leadcounsel
member
Is this a rimfire or a centerfire?
Tell me about the 7.62x54R
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weaselchew
Member
it's centerfire, with a rimmed case.
ETA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x54R They show some pictures there.
ETA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x54R They show some pictures there.
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azredhawk44
Member
Centerfire, and about on par in power with the .308 and .30-06.
While the .308/7.62NATO/.30-30/.30-06 all use .308 diameter bullets, the 7.62x54R uses a .311 diameter bullet much like the .303 British and the 7.62x39 round used by the AK and SKS.
It will push a 150gr bullet about 2700-ish feet per second.
While the .308/7.62NATO/.30-30/.30-06 all use .308 diameter bullets, the 7.62x54R uses a .311 diameter bullet much like the .303 British and the 7.62x39 round used by the AK and SKS.
It will push a 150gr bullet about 2700-ish feet per second.
KINDA. soviet X54R use .312. bores can be anywere from .308-.314 and + wide variation in mosins to be specific.
Finnish 7.62x54r ( sometiems called 7.62x53r) are said to use .308 rounds.
what else do you need to know? almost 120 years and still in service.
Not exactly correct.
The best commercial loads (i.e. Norma) or any Mil-Spec loads push a 148 gr just shy of 3000 ft/sec
The most common commercial loads as far as I know are: 148 gr FMJ (I never heard of any Soft Point in this weight and I would like to know if there are any), 180-185 FMJ and SP, 203-205 gr FMJ and SP.
It is a very good round. In terms of power at the muzzle falls just between a 308 and a 30-06
Many bullets for the 54R have an VERY good ballistic coefficient and at extremely long ranges (400 and over) the remaining energy of the best loads is close to a 300 Win Mag.
It is the oldest cartridge (117 years) still in service with military forces..and we are talking MAJOR military forces (Russia and China just for start....)
In Russia (where they do not have readily available all the magnum assortment we have) they hunt everything with it up to Polar Bears and some folks over there think the round is a bit overpowered for Moose!!
Just one video clip show the capability of the round....a wild boar nailed at 350 yards open sight with a Mosin 91/30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCSDWM0J-L8
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_N4Z_
Member
Want to know about 7.62x54r eh?
http://www.mosinnagant.net/i3tro4.asp
and
http://www.7.62x54r.net
Look for the ammunition section. These two sites should get you up to speed.
http://www.mosinnagant.net/i3tro4.asp
and
http://www.7.62x54r.net
Look for the ammunition section. These two sites should get you up to speed.
rangerruck
Member
I used to shoot 308 exclusively for my large game round, I dropped it for the 54r; it's 185's and 205 bimetal rounds by wolf/silver bear/brown bear, are big animal stoppers. And yes, it is the longest inservice non black powder cartridge ever made, and there will proly be no end in sight, as to it's mfgr.
R.W.Dale
Member
What BP cartridge was in service longer?
Here is a link to the info page on the 7,62 X 54R ammo tested by the guys at Sniper Central (The author says that he was impressed by the round)
http://www.snipercentral.com/762R.htm
Look at the data for energy retained at 1000 yards (the reference is for a non better specified russian round 185 gr BT)....747 ft/lb...we are talking about the same energy of a .44 Magnum revolver AT THE MUZZLE...
http://www.snipercentral.com/762R.htm
Look at the data for energy retained at 1000 yards (the reference is for a non better specified russian round 185 gr BT)....747 ft/lb...we are talking about the same energy of a .44 Magnum revolver AT THE MUZZLE...
_N4Z_
Member
part of the write up from sniper central...
the last line is either inaccurate, or out of date because match ammunition does exist. one of them is sold under the Wolf label, though i am unsure who actually produces it. S&B also markets a round with a match hollowpoint boat tail.
both of these are pretty pricey compared to the usual fodder, and i've yet to try either.
the last line is either inaccurate, or out of date because match ammunition does exist. one of them is sold under the Wolf label, though i am unsure who actually produces it. S&B also markets a round with a match hollowpoint boat tail.
both of these are pretty pricey compared to the usual fodder, and i've yet to try either.
