7.62x54r

[tech30528]

Anyone done it? Just got my press and most of my equipment ordered, mostly for 9mm. But I shoot quite a bit of the Russian and considered picking up some reloadable brass for longer range target use. Any good recipes out there?

 

[Centurian22]

I just bought my first 40 rds of brass PPU 150gr soft point. I'll be slugging my barrel, ordering what I can find for .311 bullets (assuming that's what it slugs at), might try .308 bullets as i already have some, and loading with IMR4895. Also going to try trail boss for some reduced recoil loads and possibly plated 100gr .32 (.312dia) S&W Long bullets. Can't wait to get started. Good luck with yours.

 

[Clark]

The Sierra pro hunter 180 gr .311" [part number 2310] is the best hunting bullet I have found for Mosin Nagant rifles.
https://www.sierrabullets.com/products/bullets/rifle.cfm/caliberID/10

I like the Lapua brass.

I like 4895 powder.

I jam the bullet into the lands, but not so far it will get stuck if the round is extracted without being fired.

If I work up to a sticky bolt and then back off a margin, it is ~ 2875 fps for the long barreled Mosin Nagants.

The M39s may have a tight chamber, so they require a separate work up.

 

[tech30528]

The rifle in question is modified. The barrel has been cut to 22 inches and it has a JP recoil eliminator on it so reduced load is not an issue. I'm looking for range approved soft points in the best weight and speed for groups to 400+ yards. As it is I've post 7 inch groups at 400 yards with 148 grain milsurp ammo. There is a Promag stock on the way for it the end of August which will make it mag fed. I'm looking to rock the old bolt rifle for full distance AQT events this fall.

 

[elwoodm]

don't know what you mean by range approved soft points when your shooting out to 400 yrds. the sierra .311 174gr hpbt pt # 2315 are the ones i use out to 200 yrds. these shoot 1 inch groups out of my PU sniper at 2620 fps col 2.990 with imr 4895. with only a 22 inch barrel don't worry about speed you have lost about 4 inches of barrel and my mosins shoot much better groups at 2550 to 2700 fps. every time i have pushed them to 2800 or more the groups opened up. the guns made near wwll had different land and grooves than the ones made in the 30s or earlier. when you get out to long ranges bullet design makes a difference. now if we can get them to start making bullets again and people to stop buying more than they need things would be good again.

 

[tech30528]

This is what I'm looking for. Nice thing is with hand loading you can end up with the "perfect" length bullet and speed to work the twist rate. Thanks guys, I suspect you've already saved me a bunch of time.

Some ranges prefer soft point ammo for use on steels to prevent damaging the targets or ricochets.