pulled 30 cal bullets

[hawkinpup]

I have a question I had a friend give me a tin of 7.62x54r about 420 rounds I pulled the bullets out of them and figured I could reload them into some 308 cases to shoot out of my HK but upon measuring the bullets I noticed that they varied from .309 to .311. The question is if I do load these up and go a shootin is this going to ruin my barrel?

 

[artee]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

Well, they make .308 and .311 for a reason.... It's not a safe area with any mid pressure (so forget full pressure) load.

But, I had a lot of So African 7.62 x 39. Most beautiful stuff I've ever had in that cartridge. It just didn't like my launcher. Six inches at 50 yd and the rifle normally ALWAYS held 3 in at 100. I pulled a lot of it and replaced the bullet with a .311 123 gn Hornady. Then it shot good. Being cheap, I then tried to use the pulls (.3095+) in a .30-06. They shot very well. The load was about an 80% of max Aliant 2400 load. Sometimes I'd dump the powder charge (from the 7.62x39) into the .30-06 and got 2050 fps with it. Very accurate. These seamed very low pressure with nicely rounded primers still.

This was a long answer to say, I've used the "large 30" JACKETED bullets but they were very light with SHORT BEARING SURFACE for the bore size. Your pulled 7.62 x 54 are VERY LONG. They are compareable in length to US M1 (M72 Match/M118 etc) FMJs give or take depending on their weight. It's going to really raise the stress level in your throat sizing them down even in a low pressure load.

Consider this: Cast bullets are often .001 to .002 oversize. But very few casters go .003 oversize (agreed, it's many reasons other than presure/safety).

I think with most bullets you're delving too far into the unknown (and I have considered it whan all that 7.62x54 was arond still at .10/round prices compared to .60+ for loaded .30-06/.308Win etc). The price motivation is greater today, but at best it's unnecessary wear on the troat and an open doorway to excess pressures.

 

[Hummer]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

Artee is right on the money. You can (I have) loaded them but start at the min load in the Sierra manual or others and watch your primers and you should be OK.
Remember you are shooting ball ammo which is short for ballpark which is about what alot of it will group. Then again if you swage it down it may get alot better.

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

They are the same OD as the 7.62x39 and the 303 British - but not the American 30 cal. yes you could do it. No I would not.

I have 500 of the same here I need to test to see if they shoot accurately in my Pattern 1914 Enfield or not. If they do, I'd be interested in buying your pulled projectiles or trading you some Hornady 3037 bullets for them.

 

[hawkinpup]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

It's nice to see that this forum works to get great answers instead of burning up a barrel to get an expensive lesson. Thanks for the input and yes I'll trade you for regular 30 cal if you like. Another member asked if they were steel core and they are, magnet test worked.

 

[artee]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

A magnet test only implies steel...somewhere. Point: It might be a core/insert or it may be the jacket. Much of the non US military FMJ has a "flash" plated steel jacket. Looks like copper or gilding metal, but is only a plating on a mild steel jacket. So you're not sure what your magnet test is telling you.

Good Luck 9 Hotel in an enfield. P14, P17/US Mod 1917 or "Brit 303" should be a great use for them.

 

[hawkinpup]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

Really the only thing I care about is if I can shoot these out of a 308 and not ruin anything. I don't care if there made out of steel, copper, gold, or whatever. What kind of gun takes this kind of ammo? It said 7.62x54r on the can isn't that the same diameter as 7.62x51 just longer yes? no? Just like on Marathon Man, Is it safe?

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hawkinpup</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Really the only thing I care about is if I can shoot these out of a 308 and not ruin anything. I don't care if there made out of steel, copper, gold, or whatever. What kind of gun takes this kind of ammo? It said 7.62x54r on the can isn't that the same diameter as 7.62x51 just longer yes? no? Just like on Marathon Man, Is it safe?</div></div>

i should stop and think a moment about what may be some false economy here.....

please tell us what sort of H&K you plan on useing.....'cause i'm fairly certain one would not want to launch STEEL pills down anything other than a chrome bore......

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

The HK would most likely have the polygonal rifling and would not have a chromed barrel. I would have sold the "wrong" ammo and buy the "right" ammo to shoot out of whatever you have. Just makes sense doesn't it?

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

I don't get it.

If a .311" bullet is unsafe in a .308 bore, why is it now in vogue to use an undersized .299" barrel to build a 308 rifle for improved performance?

 

[Guest]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MontanaMarine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't get it.

If a .311" bullet is unsafe in a .308 bore, why is it now in vogue to use an undersized .299" barrel to build a 308 rifle for improved performance? </div></div>

Folks taking books an internet print at 100% face,... lawyers love that kind of thinking.

I've shot surplus .311 lead/copper in M14s for years do to bullet price. The only difference I seen was,....I could shoot more for less.

 

[hawkinpup]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

So what what your sayin is that it will shoot out of an HK91 w/polygonal rifling. without damage to the barrel?


"If a .311" bullet is unsafe in a .308 bore, why is it now in vogue to use an undersized .299" barrel to build a 308 rifle for improved performance?"

I have also heard of this, will it apply?

 

[Hummer]

Re: pulled 30 cal bullets

Pulled Chicom bullets most likely are flash plated steel and the flash is not thick enought to hold up throughout the length of the barrel. I got sent a barrel with 5000 rounds of Russian 5.56 steel jacket. Area in front of chamber looked totally normal. Starting half way down barrel the lands got less and and less and near the muzzle the lands were even with the grooves.
If you have a barrel that has been rifled with a mill bastard file and lapped with a brick they could well help you out. If you have a nice barrel you are not going to help yourself or the barrel.
On a new barrel I would limit such bullets to maybe 20 shots as a final "lap". On a lapped match barrel I wouldn't dare.
If I had a chance to buy a thou or so I would do so and just keep them for break in purposes.