New handloader needs help finding .313 bullets (cast or jacketed) and gas checks for 7.62 and 303.

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DisgruntledPatriot

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Hello Gents.

Seems that I am about to start handloading for the first time. I have a Mosin M44 that I have put considerable time and effort into restoring and making shine, only to find out she shoots patterns instead of groups. My gunsmith slugged the barrel and she is a consistent .313 inches.

Well, Dammit.

I have floated the barrel, pillared and bedded, and polished every part of the action that touches every other part. I have put in too much effort to quit now.

I was going to start handloading anyway, just got necessary a little sooner than I would have liked.

I am looking for a source for .313 projectiles and am coming up empty. I intend to READ a lot before crafting something that will explode six inches from my face, and my first question is, can I shoot a .314 bullet(cast) down a .313 bore safely?

The lyman 314299 mould puts out .314 sized cast bullets, I am understanding that they can be sized to .313, but who sells .313 gas checks?

This is not going to be high volume loading at first, crafting ammunition for my Mosin and my Enfield later on. Probably looking at batches of ten to twenty at a time at first.

Any help for someone who is learning a new skill is greatly appreciated.
 
Not only can you shoot .314" cast bullets in your Mosin Nagant , it is the preferred bullet diameter.

Sorry, I don't know where to get gas checks.

There are plenty of jackets bullets in .312"/.311" you can load. They are also used in the 303 British and 7.7mm Japanese cartridges.
 
I use that mold and 30 Cal gas checks fit fine.
I just powder coat them now and don't bother with checks.

Welcome to reloading.
Read and follow the instructions in the reloading manuals.
The Lyman cast bullet handbook 4th edition has loads for the 314299 mold in 7.62x54r.
 
Interested in the Lee precision 50th anniversary kit and the pacesetter dies. assuming I would need a tool to enlarge the case neck for the larger bullet out of the lyman mould? I looked at the link, ArchAngel, those bullets are .312, my bore slugs out to a uniform .313. Will that make a difference?
 
You need to get over to castboolits for a good source of cast bullet information.
It is best to shoot cast bullets that are .001 to .002 oversize. Since you should always work up loads the work up process with oversize bullets will keep you safe.

I have had best cast bullet accuracy with bullets used in a .408 bore cast to .410.
The largest bullets used in a .45-70 were (no kidding) .462.
These were all soft bullets at about 1300 fps. Accuracy was excellent.

The .312 Hornady jacketed RN bullet should work fine if your barrel is good.
I have a supply of 1960s Speer .313 RN bullets but they don't shoot any better or worse than the similar Hornadys.
These days it is all the rage to shoot long pointy boat tailed bullets. These boatails don't expand at the base and sometimes don't shoot very well in old worn barrels. The flat bases often work better. So do the soft oversize casr bullets.
Gas checks are available in Hornady brand and in Bullet Swaging Supply brand as Gator checks.
 
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DisgruntledPatriot said:
Hello Gents.

Seems that I am about to start handloading for the first time. I have a Mosin M44 that I have put considerable time and effort into restoring and making shine, only to find out she shoots patterns instead of groups. My gunsmith slugged the barrel and she is a consistent .313 inches.

Well, Dammit.

I have floated the barrel, pillared and bedded, and polished every part of the action that touches every other part. I have put in too much effort to quit now.

I was going to start handloading anyway, just got necessary a little sooner than I would have liked.

I am looking for a source for .313 projectiles and am coming up empty. I intend to READ a lot before crafting something that will explode six inches from my face, and my first question is, can I shoot a .314 bullet(cast) down a .313 bore safely?

The lyman 314299 mould puts out .314 sized cast bullets, I am understanding that they can be sized to .313, but who sells .313 gas checks?

This is not going to be high volume loading at first, crafting ammunition for my Mosin and my Enfield later on. Probably looking at batches of ten to twenty at a time at first.

Any help for someone who is learning a new skill is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
I have .313, 115 gr gas checks for 327 Federal from Rimrock. I don't know anything about your rifle, so hope that is the same type bullet that I know as for handguns and 32-20 rifles..
 
I have a Mosin 91/30 (a 1930 Izzy) that slugs at .315".

I use the NOE 316-202-RN (316299), cast of straight CWW, air cooled, sized to .316", with a standard 30cal gas check. No leading, no problems shooting.

The only thing I suggest you check, is the chamber neck diameter. I cannot chamber anything in my rifle with a neck diameter over .338.

.338 - .316 =.022". This means the brass thickness at the neck cannot exceed .010". I have to neck turn some brass, other brass is fine. I will probably turn all of it eventually, it doesn't hurt.

Have fun.
 
.314" bullets are recommended for barrels that slug .312 or.313.

For my mosin I cast using a Lee mold
CTL314-160-R2. Then use Vulcan gas checks. But I understand they're getting out of the business.

Hornady makes em so you might try them
 
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I like to use cast bullets a couple of thou bigger than groove dia for my rifles,yes the .314" will do just dandy in a .313" barrel no worries.
My 316299 NOE mould takes 30 cal gas checks, the bullet dia might be bigger but the shank is kept to hold standard 30 cal checks.
have fun fella.
 
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