7,62x54R...a Short Magnum of its time??

[saturno_v]

Some time ago I was talking with some range friends about the rather similar features (rim aside) of the 7,62x54R compared to the new Winchester Short Magnums...a fat and relatively short case (basically identical length), sharp shoulder angle (for the 54R compared to its contemporary rivals)...even for the Russian round the reason for the short wide case was said to be efficient powder burning.

Today I did draw some performance comparisons between the old Russian round (introduced in 1891) and the 300 WSM arrived on the market in 2001, exactly 110 years after....well, ok, let's say that the final modern version of the 7,62x54R with lighter spitzer bullets was introduced in 1908....

I calculated the total average velocity difference among the various bullet weight pairs for the two cartridges for several loads from more than one reloading source......it all came down to 236 fps...

A relatively modest difference....easily explained by the higher pressure of the 300 WSM (65K psi SAAMI vs. 58K psi CIP....no SAAMI standard for the old Russian round) and the higher case capacity (the 300 WSM case is even fatter and the shoulder is a bit more forward compared to the 54R)

Progress........110 years (or 93 years if you consider the modernized 1908 7,62x54R) and 236 fps....


Now, think what were the standard ballistic performances of firearms only 30 years before the 7,62x54R....


Yep...seems like when it comes to brass cases and gunpowder, the technology pretty much peaked....all is left is scraping the bottom of the barrel...

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I'd say you are hitting on a pretty good conclusion. Those russians were not stupid. The 7.62x59 is one powerful round. I have seen pictures on the net where the russian infantry knocked out a German dive bomber right out of the sky.
I shot through a tree with a czech silvertip. One powerful round.

 

[rangerruck]

It has been said, the next step up, is really fat cases , with a conical shoulder, but it is all dependent on the retail buyer- not even the military. but look how long it took us to except even a bolt action over a lever. And then how long it took us to say, ' you know, there are other carts out there, beside the 3030 and 30.06 ' , So the american shooter, is still really in the WWII stage, when it comes to thinking of bullets, for the most part...

 

[mp5a3]

Do you guys think we'll move away from smokeless powder ? I meant it's 100 years old. Surely we could come up with something else. Maybe a substance that has more power but leaves no residue, it would be perfect for the AR15 as it wouldn't leave fouling.

And yes, 7.62x54 is an awesome cartridge. Keep that surplus coming.

 

[jbech123]

And then how long it took us to say, ' you know, there are other carts out there, beside the 3030 and 30.06 '

There are other carts, and I don't happen to own either. Honestly though for hunting applications the 30-06 will still do anything that any cartridge developed since 1906 will do. Sure there are rounds that have better numbers, but the fact is an '06 will kill an elk at a much farther distance than most of us have any business shooting at one, as will the 7.62x54R.

So the american shooter, is still really in the WWII stage, when it comes to thinking of bullets, for the most part...

You probably meant cartridges? Anyway I think actual bullet technology is what has really progressed since wwII. As far as cartridges, heck the 220 swift has been around since the '30's.
I tend to agree with the OP as far as actual cartridge performance, the 7.62x54R is on par with any of the new offerings out there.

 

[JShirley]

* Cartridge: 7.62x54R
* Bullet Weight: 180
* Muzzle Velocity: 2580
* Ballistic Co-efficient: 0.486


* Cartridge: .308 Winchester
* Bullet Weight: 180
* Muzzle Velocity: 2620
* Ballistic Co-efficient: 0.382

.300 WSM

 

[saturno_v]

Jshirley

a 180 gr. pill can be pushed above 2700 fps from a -54R case without going overpressure (Hodgdon and VihtaVuori)...the Russian sniper round (185 gr.) has a MV of 2730 fps.
2580 fps is a little sedate...the page you posted says that the cartridge is a low pressure one...it is absolutely not true, CIP specs for the round is 58K psi (a SAAMI spec for the cartridge does not exists) 1K above a full power 7,92x57JS (57K psi) and basically almost on par with a 30-06 (59K psi CIP).
I'm surprised Norma ammo is loaded that low (45K psi)....

 

[saturno_v]

Here is a list of CIP compliant hunting loads for the 7,62x54R from realguns.com tested out of a 91/30

http://www.realguns.com/loads/762x54r.htm

The 180 gr. pills can be pushed up to 2871 fps!!!