7.62x39 and x54r -- hunting rounds?

[Deus Machina]

I have shot .308" bullets from several rifles varying in bore size from .311 to .314" bore size and they all shot as good or better than the "correct" sized bullets. Others have had different experiences but as for myself I have seen no evidence whatsoever that slightly undersized bullets will not shoot accurately.

Oh, I'm certain it can. I've just heard personal accounts both ways.
I figure it's one more thing that comes down to quality; a good smooth barrel will still shoot at least as well, where a rough or uneven barrel may need something sized to still force itself to dimension.
I'll probably give it a shot sometime. At least just to experiment.
You certainly got good results!

I don't want to discourage but this may be better left till you have more experience with rifle reloading if you are new to handloading.

I've done my share for pistols, but it's been a while. I'd have to buy materials and test that everything's set up.
Experience as a machinist taught me about fit tolerances, and loading for a couple 9mm that would beat a bullet into the case and an ultralight .38 and .357 that would yank them out taught me about neck tension and crimps. Would just have to get that set up right, and it's even more critical if I tried to get really cheap and use steel. I'm a fan of brass.

 

[someguy2800]

Oh, I'm certain it can. I've just heard personal accounts both ways.
I figure it's one more thing that comes down to quality; a good smooth barrel will still shoot at least as well, where a rough or uneven barrel may need something sized to still force itself to dimension.
I'll probably give it a shot sometime. At least just to experiment.
You certainly got good results!



I've done my share for pistols, but it's been a while. I'd have to buy materials and test that everything's set up.
Experience as a machinist taught me about fit tolerances, and loading for a couple 9mm that would beat a bullet into the case and an ultralight .38 and .357 that would yank them out taught me about neck tension and crimps. Would just have to get that set up right, and it's even more critical if I tried to get really cheap and use steel. I'm a fan of brass.

One of mine that really surprised me is my 1898 Krag. The bore varies from around .310 to .314 and is bigger in the center than the ends. I tried that with a dozen or so .308 bullets and two different .312 bullets. I thought for sure the .312 bullets would be the ticket but it didn't like either of them. I found that its important to find a bullet with a soft enough core and thin enough jacket to deform and fill the bore and then it doesn't really matter that much what the bullet size is.

If your a machinist I'm sure you can figure out what you need to do. I didn't know what your experience level was so I didn't want you or someone else reading to get in over their head.

Good luck with your hunt, sounds fun! I would love to plug some oinkers with a nagant. We don't have them where I live which is a good and bad thing.

 

[Deus Machina]

I found that its important to find a bullet with a soft enough core and thin enough jacket to deform and fill the bore and then it doesn't really matter that much what the bullet size is.

If your a machinist I'm sure you can figure out what you need to do. I didn't know what your experience level was so I didn't want you or someone else reading to get in over their head.

Makes sense; that's the principle between hollow-based BP rounds, airgun pellets, and smoothbore slugs. Didn't think it would affect modern rifle bullets as much, but they do work at much higher pressures...
And good thought about anyone else reading. FWIW, my machining experience isn't by definition professional (only because the work/pay balance when I was looking sucked) but I made a point to be extremely thorough and precise. Starting with pneumatics, steam, and my college's electric race team were demanding enough, but I also did paintball. You do not want to be careless or out of tolerance when you're going to be pressing your work against your shoulder and using mechanisms operating at 800psi six inches from your face.

Good luck with your hunt, sounds fun! I would love to plug some oinkers with a nagant. We don't have them where I live which is a good and bad thing.

Thanks! It's a matter of timing, mostly, and getting dad to take care of his cataract before pointing a gun at anything what would complain.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

7.62X54R factory soft point ammo available via the internet (there are other vendors, I just copied these links from one vendor)

S&B 180 grain

https://www.sgammo.com/product/sell...rain-soft-point-ammo-sellier-bellot-sb76254rb

Ballistic Data

https://www.sellierbellot.us/products/rifle-ammunition/rifle-ammunition-sp/detail/129/

PPU 150 grain

https://www.sgammo.com/product/prvi...ft-point-150-grain-brass-case-non-corrosive-p

Ballistic Data

https://www.ppu-usa.com/ppu/7-62x54-r/

 

[dave951]

All I've got for reloading right now is for 9mm. I have heard about the 'Mexican match' idea.
Maybe I'll grab a set of used dies and give that a shot. Just need to find bullets the same weight, length, and effective at around the same velocity.
And maybe slug the bore first. IIRC the Mosin Nagant is .311, +/- .0005 (unissued or very gently used) and I'm unsure how it would like .308. Better than the counterbored ones, I'm sure.
I'm betting that this AK will be a proper .311 barrel instead of some US-manufactured ones on .308 blanks, but... trust but verify.

Bullets for 303 are .311 and should work fine in a Mosin if the barrel sluggs to that size

 

[Random 8]

All I've got for reloading right now is for 9mm. I have heard about the 'Mexican match' idea.
Maybe I'll grab a set of used dies and give that a shot. Just need to find bullets the same weight, length, and effective at around the same velocity.
And maybe slug the bore first. IIRC the Mosin Nagant is .311, +/- .0005 (unissued or very gently used) and I'm unsure how it would like .308. Better than the counterbored ones, I'm sure.
I'm betting that this AK will be a proper .311 barrel instead of some US-manufactured ones on .308 blanks, but... trust but verify.

A set of dies and a pound of IMR 4064 and you'll be set for the MN. I have used the Hornady .311 174RN to great effect on whitetail in this round. It's a tough bullet, but not too tough. I've gotten really good accuracy from my Mosins. Ditto for the Speer .311 150 Soft point, but never put that into an animal.

For factory fodder, this will work well on hogs. I've taken 2 deer in the past with the load. Performs as you'd expect from a commercial 150 "American" soft point in .308 Win, which is good deer or hog medicine, and the brass is reloadable. https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/77024

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

I can't help with the 7.62x54R as I've never owned or really shot one. I can however recommend the 7.62x39 federal fusion load. It's a fantastic bullet and the factory load has been very accurate in a few different x39's I've owned and shot. This year my wife used my AR-15 7.62x39 to drop a deer down in its tracks. Shot was great placement at about 35 yards. Recovered bullet and kept over 90% of it bullet weight.