7.62x54r reloading.

[Ruger44mag]

Hey everyone! I have a Russian mosin nagant 91/30 and I am trying to get some good hunting ammo reloads for it.
I found some 180gr (.310 dia) Barns X bullets that look like they would be pretty good. So my question is can I use (.310 dia) bullets in a 91/30 mosin nagant barrel? I think the 91/30 barrels (if I remember right) are about (.312 dia) but I dont know a whole lot about it so correct me if im wrong.

Also I saw some of those Brown Bear 203gr ammo I was wandering if anyone know how good the expansion is on one of those?

Thanks!
Ike

 

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You may want to slug the bore before you decide on the bullet. You are correct on the general diameter but they can varry a few thousandths. slug the bore and you know what you have.

 

[Cosmoline]

So my question is can I use (.310 dia) bullets in a 91/30 mosin nagant barrel?

Yes. Whether or not they will be accurate you can't really know till you try. Try a bunch of ammo weights and types to see what the rifle likes.

Brown bear 203's are pretty primitive soft points. As a result they have explosive tendencies, if that's what you're after:

http://www.brassfetcher.com/Brown Bear 203gr JSP.html

A more advanced SP or HP hunting bullet with a bonded core will hold together better and give you better penetration with less meat waste. For a premium heavy weight round I'd suggest the Woodleigh 215 grain .312" bullets. But there's little question the 203 SP's kill game. I know they've been used on moose and deer.

 

[rcmodel]

I don't think I would bother trying Barnes X bullets though.

A jacketed lead-core bullet stands a good chance of slugging up to fit an over-size bore when it is fired.

A solid copper X-Bullet doesn't.

rc

 

[Japle]

In my M44, I use Sierra 200 gr GameKings. They're .308.

I load them over 45.0 of IMR4350 for about (this is a guess; I haven't chronoed them) 2100 fps.

I get 1 1/2 - 1 3/4" groups at 100 yds with a scope.

 

[kingcheese]

yes you can, i use 308s in my M38

bullet diameter realy decides how much grip the rifleig has on the bullet

he is a diagram of what a nagant bore should look like
http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSpec.htm

 

[NCsmitty]

I suggest trying some Prvi-Partizan or Wolf gold ammo in the 180gr weight. They will have good soft points for game and provide decent reloadable brass if you choose to do it. And they won't break the bank.



NCsmitty

 

[Ruger44mag]

Yes. Whether or not they will be accurate you can't really know till you try. Try a bunch of ammo weights and types to see what the rifle likes.

Brown bear 203's are pretty primitive soft points. As a result they have explosive tendencies, if that's what you're after:

http://www.brassfetcher.com/Brown Bear 203gr JSP.html

A more advanced SP or HP hunting bullet with a bonded core will hold together better and give you better penetration with less meat waste. For a premium heavy weight round I'd suggest the Woodleigh 215 grain .312" bullets. But there's little question the 203 SP's kill game. I know they've been used on moose and deer.

So do you think the Woodleigh 215 grains would be pretty good for mooose?

 

[Cosmoline]

Sadly I have yet to try them myself. I've got 100 rounds prepped, sealed and ready to go--I'm an optimist. I do know others all over the world have used that round for things much bigger than moose. It's a .303 British bullet but has a tapered shape so only the very base is .312". It seems to really agree with some Mosins. Others only shoot lighter bullets well.

 

[Ruger44mag]

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

 

[onebigelf]

I've been warned off the PPU brass. I don't know anything about the Wolf brass. New Lapua and Norma will make your sphincter pop at the price. Winchester supposedly makes it, but nobody I can find has any in stock.

John

 

[_N4Z_]

Wolf is PPU (PRVI Partizan). Winchester in the past has been made by S&B. I currently have some though that has actual Winny headstamp, which is a new thing.

My testing shows that PPU hold more case volume than Lapua. Makes me think PPU is a bit thinner in spots. Lapua factory necks mic .308. Need to neck them for .311 bullets. PPU cases are .311.

Only issue I have ever had with PPU were some odd dimples showing up around the shoulder after firing. Others have seen this too. This has been very rare, and other then losing those pieces for future use - no biggy. PPU is good stuff, and probably the best brass deal on the block for x54r.

 

[Kachok]

I reload PPU brass and have yet to have any issue with it. Mind you that is for my 6.5 sweed the 7.62x54 my be lower quality I don't know.

 

[tth_40]

I've used Privi 7.62x54r brass for around 4 years. Not one problem in any of the rifles I load for (2-91/30's, 1-M44, 1-M39).

 

[azar]

Is (2005 era) "Wolf Gold" ammo in 6.5x55 using Prvi Partizan brass? If so, then I suppose I haven't had good luck with it. I have some Wolf brass left over from factory rounds and I've had that brass split at the neck on the first reload (second firing) with starting charges on more than one occasion.

The cases have obviously been annealed at the factory, but perhaps they were annealed improperly. Or maybe the few boxes I purchased just had a bad batch of brass. It happens.

 

[azar]

Of course, 6.5x55 and 7.62x54R are not the same beast anyway so even if the 6.5x55 brass I used was Prvi it doesn't necessarily say anything about the 7.62x54R brass...

But I thought maybe it would still add something to the discussion.

 

[Ruger44mag]

I have another question, my speer reloading manual (number 10) does not have reloading info for the 7.62x54r. Does speer reloading manual number 14 have it?

 

[_N4Z_]

No, Speer not giving the x54 any love. It's just plain rude.

Lyman, Lee, Hornady, Sierra, Hodgden, all have 7.62x54r loading information.

I have all of the above. Unless your going to use .308 bullets don't bother with Sierra. Both Lyman and Hornady used a M39 for their testing. I also like Lee. Hodgden is online. They only cover their powders, and like Sierra I think they used .308 bullets. Easy enough to check that one though.

 

[Ruger44mag]

No, Speer not giving the x54 any love. It's just plain rude.

Lyman, Lee, Hornady, Sierra, Hodgden, all have 7.62x54r loading information.

I have all of the above. Unless your going to use .308 bullets don't bother with Sierra. Both Lyman and Hornady used a M39 for their testing. I also like Lee. Hodgden is online. They only cover their powders, and like Sierra I think they used .308 bullets. Easy enough to check that one though.

Thanks alot! I guess that will be another item for my (to buy) list.

 

[Duckdog]

If your using lead, don't forget about good old Unique. I have a slug of those rifles and they all digest Unique and .311-.312 bullets just fine. These can be darn fine rifles for accuracy if you take the time. Do the research and the Ruskies sure pasted the Germans with them when used by snipers. For the average Joe who only shoots a box a year and hunts the 2 week deer season, these would really be all they would need to kill a deer.

 

[Wylie1]

You may want to slug the bore before you decide on the bullet.

I agree! Look out for some of the videos on the Internet, slug from the bolt end of the rifle not the muzzle and lube the crap out of the bore.

My best loads to date have been Lapua brass 7.62 x 53r, Federal 210 match primers, from 48 to 49 grains of Hodgdon 4350. Both 174 grain Sierra Match King 303 cal. .311 dia. #2315 and 174 grain Hornady 303 cal. .3105 dia. #3131s have produced near M.O.A. accuracy from my sportized and lightly modified 91/30.