7.62x54R reloading

[Bezoar]

ive read about arsenal loaded 46 grain hollow core bullets. And ive read about lead roundball being loaded into subsonic sniper rounds. Im wondering on where to get good loading data for this, or if someone has any laying aorund anymore?

Is there commercial bullets being sold that would be inthe 56-60 grain range for varmint work? Im tired of 22lr not working at 30 feet on woodchucks and htink somethign like this would be far better.

 

[nambu1]

I have never seen any commercial bullets in that weight range.

 

[Jason M]

46gr bullets for the 7.62x54R cartridge is like seeing a 46gr bullet for .308 or .30-06, I just don't think it is going to be common at all; not even a little bit.

Besides, sub-sonic is anything less than about 1100fps and that is just trash out of a rifle.

 

[nambu1]

To go that low weight bullet, you will have to use cast lead.

 

[jwr_747]

I have a few thousand of the 46gr 7.62x54R stuff.never took one apart to check powder weight,but they are a hoot to shoot. you can go to the range and shoot a bunch of the 46gr stuff,big bang,lots of flash,zip for recoil.get the Remchester folks interested and let them shoot the Czech heavy ball stuff.they all wonder why my shoulder isn't dislocated. I'm a little stinker,but it's fun. jwr

 

[FieroCDSP]

Heck, if you have a problem with woodchucks, just use a full-tilt 174 gr 303. You won't even have much left to bury afterwards.

 

[fireflyfather]

I'm not sure what kind of "sniping" you could do with a .30 round ball at 1000fps. It might be good for snipes (the bird). a .30 diam round ball is going to be about 40 grains (#1 buckshot).

Those loads are usually referred to as squib or whisper loads. Out of a 91/30, they are going to be awfully quiet, provided they obturate properly. You'll have to be careful not to get them stuck in the barrel.

 

[Bartkowski]

the Remchester folks interested and let them shoot the Czech heavy ball stuff.they all wonder why my shoulder isn't dislocated. I'm a little stinker,but it's fun. jwr

I have done that. They watch you blast a few off, come over and you load up your heaviest ammo for them.

The surplus training ammo is very nice IMO. It shoots around 3" consistenly at 100 yards, sometimes a little less some times a little more.

Don't know where to buy the bullets themselves, but why not just use normal ammo, there woodchucks?

 

[MikeG]

Depending on the bore dimensions of your rifle, you might be able to use pistol bullets for .30 calibers like the 7.62x25mm or .32 ACP or .32 revolvers.

The Russians and Finns used several types of load similar to what you're after.

http://russian-mosin-nagant.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=60

If you can wade through all 3 parts of this Finnish treatise, it'll help you come up with some ideas.

http://www.guns.connect.fi/gow/arcane1.html

 

[oldgold]

I load a Hornaday 123gr .310 bullet over about 18 grains of Blue Dot. Bullet is made for 762x39 I think.

It chronos right at 1900 fps and out of my rifles is very accurate. It will fubar a ground hog.

 

[Bezoar]

my woodchuck hunting is normally 30-50 feet. I have to worry about shooting up the garden fencing, the garden fence posts. The ammo has to be slow enough not to bounce far, and i have to be careful as if it bounces it could end up in the cow or goat pen.
SO im thinking a lightweight bullet at a good velocity from a nagant that hits the chuck should just vaporize itself and make massive internal damage to the chuck.

 

[fireflyfather]

Ain't nothing gonna be vaporized except that woodchuck. Any solid at that velocity (cast or swagged) will punch through the woodchuck and continue on. Having said that, squib loads from rifles are good for use against small game. Load them very light, using fast powders, and remember to change your zero. Check out Ed Harris' writings for more info.

 

[Jason M]

Heck, if you have a problem with woodchucks, just use a full-tilt 174 gr 303. You won't even have much left to bury afterwards.

Bury? Leave the scraps for the coyotes and shoot them, too!

Slightly hijacking the thread, but I reload some .180gr Hornaday SP and 180gr HPBT moly-coated bullets over 46.5gr IMR 4320. It has less felt recoil (to me) than factory/mil-surp ammo and it shoots pretty nicely (sub-3" @ 100 with iron sights). Never chronoed the load, but most published velocities are around 2500~2580 fps.

I am sort of curious about this 46gr bullet thing, though.

 

[stubbicatt]

How about a 22 long rifle? I've shot prairie dogs with it at out to 200 yards or so. Puts 'em down. Plus it is pretty cheap to shoot.

 

[Jason M]

How about a 22 long rifle? I've shot prairie dogs with it at out to 200 yards or so. Puts 'em down. Plus it is pretty cheap to shoot.

Uhm...some of us want an explosion, you know...

 

[fireflyfather]

How about a 22 long rifle? I've shot prairie dogs with it at out to 200 yards or so. Puts 'em down. Plus it is pretty cheap to shoot.

Uhm...some of us want an explosion, you know...

The OP specifically said he didn't want to use .22LR, as it wasn't doing the job. The problem with using explosion-inducing varmint rounds in the close quarters the OP describes is the same problem ANY full-powered rifle round would have: collateral damage.