using 7.62x54R bullets for loading .303

[rondog]

I have some bullets that I bought from Bonaduce/polygunbag.com that are pulled from 7.62x54R rounds. They're 180 grain, .310 diameter. Their site says they can also be used in .303 British, is this true and safe to do? http://www.polygunbag.com/7.62X54R18...argerView.html

[jmoore]

Safe, yes (w/in reason). Accurate, maybe, but wouldn't count on it! (Kinda undersized) Might have to reduce your expander ball diameter or just use a .30 cal expander depending on the as sized neck ID.

[AKA Hugh Uno]

Check the daimeter of your bullets again, most (as in almost 100%) of 54R bullets are .3105".

A few years back, I did a good deal of experimentation on this with the thought of writing it up for Prec. Shooting or something along these lines. The problem now is that you can't buy 440 rounds of 54R anymore for 60 bucks and the economics aren't nearly as good.

I also used the the 54R Commie POWDER with no problems although I was careful to mike the case heads, used a Chrony, etc. I cannot recommend this for safety reason, but it worked fine for me. I still have all my data and targets and may still get around to writing it all up. Amazingly consistent stuff, even across Warsaw Pact manufacturers.

I still have a BIG bag of primed 54R Russian, Yugo, etc. brass that I guess someone might want. I haven't owned a 54R in 20 years!

[Calif-Steve]

The bullets are a touch undersize, but will run OK. Reduce the powder charge or risk a blowup. The Bulgarian/Russian loadings are stiff and are too much for the Enfield. I have heard of using the 7.62x39 as is, but the 7.62x54R is a danger.

[rondog]

The bullets are a touch undersize, but will run OK. Reduce the powder charge or risk a blowup. The Bulgarian/Russian loadings are stiff and are too much for the Enfield. I have heard of using the 7.62x39 as is, but the 7.62x54R is a danger.

Well, yeah. I wasn't going to try and duplicate the 7.62x54R loads in .303 cases, just wondering if I can use pulled 7.62x54R bullets, since I have a bag of those already. I'd look for proper loading data for that weight bullets in the .303 cases.

[AKA Hugh Uno]

use the bullets!, NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER.

[Buntlineguy]

Slug your barrel. Mine came out at .312". The .310" will not be unsafe, but may "keyhole" on you. I found that the Hornady round-nose bullets worked best. Also, I found that boat-tails didn't work well at all. At any rate, load a few and try them. If they work, great!

[Calif-Steve]

If your Enfield has been fired with UK ammo, boattails will not run well. Cordite powder is the culprit and a worn throat is the consequence.

[gandog56]

Well, since I use .303 bullets to load my 7.62X54R, I see no problems. Except my .303 bullets are .311".

[cosmo05]

use the bullets!, NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER.

Yep! I loaded up with X54 when it was 39 bucks a case just to have a pile extra to pull down and use the slugs for my LEs. The good stuff I use in my MNs, the rest is pull down. I trash the powder, to many unknowns reusing that.