100 Grain .32 (.312) Pistol Bullet in 7.62x54R

[AK Gun Man 88]

I picked up a box of Hornady 100 grain XTP .32 Pistol bullets (.312 Diameter). I plan on reloading these in 7.62x54R. Problem I am having is finding the powder (on island) that most use for a starting load (H4895, Red dot, or 2400).

The powders I do have access to are IMR 4227, SR 4756, Longshot, Lil' Gun. Would any of these work for my "project"? If so, how many grains would one start with? I really like my Mosin Nagant and I wanted to make to an ever lighter small game load than my current 123 FMJ load I have.

Thank you!

 

[joneb]

I would find out how fast the bullets can be pushed.
I would try to find some SR 4759, or Accurate 5744.

 

[Centurian22]

Could always try something like this:

http://bit.ly/17xtbgY

Should be an eBay link to a chamber insert that allows you to shoot .32 ammo in your 7.62x54r. I'm thinking of getting one as I have .32 ammo. As for powders / changes I'll check my manuals in the morning. I'm just in need of some brass 7.62x54r or the drive to try 'Mexican matching' (pulling the surplus bullets and replacing them with your chosen bullet and powder.

 

[blue32]

Handloader Mag ran in interesting article in the April 2010 issue titled Reduced Rifle Loads with Trail Boss. Using bullets originally designed for the cartridge ... "Fill the case to the bottom of the bullet and weigh it. That's your maximum load. Then take 75% of that as your starting load... "

I think you would have much better luck using this formula with a 150 or 180gr. bullet. If I were you I would call Hogdon and ask them straight up. My concern in using a relatively light bullet for cartridge would be the pressure curves developed by igniting small amounts of fast powders in a case with a lot of leftover space. I think it can be done but the real question is how do you get to that point without lodging a bullet in the bore or worse. Give Hogdon a call.

 

[greenlion]

My guess is that no one knows. Trail Boss would be the safest thing for you to experiment around with. Do you think the barrel twist rate will stabilize a very light weight bullet well?

 

[Cosmoline]

I've done a bunch of loads with these "plinker" rounds in the 54R. I'll dig into the data and let you know, but my recollection is they had a lot of drop and I had to bring the back tangent up to about 400 meters to hit at 50. But they were fun.