7.62x54R ammo

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sharkhunter2018

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So today I threw some lead downrange with my Mosin sniper. I found out that it does not like the 54R that looks more like brass than steel. Ive known for a while that my M44 does not like it either. It's a PITA to open the bolt after every shot, however, I dont have any problems what so ever using the steel cased (i.e.: the bolt opens with out a hitch). Im curious if anyone else has had or has this problem. And since I dont seem to have a magnet laying around..is that stuff steel or brass?

Im aware that mosins can be picky as to the ammo you feed them (heavy or light). I have bought all mine from a local shop and am not sure how to tell what is what. If it is of any help, I have steel cased silvertip, silvertip with the case that looks more like brass and silvertip with a yellow ring under it that is also 'brass' cased. Are those any indication as to what type of ammo it is and/or country of origin? Alot of questions..i know:)
 
more than likely it is copper washed steel.

headstamp on the bottom of the case will tell country of origin and date of manufacture.

top number country code
bottom date.

example 21 over 75

21 = hungary
75 = 1975

and typically, yellow paint means heavy ball (lead core). silver over yellow is steel core heavy.

check 7.62x54r.com for more codes and a break down of the different ammunitions. ALOT of info to be had there.
 
You have a fair amount of reading to do and there isn't any way to post the encyclopedic reference of all the info that you will need to read here on THR in this thread.

This is a decent site to start with: http://mosinnagant.net/i3tro4.asp

There is also a page out there that describes all the 7.52x54r ammo that has been imported into the USA. I can't seem to find it right now by googling. Someone else may know the link to it. It will be a great help in identifying your ammo.

As for what your rifle likes, that is more or less a can of worms that will get you a guaranteed 3-4 different responses a least. It is best to experiment. I found that my Finn M39's love 200 grain Wolf soft point. But your mileage may vary.
 
check 7.62x54r.com for more codes and a break down of the different ammunitions. ALOT of info to be had there.
Click to expand...

That's the one I was looking for.
 
Mosins may generate less camming force than some other bolt guns, thus sticky ammo will stick more that in other designs. My suggestion would be to clean the chamber very well with a 12 guage brush to be sure that no dried cosmolene is in the chamber. Ussually, if you clean the chamber well, it won't stick much.
Cheers,
Mauserguy
 
Mauserguy: cleaning the chamber may help, but the bolts on the sniper and the M44 only stick when using the copper washed cased ammo. I dont have any problems opening or closing the bolt on both using regular steel cased ammo. So, im not sure it would do much. Although I could be wrong.
 
My Mosins all require a little more force to open the bolt after firing. I think that is inherent to the design. Just give it a good wack with an upwards swing and the bottom of your right hand and force the bolt over.
 
I have the exact same problem with this batch of copper washed hungarian steel core I bought of someone on gunbroker.com it loves all other ammo I have run through it. I even had some other of the same copper washed case when I first bought the gun (ammo I bought at a gun show) and it cycled fine.

I need to clean the chamber real good like everyone said (even though I keep my guns in pristine condition). I'll be real pissed if this ammo won't work in my guns because I bought a lot of it.

The case feels like it has a slight "texture" to it, unlike my other ammo that is smooth. I don't know if this ammo has a dirty case for some reason, it's been so long I don't remember much about the texture of the other copper wash that worked fine.
 
I have two mosins and the only time I've encountered "sticky bolt" was last weekend. I was firing a 20 round box of Silver Bear 203 grn. soft points; these have the zinc plated steel cases. After I fired round #14, I tried to lift the bolt and it would only come up about 1/2 way and no matter how many times I closed the bolt and lifted it (with all the strength I had), it would not open.

It took a light *whack* from a rubber mallet to open the bolt. I checked the chamber and everything seemed fine so I fired off the other six rounds and they all ejected without a problem. So it was just one round in 20 that stuck.

Out of spec case, maybe?
 
