7.62x54r bullet diameter

[Ed Gallop]

I am getting a Russian 7.62x54R delivered in a week or two for father's day. Ordered dies and brass but don't know what bullets to get. I bought a Loadbook USA manual and it list .308 but another source referenced to .310 or .311. When I get the rifle I can slug the barrel to find out but wanted to get prepared to reload now if possible. Ammunition, such as Wolf, do not state the bullet diameter. Would the .003 diameter variation make a difference? Ed.

 

[Maelstrom]

The Russian rounds, both 7.62X39 and 7.62X54, are .311"

 

[jwr_747]

I have a group of M/N's all non-Finns.never slugged the bores but they all shoot .311 or .312 bullets real well..308 loads shoot poor. jwr

 

[Ed Gallop]

Thanks. Seems the choices for .311 are limited but I managed to order Sierra Pro-Hunter 150 Grain Spitzer at Midway. Hope they will do ok. Ed.

 

[FieroCDSP]

For the 54R, use 303 bullets. Most of them run about 310-311, and the heavier weight is closer to the original light and heavy ball ammo used by Ze Ruskies. Hornaday #3131 is a 174gr .3105" that shoots sweet and straight.
For 7.62x39, a lighter 125gr bullet is nice. I've fired a 125gr Remington soft point in both my SKS and Mosin, and the SKS loves it, but the Mosin doesn't.

 

[lgbloader]

Hey Ed.

This may be irrelevent but FWIW, I loaded up 50 rounds of Hornady 150 FMJBT .308 backed by IMR 4895 in my m44 which I usually load .3105's and yesterday, I was nailing a 6" steel plate out to 200 yards very consecutively. I loaded these for the helluvit and to see what would happen. I will probably continue this as I use my Mosin Nagent to plink anyways. I gotta say, I had alot of fun shooting those 50 rounds.

Cheers...

 

[dmftoy1]

FWIW - I've had good luck with the various hornady's in .312. (Terrible luck with anything less than .310)

Regards,
Dave

 

[Ed Gallop]

The bullet and powder you suggest (Hornady 150 FJMBT & IMR 4895) is in the Loadbook. A 6" group at 200 yards is good enough for me. It is the M44 I'll be shooting and the Wolf ammunition I bought has .308" bullets. I'll be reloading with 303 bullets of .311" (already bought) so will be able to compare.

The Loadbooks USA Manual for the 7.62 x 54 has an ambiguous statement on page 17: "For barrels with groove diameter no larger than .310 we suggest the use of .308" diameter bullets. Due to limitation of chamber size, larger diameter bullets are not suggested even though the groove diameter are larger than .310". Hmmm... Sounds like they suggest .308 for the .311" M44. Ed.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Due to limitation of chamber size, larger diameter bullets are not suggested even though the groove diameter are larger than .310".

Sounds like a CYA statement. Seriously, unless you're using a confirmed .308 barrel, the .310-.312 will be just fine. Measure old mil-surp rounds and you'll find them to be .311.

 

[kragluver]

I'm no MN expert, but I do own an M38. Its my understanding that the early M91s (circa WW1) and the Finnish rifles have .308 bores. The post WW1 rifles (except the Finnish) have .311 bores. Hence the confusion.

 

[shc1]

Depending on the rifle the longer (bullet) the better. You can seat them deeper but shorter bullets can only be seated so far.
I use 180 grain .311 or .312. Boat tail, those are bit easier.
No hot loads, I’m a sissy.

 

[kragluver]

shc1 -- You're no sissy... you are a smart and cautious handloader. There's just no reason I've ever found to hotrod anything. My most accurate loads in every rifle I own are never near the max load.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

The safest way to know your bore diameter is to slug your bores. There is a great pictorial on how to do this one can find just by googling "slugging your bore" or something along those lines.

Regards,

Dave