@ meanmrmustard
The thread has mainly been about how the cheap corrosive military surplus has either dried up or gotten ridiculously expensive. I don't think anyone's having problems finding recent production commercial 7.62x54R.
Unfortunately, I don't have your vast experience with reloading .308 and 7.62 x54R in various barrel lengths, so I'll just have to go with the information listed on the Hodgdon reloading data site. Fortunately all of their data in both .308 and 7.62x54R was developed in 24 inch barrels.
In
every bullet weight tested (with the single exception of 200 grain
), the 7.62x54R turned in higher velocities when comparing the fastest loads listed for each caliber.
Copper units of pressure aren't directly comparable to pounds per square inch, but anyone possessing a basic familiarity with internal ballistics would probably agree the '54R loads are lower pressure than the .308 loads.
All data below is for the highest velocity load listed for each bullet weight with "any powder" selected (includes only Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders).
_________________________
308, 110 gr 24" = 3,358 fps. @53,900 PSI
7.62x54R, 110 gr 24"= 3,376 fps @ 42,300 CUP
_________________________
308, 125 gr 24" = 3,194 fps @ 58,100 PSI
7.62x54R, 125 gr 24"= 3,236 fps @ 45,700 CUP
_________________________
308, 150 gr 24" = 2974 fps @ 57,000 psi
7.62x54R, 150 gr 24"= 3,027 fps @ 46,300 CUP
_________________________
308, 180 gr 24" = 2,665 fps @ 57,900 PSI
7.62x54R, 180 gr 24" = 2,692 fps @ 44,700 CUP
_________________________
308, 200 gr 24" = 2,582 fps @ 60,600 PSI
(CFE 223)
7.62x54R, 200 gr 24" = 2,529 fps @ 46,500 CUP
As usual, the actual data is pretty much in total opposition to the "facts" you've posted. Contrary to your claims that the .308 posts higher velocities out of shorter barrel lengths, Hodgdon data shows the .308 with LOWER velocities for the SAME barrel lengths.
Have you ever considered using "facts" that you didn't make up yourself?
It did surprise me to see the .308 beating the '54R with the 200 grain bullets, I would have sworn the larger case would show greater superiority the heavier the bullets got.
I may have to take a closer look at CFE 223 powder, despite its name, it seems to put out some serious velocities in heavy bullet .308 loads.
I wonder if the results for 200 grain bullets might have been different if Hodgdon posted data for that (or any of its newer powders) in '54R?
As for the .308 being "easier" to load? I already admitted that reloadable .308 brass is much easier to find than '54R, but reloadable Privi Partizan brass is easy to find, affordable and of very good quality, so that's pretty much a non-issue.
As far as actual ease of resizing goes, the '54R requires much less effort, probably due to the generous case taper.
As for having more ammo, rifles and actions available in the .308 than the '54R?
Pretty much anyone that's ever seen a gun and been allowed to cross the street without holding someone else's hand already knows that, let alone anyone who's read this far into a thread titled: "7.62X54R prices through the roof; why?"
I'm guessing they already know they can't get a Weatherby Mk V or M-forgery in 7.62x54R.
Truth is, I think 7.62x51/.308 is a better round than 7.62x54R. The case for its superiority is pretty easy to argue and it can be done logically and truthfully, with no need for made up facts and massive piles of BS.
There's plenty of room on THR for differences of opinion. That's what makes the site interesting and helps people learn. There's just no point in stating things like "308 can achieve higher velocities with the same bullet weight out of shorter barrel lengths"; when anyone who looks at real data can see that it isn't true.
The majority of members here can undoubtedly spot the BS for what it is, but most of the time there's more non-members online. A lot of them probably got here through an honest search for information, why not try to give it to them without all the lies?
