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what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

nathan c

Private
Minuteman
Jan 24, 2012
14
0
38
ny
hey guys i love my mosin nagant 91/30 and i want to start reloading my own bullets. what bullets would you recommend?
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

174g SMK

http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?s...mp;bullettype=0

- I like the SMK's (for .308win) but they also have soft points and other weights there in .311 diameter.

(Remember even though the cartridge is 7.62x54- Mosin Nagants use a .311 diameter bullet- not a .308.)

-- May want to move this to reloading section.

Here is all the info you should need on reloading your 7.62/54
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2992812&gonew=1#UNREAD
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

I've had very good luck with the Sierra 180gr. soft points (.311). The 174gr SMK is usually excellent, of course, as well as the Hornady .312 174gr BTHP. The best I've used, however, is the Lapua D166 (usually not called by that name on vendors' websites, but it's the 200 grain FMJBT and is a .310 diameter). They're expensive but are a world beater....literally. Always slug your bore to try to find the best match for an individual rifle.

For powder, try Varget, 4064, IMR or H4895. I'm also starting to see some really good potential with Match Kings over IMR4831:

100 yards. Loads tested from my '34 Tula PE sniper:
1934TulaPESniper021.jpg
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

I've used the sierra 150gr hunting bullets with very good results in my PSL (~1moa) and Mosin nagants (Sub-moa) with varget.
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

I`ve pulled some Russian 7.62x54R ball that my Mosin shoots fairly well and the bullets measure .310"

I have a copy of a page from a Hornady reloading manual showing data for two .312" diameter bullets:

#3130 174GR. soft point round nose

#3131 174gr. FMJBT (on the Hornady website this bullet is listed as .3105" diameter)

The Sierra 174gr. HPBT MatchKing is shown as a .312" diameter bullet- the ony load data I can find- other that the Hornady manual- is for bullets of .308 diameter.

Where is the loading data I see people using for .312" diameter bullets in 7.63x54R coming from?
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

I dont think it exists, all of my 311 and 312 loads are extrapolated. Drop 10% and work up.
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

i shoot 174 SMK's with 44gr varget, found that to be the most accurate load. currently shooting .8moa at 100yds. I've done a few mods to the rifle but these bullets perform well so far..
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

^^^X2

I'm right with AMG...
Same, but my sweet spot is 43.5 grains...
Nothing has shot better than the SMK's for me.
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SIG700</div><div class="ubbcode-body">174g SMK

http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?s...mp;bullettype=0

- I like the SMK's (for .308win) but they also have soft points and other weights there in .311 diameter.

(Remember even though the cartridge is 7.62x54- Mosin Nagants use a .311 diameter bullet- not a .308.)

-- May want to move this to reloading section.

Here is all the info you should need on reloading your 7.62/54
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2992812&gonew=1#UNREAD </div></div>


I can pin this down for you guys if you like (since I talk to Sierra usually once or twice a week), but I think they do offer the 311 bullets for both the X 54 and X 39 rounds. I was going to load ammo for a friend with an SKS for a specific reason that I won't discuss chuckle. Great noise makers, but they're just not made for accuracy.
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

Slug your bore to find out what it really is. I've seen them go from .308 to .314. For most of them the .308 bullets work quite well. I know a number of guys shooting 54R in mosin nagants and also others shooting enfields in .303 using .308 bullets. You'll find the selection of bullet weight, style and manufacturers will be much better here in the US for .308 than for .310-.311. The small difference in diameter doesn't seem to hurt anything and for most guys I know shooting them its been very very good.

Frank
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

I load .308, .310, and some .311 dia bullets depending what type of bullet I want to use. If yours will shoot .308's then your options are pretty much unlimited.

For plinking I pull the steel core bullets from the surplus spam-can ammo and load them with Hornady .310 123gr soft points cuz they are cheap and my local ranges will check your bullets with a magnet. These "mexi-match" loads shoot 1 MOA out of my Mosin.
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

You're putting 123 grain bullets into cases loaded for 147/149 grain?
 
Re: what is a good bullet for reloading 7.62x54R ???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You're putting 123 grain bullets into cases loaded for 147/149 grain?</div></div>

Yep