While I like the 7.62x54R and have 5 rifles chambered in it, I fail to see what would make it any better than .30-06, .308, 7.5 Swiss, 8mm Mauser or .303 Brit. There are literally dozens of cartridges out there with similar ballistics and the only serious advantage that I see to the 7.62x54R is that it is currently very cheap.
I don't know that it makes it "better", but you can't get a rifle that fires the other cartridges you mentioned for $80 either, where as the 91/30 can be had for a song anywhere in the country.
As I've mentioned before, I wouldn't feel under gunned taking a shot at anything in North America with it, and as such it wins my personal power / dollar nod.
Besides, when used in an M44 it doubles handily as a concussion grenade...
You're right there and I certainly don't deny you that. I just felt like I should point out that cost and availability of the Mosin are probably enough to tip world opinion in favor of the 7.62x54 round, and contribute to it's rather remarkable longevity.
silverlance
Member
its the best because it is so common around the world.
that's pretty much it. easy to find ammo for no matter where the SHTF.
that's pretty much it. easy to find ammo for no matter where the SHTF.
Cosmoline
Member
In Soviet Russia, 54R loads YOU.
Seriously, it's an excellent round. One of the last survivors of the early smokeless era along with the .30-30 and you can see striking similarities in design if not power. The round is extremely flexible, with potential for excellent accuracy. Can be loaded with little plinker rounds all the way up to 220 grain crossbow bolts. Power wise it's between .308 and commercial '06.
Seriously, it's an excellent round. One of the last survivors of the early smokeless era along with the .30-30 and you can see striking similarities in design if not power. The round is extremely flexible, with potential for excellent accuracy. Can be loaded with little plinker rounds all the way up to 220 grain crossbow bolts. Power wise it's between .308 and commercial '06.
Mosins were made or issued in twenty-six countries, modern firearms like the SVD, PSL, and PK all use 54R still, and ammo's available and manufactured worldwide, and cheap. .303 and 8mm are far less common and cheap than 54R, fewer firearms use that caliber, and those cartridges are not nearly in such widespread production.
Thus I stand by my bold statement about 54R being best.
Thus I stand by my bold statement about 54R being best.
nalioth
Member
Hoppy590 said:
.... but .303 isn't used by anyones military any more, is it?
The 7.62x54R is currently in use in Russia where ever the Russians can sell their stuff. . .
earplug
Member
The Russian beat us Americans with the 7.62x54 in Caracas. If i remember 1982?
Its a fine target round.
Its a fine target round.
It's one of my favorite rounds, but I think that the only way it can be considered the best is if you grade it in terms of price and in that case it only became better than the 8mm about a year and a half ago. There are just so many other good cartridges out there that do almost exactly the same thing in terms of ballistics and most of them do not have a rim and thus stack up better in magazines and stripper clips. As far as availability goes, there is a dwindling quantity of surplus here in the states and commercial loads are very limited.
fireflyfather
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Better than all those rounds for reloaders who neck-size only their brass in bolt action rifles. Since it headspaces on the rim, not the shoulder, the brass lasts significantly longer. I can reload my Mosin for less than 10 cents a round if I shoot gallery loads. Add in brass longevity, and it's a no-brainer.
Granted, surplus is getting to be less, and commercial ammo is few and far between (it's out ther but not in large ammounts). However, where's the cheap surplus in 8mm/GP-11/303? What is left is even more expensive than the mosin ammo. The rifle costs half what a comparable rifle does, and the ammo is still more plentiful and cheaper. Reloading components are not a problem, as Grafs has brass & bullets at good prices. Also, the rim, as I just mentioned is not a flat-out negative. As for loading better in stripper clips, if you know how to load them into the clip properly, and how to feed the clip, it isn't a problem. I did it right the first time, and so has everyone I've shown how to do it. This is provided that the stripper clips themselves are of decent quality.
Bottom line: For broke people like me, the cheap rifle, cheap ammo, and brass length (ammortized cheap brass), make the round a godsend.
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