IMR-4350 with 125-215gr bullets 7.62x54r

[UnderTheBigSky]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to THR, as well as new to hand loading. Right now I am working on getting components together to work up some loads for my 91/30. I have gotten some of the Woodleigh 215 gr sp, Barnes 150 gr hp, and Lapua 123 grain fmj. I have mainly ppu and winchester brass.

My biggest issue is powder. This is partially because I can't find anything seemingly universal that I can also get my hands on. I have found some IMR-4350 locally, and have seen where people have had success with just under 50 gr of it with the heavy woodleigh bullets. I have a manual with some data for the 4350 on 180 gr bullets, but anything below that and 4350 drops off the radar. I can't find any Varget, RX15, or IMR-4895 without having to order online and pay shipping/hazardous material fees. Can I use 4350 with these "lighter" bullets? Also, do I run any risk to the bore shooting the 123 gr at relatively high speed? Some people suggest it may damage it.

I really appreciate any input. I'm looking for some light practice/plinking loads with the 123 gr and obviously hunting loads with the hp and sp for when I get back to MT this fall.

 

[_N4Z_]

Lightest bullet I've ever launched accurately in x54r with imr4350 was 150gr. Think you'd be wasting it on 120 range grain projectiles.

 

[UnderTheBigSky]

I appreciate the input. I spoke with someone at a local store today and he told me that the burn rate of 4350 is probably too slow for the lighter bullets. Something about the bullets releasing from the case neck too soon. He told me probably to stick with 180 gr bullets and above with this powder but if you had good results with 150 gr I might give it a try. Thank you.

 

[Sunray]

Hi. The 123's and 125's are for the 7.62 x 39(maybe for varmints out of your rifle though.)The 215's are a pre-W.W. I .303 British load bullets.
Your Mosin will likely prefer 175 to 180 grain bullets, but a 150 will also do nicely. Varget, one of the 4895's(close but not the same) or IMR4064 should work well with those bullets. Varget or a 4895 will do for the light bullets.
Look on Hodgdon's site.

 

[UnderTheBigSky]

The Lapua bullets I found are .311", so not designed for x39. I'm sure the heavier bullets will perform and fly better, but I just want the smaller ones to target shoot and practice with. I got some 4350 today and will try it with the heavy bullets when they arrive in a few days. If only I could get my hands on the other powders I would be all set!

 

[Captcurt]

I don't know about your area but I am starting to see more powder showing up locally. LGS has some IMR 4895 and 3031. He had 4350 and 4831 a couple weeks back. Maybe you will luck out and find some faster powder. I found no loads for 4350 in 3 of my books.

 

[UnderTheBigSky]

Man would I love to get some 4895! I recently started reloading 12 ga shotshells (for clay shooting) and had to drive about 40 miles to get a suitable powder. Ended up with Hodgdon 700X. 40 miles is too far when in the Carolinas and the gun stores are numerous. I couldn't believe it when I started looking for just a pound of powder to get started with for x54r and the only thing people had was for big magnums and .50bmg.

 

[UnderTheBigSky]

By the way, _N4Z_, what charge did you use with 150 gr bullet and how accurate were the results?

 

[TrickyDick]

I load using .311" 150gr Sierra SP's, on 47.3gr of IMR4320. Got a 1.5" group at 100 yards using my stock 91/30, iron sights.

I tried IMR4064, couldn't get a grouping as good, but more experimentation needs to be done.

 

[_N4Z_]

I do not have my load book handy, but I want to say I landed 5 around an inch @ 100 yards best results. 50 or 51 grains?? I'll have to go look when I get a chance. I was using one of my Finn M39's. Here's the rub. While I was able to do that in a testing sessions (5 to 10 total shots), those loads didn't hold up in competitions (50 to 60 rounds a session). There were fliers that would blow a group. In my experience with the M39's the 180's have yielded better, more consistant results. Now I only tried the 4350 loaded 150gr rounds a couple of times ever. If 150 was the bullet then 4895 was the powder of choice, and it works rather well. I will have to get back with you on the 4350 load.

 

[_N4Z_]

Follow up to the above question about what charge I used with a 150gr bullet and IMR4350. From a few years back I have this from my log book -
Finn M39 B-barrel
150gr Sierra SP ProHunter
51gr IMR 4350
Fed 210M primer
once fired Lapua brass, neck sized to rifle
OAL 2.875"

@ 100 yards 5 shots = 1-1/4" grouping
repeated on two more occasions, similar result.

That same outing saw a 1-3/8" grouping using 45gr. IMR 4895 and the same bullet.

Small batch firing these loads perform about the same accuracy wise.

 

[Ditchtiger]

I'm looking for some light practice/plinking loads with the 123 gr

13grs. Red Dot under a jacketed pistol slug. They are .312 dia. and work great out to 100 yards or so. Light plinkers, and hollow points really explode vegetables.

 

[jkhammer]

I would first start off by "slugging" the barrel to determine the exact diameter. The rifles were mass produced and the diameter varies from .311 to .314 and match your bullet to the barrel. After determining your barrel diameter, then build your load from that data. My mosin slugs out at .311 and .312 hornandy sst shoot sub MOA at 100 yards. As far a 4350, that's a slower burning powder and might not work too well for light weight bullets. I run that bullet in front of 46 grains of IMR 4064 with an OAL of 2.975 PPU brass WLR primer and get great results. It is a pain to meter that powder, but is underrated. I have shot 500 and 750 yard targets with that load and looking for a 1000yard range to test the limits. This is using a customized mosin with rock solid scope mount, muzzle brake and ss12x42 milrad scope. It is a very accurate rifle once tuned and matched ammunition.

I have tried IMR 4895, H335 and Ramshot and IMR 4064 has them all beat hands down IMO. It's one powder that I see available all the time, even in 8lb jugs.

 

[LAGS]

@ jkhammer.
Try IMR-4320 with 123 to 180 gr bullets if you want good long range accuracy
For the 180 to the 200 grainer jacketed bullets, the IMR-4350 starts to come into it's own.
But use the 4350 only in Longer Barrrel rifles like over 24".
Otherwise you are just wasting powder and shooting out a big fireball.