Nekron: if the cases were out of spec, then the entire pack i had were out of spec. Every round gave me problems while opening the bolt. I was wactually at a range and i went back in to dig thru the box in hopes of finding a pack of steel cased. I found one pack and i went thru 3/4 of that pack without a hitch. But ive noticed my M44 doesnt like the copper washed casings either. I have several packs of the copper wash along with 2 cases of the steel cased ammo. Ive never had a problem with any steel cased ammo, its only been the copper washed steel.
 
I started having problems with the copper-washed, but only with a hot rifle. I'm wondering if lightly oiling the cases will have any effect, good or bad. Some MGs used an oiler to prevent stuck rounds back in the day.
 
mine has the opposite problem - sticks real bad with the laquer coated steel cases. Not as bad with the brass heavy ball stuff I have, but still sticks. I have been too busy/lazy to try the 20ga shotgun brass brush trick. Sure is fun to shoot though and the stuck bolt give some cool-down time for both the barrel and my shoulder. :)
 
Cleaning the chamber, whack the bolt, etc are over-rated and take too much efforts.
If the bolt is sticky after a shot, just pull straight back on the bolt, then extract. Works like a charm for my M39 every time.
 
sharkhunter2018, the brass-cased didn't look like this, did it?

albanianx54r-1.jpg

albanianx54r-2.jpg

albanianx54r-3.jpg


On the left in these shots:

russian_albanianx54r-1.jpg

russian_albanianx54r-2.jpg


That's Albanian, and it's been noted frequently for being all of the map with regard to spec. The most frequent problem I've had with it is rim thickness, which prevents me from closing the bolt easily. Extraction seems to have been OK, though.

jm
 
grimjaw, the ammo i was using was actually Hungarian copper washed steel case. Silvertip with yellow ring which i believe is steel core heavy ball (correct me if im wrong). Headstamp markings are 21 over 75. So, it was steel cased. I was never sure if the copper washed cases were steel or brass. Thats why i said it looks more like brass;) A bit of confusion there i guess:)
 
have you tried any of the Wolf ammo line? they make 3 diff weights, 147, 185, and 205. they are all brass, and they are all quite nice, accurate, and consistent.
 
rangerruck, i have thought about picking up some commerical ammo aside from the 2 boxes of Igman i got when i bought my M44 last fall (was the only 54R he had on the shelf at the time). Since then ive been trying to snap up all the dirt cheap surplus i can find. Ive even thought bout leaving the surplus ammo to the M44 and using only commerical ammo in the sniper. Besides..i really like that fireball the M44 produces :evil:
 
caseless - now how am i supposed to do that when i cant even open it to the point i can pull it back
Click to expand...
Pull on the rear of the bolt like you are going to engage the safety, that cocks the firing pin, which in turn relieves the tension on the extractor.
 
I do what the same thing caseless. I just cock it after every shot and i dont have any trouble opening the bolt.
 
grimjaw, the ammo i was using was actually Hungarian copper washed steel case. Silvertip with yellow ring which i believe is steel core heavy ball (correct me if im wrong).
Click to expand...
I have had extraction trouble with that yellow/silver tip ammo as well. And yes, it is Hungarian heavy ball. My Mosins work well with everything else (including CZ silver tip and Hungarian yellow tip).

Here it is:
http://www.7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmo007.htm

Apparently the yellow means heavy ball and the silver means steel core.

Not sure why it would stick on extraction. It appears to be the same case as Hungarian yellowtip. It has less velocity that yellowtip and has slightly less powder.
 
I have three types of ammo for my Mosins.

I dont know what the other two are, I bought them from SOG on two different occasions. That ammo works great, the bolt operates just as smooth as any new bolt gun.

The below ammo I got given to me, about 40 rounds. This crap SUCKS. It requires beating the bolt open.....and sometimes it needs some persuasion to get the bolt closed. I shot 20 rounds....doesnt make any difference....didnt get any easier to open.

ammo007a.jpg
 
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