist rate for the M1891 was @ 1 in 9.5" to stabilize this very long bullet. The soviets were not big on changing their tooling, so that twist rate stuck. So a 203gr is well within the capabilities for the 7.62x54r.
mickeydim468
Member
Wow, you guys are great. Loading for my 30-06 or 300Win Mag, I find that 150, 165, and 180 Gr, are the most common weights for deer/elk hunting, at least on the heavier side. This is why I thought a 203 Gr bullet would be heavy. I know larger weights IE: 225Gr... are available in 30 Cal, but I thought those were for the larger 300 Wby Mag or 300 RUM cartridges.
Mike!
meanmrmustard
Member
Fiancé is going to upload deer pics tonight, she got home late last night.
Thank you for all the kind words and info!
For anyone who doesn't know, the slow, heavy 203 gr is a great round in my opinion. It didn't trash meat, and passed through with relative ease.
Thank you for all the kind words and info!
For anyone who doesn't know, the slow, heavy 203 gr is a great round in my opinion. It didn't trash meat, and passed through with relative ease.
WardenWolf
member
Most people who handload find rounds in the ~200 grain range to be the most accurate. Additionally, on this rifle at least, the heavier bullet takes away a lot of the recoil's sharpness, and turns it into more of a heavy push. You thus get two benefits: a rifle that's both more accurate and more pleasant to shoot.Hope I didn't hijack the thread, but really do appreciate the ammo info.
Isn't 203Gr a bit heavy for this rifle? What about ballistics? Are they available somewhere for this round?
I would like to hunt elk with this rifle next year maybe. Should be good for that here in Oregon huh? Black bear too I would imagine.
Sure a good story Mr Mustard... Keep up the good hunting and story telling too!
Mike!
meanmrmustard
Member
Good points. I did notice this contrast between Silver Bear and the surplus I practiced with. Groups tighter, and a less violent shove.
caribou
Member
hunting with a Mosin is a very doable thang......nothing alive in North America can best it, and its very comparable to the 30-06.
The Mosin Nagant is one fine Rifle. The M-39 is the best of the best.
Consistant ammo is hard to find, but milsurp Czeck and certain Russian are VERY consitant in bullet weight and powder throw, and accurate as ever needs be.
The weight of the M-39 dampens recoil and swing/sway so I get a very solid hold that makes the freestanding, unsuported two tap to the Brain is easy for me with the M-39 as the Tool, even at 400 yards.....I preferr carrying the extra weight when the accuracy and durabilty are assured. Its a Riflemans rifle.
Only accurate rifles are interesting, and the Mosin Nagant is Very interesting
The Mosin Nagant is one fine Rifle. The M-39 is the best of the best.
Consistant ammo is hard to find, but milsurp Czeck and certain Russian are VERY consitant in bullet weight and powder throw, and accurate as ever needs be.
The weight of the M-39 dampens recoil and swing/sway so I get a very solid hold that makes the freestanding, unsuported two tap to the Brain is easy for me with the M-39 as the Tool, even at 400 yards.....I preferr carrying the extra weight when the accuracy and durabilty are assured. Its a Riflemans rifle.
Only accurate rifles are interesting, and the Mosin Nagant is Very interesting
meanmrmustard
Member
Fiancé loaded pictures boys. They're in the OP. Sorry if they suck, best I could do!!!
caribou
Member
Baked or fryed fresh.
I only eat it in the Spring, so its a very mild 'Bear' tatste, if any at all. Therfore I only hunt them in the Spring, just when they come outta the den and havent eaten a thing.
No matter the caliber, every Bear gets two bullets....my personal rule.
None of the women in my house, My wife, daughters and all the women in her clan will not eat Bear, their rules..... so I give most of it away to men my age and older, my friends and all, as most women around here wont eat such..
I only eat it in the Spring, so its a very mild 'Bear' tatste, if any at all. Therfore I only hunt them in the Spring, just when they come outta the den and havent eaten a thing.
No matter the caliber, every Bear gets two bullets....my personal rule.
None of the women in my house, My wife, daughters and all the women in her clan will not eat Bear, their rules..... so I give most of it away to men my age and older, my friends and all, as most women around here wont eat such..
meanmrmustard
Member
Excellent shots. You are obviously a Rifleman.hunting with a Mosin is a very doable thang......nothing alive in North America can best it, and its very comparable to the 30-06.
The Mosin Nagant is one fine Rifle. The M-39 is the best of the best.
Consistant ammo is hard to find, but milsurp Czeck and certain Russian are VERY consitant in bullet weight and powder throw, and accurate as ever needs be.
The weight of the M-39 dampens recoil and swing/sway so I get a very solid hold that makes the freestanding, unsuported two tap to the Brain is easy for me with the M-39 as the Tool, even at 400 yards.....I preferr carrying the extra weight when the accuracy and durabilty are assured. Its a Riflemans rifle.
Only accurate rifles are interesting, and the Mosin Nagant is Very interesting
I feel I need more practice.
Clipper
Member
I'm always amused by the number of threads about how surprised someone is that they can shoot a rifle that compares ballistically almost exactly with the 30/06, and get 30/06 results! 
Shoot... Norma loads 180gr X54 hotter than their '06...
Shoot... Norma loads 180gr X54 hotter than their '06...
Shadow 7D
Member
Go look up Caribou's threads in Hunting, then there would be no surprise.
meanmrmustard
Member
I wouldn't know, I don't own, shoot, or really care for 30/06. Can't really compare them, other than the handful of times firing the 06, so I don't pretend to do a "VS" write up.I'm always amused by the number of threads about how surprised someone is that they can shoot a rifle that compares ballistically almost exactly with the 30/06, and get 30/06 results!
Shoot... Norma loads 180gr X54 hotter than their '06...
meanmrmustard
Member
For whom? There is no surprise, merely firsthand evidence that I acquired myself.
gaweidert
Member
On another site a few years ago a guy did a thread of a black bear e took in in Pennsylvania using the 203 grain SP round in his Mosin Nagant. 30-06 is essentially the same as the 7.62 x 54r /Russian round. Just 15 years younger.
- Status
