7.62x54R ammo with .308 bullets?

[Reason]

I just came into posession of a beautiful Finnish M28-30 rifle chambered for 7.62x54R, but with a .308 bore. Being such a nice rifle, I'd like to treat it to some nice ammo with .308 bullets, but I'm having a bit of trouble finding that information about the ammo that's out there. Is there any new-production, factory 7.62x54R ammo that uses .308 caliber bullets, or am I going to have to start reloading for this rifle?

Is the Norma 7.62x54R ammo .308?

Thanks.

 

[Cosmoline]

To my knowledge, nobody makes .308" loaded 7.62x54R. In fact this is one reason the Finns switched to the "D" bore on later models. DOuble check to see if your barrel has a "D" stamped on it, BTW. Some of the old rifles were reamed out to .311" or so and stamped "D."

Norma is NOT .308" and some of the old Finns have iffy headspace and antique receivers, so I wouldn't try shooting any standard stuff through it.

Reloading is the only option as far as I know. But worth it. IIRC, your model is the same as the infamous "Rifle of the White Death"

 

[telewinz]

I have used .308 BTFMJ surplus bullets (reloads) in my SVT40 with no ill effects and plan to load-up some of the same for my Romak 3 in the near future. Doesn't S&B sell commercial grade 7.62X 54 ammo? Remington or Winchester use to.

 

[Okiecruffler]

S&B is .311 and so is everything else that I've seen. Looks like a set of dies may be called for.

 

[Reason]

To my knowledge, nobody makes .308" loaded 7.62x54R. In fact this is one reason the Finns switched to the "D" bore on later models. DOuble check to see if your barrel has a "D" stamped on it, BTW. Some of the old rifles were reamed out to .311" or so and stamped "D."

The D stamp doesn't say anything about the bore diameter. It merely means that the chamber can accept the D-166 ammunition.

I have used .308 BTFMJ surplus bullets (reloads) in my SVT40 with no ill effects and plan to load-up some of the same for my Romak 3 in the near future. Doesn't S&B sell commercial grade 7.62X 54 ammo? Remington or Winchester use to.

There are four (or five) commercial brands of 7.62x54R that I know of. Wolf makes a 148gr. and a 200gr. round, there's the Norma stuff that sells for $35/20ct., Winchester supposedly still makes some but it's very tough to find, and there's S&B as well.