.308 bullet for 7.62x54r?
Hi all.....I'm new to this web page and from what I can see it looks like I have lots of interesting reading ahead.
I have a Hungarian M-44 that I've been reloading for a few years now and all my reloads have been .308 diameter. From what I can see, everyone else is using .311 or .312. The accuracy I've experienced is decent over open sights. Does anyone else here do the same thing or is it something that should be avoided? I remeber researching loads for the rifle and (I believe) being told by a gunsmith to reload with .308 unless I slugged the barrel to ensure it's ability to digest the .311 or .312.........is this rubbish?:confused:
Hornady 7th Edition Reloading Handbook has both loads
The Hornady 7th Ed. has loads for both .308 and .312 barrels/bullets. It is still a good idea to slug your barrel (I suspect a .31 cal round ball would work pretty well but haven't tried it yet). I slugged my 1937 Izhevsk and it was definitely happiest with .311/.312 bullets, as it came out about .312-313, but that could have been my inexperience in slugging barrels. I just assumed my 1943 "Sniper" from the same factory would be the same, so starting with light loads and working up to the same loads as the '37 I had no pressure indications. I don't load "hot" in any event.
I found a good load to be 150 gr. Sierra Spitzers, .311 dia., 43 gr. 4064 (almost a starting load), Winchester std. primers, neck sized to .308, not seated very far, and just neck-sized far enough to hold the bullet all the way to the base. O.A.L. 2.900, you may have a different C.O.L., could be longer or shorter than mine. Anyway, this is a mild load, easy on you and the rifle,
with good accuracy in both my Mosins. best, scrmblerkari