How about a ball type powder reload recipe for 7.62x54r?

All I can find on internet for 7.62x54r reloading data, are rod type powders such as IMR/H 4895 and the like. I have trouble getting consistant powder drop charge weights with these type of powders in my progressive press, and I'm tired of "surprises".

I use Ramshot TAC and Winchester 760 in some other cartridge reloads, but cannot find any data for the Mosin-Nagant 7.62x54r cartridge. These powders load very consistantly, very easily in similar size cases. Would I be crazy to want to load the Russian with them :madsmile: ?

Plenty of data for Hodgdon's ball powders (BL-C2, H414, H380, H335) in 7.62x54R at their website. Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Parashooter

Plenty of data for Hodgdon's ball powders (BL-C2, H414, H380, H335) in 7.62x54R at their website. Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

---

Yeah, but every stinking one of the BL-C(2) recipes uses a .308" bullet. I use .311-.312" bullets.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gandog56

Yeah, but every stinking one of the BL-C(2) recipes uses a .308" bullet. I use .311-.312" bullets.

---

As long as your bullets are of conventional lead-core, copper-jacket construction, the small increase in diameter should make little difference in pressure, especially if .311-.312" bullets aren't oversize for your barrel. Normal cautious practices will allow you to develop safe loads by working up from the "starting load" data (or from the usual "10% below maximum" when no "starting" data is offered).

Another approach is to use data for the 7.5x55 Swiss, which has ~.006" deep rifling (~.296" x .308") much like typical Russian (~.300" x .312"), very similar effective case volume, and CIP Pmax. (MAP) slightly lower (3800 bar vs. 3900 bar). Consequently, starting loads for the Swiss with .308" projectiles can serve as starters for the Russian round with ~.312" bullets of the same weight. (Hodgdon's 7.5x55 data, not pressure-tested, seems very conservative in comparison to their pressure-tested 7.62x54R data.)

Well, my ancient(1975) edition of the "Hornady Handbook" (reloading manual), lists a loading for 760 ball powder for the 150gn bullet.

ALL bullets for this cartridge as listed in this vintage manual, are .308" diameter.

For the 150 grain job, with Win 760, they start at 47.2gn and go to a MAX of 54.2gn, a load that would be fairly "eye-watering".

The .308 bullets are going to be a little small for the .3105"-.315" grooves commonly found in Nagants. They will work, but may bleed a bit of gas around the base at launch.

HOWEVER, the mighty British .303 runs .311" bullets in barrels that have .303 (ish) bore and grooves that, BY FACTORY SPECIFICATION, can run out to .318". Worked OK for over a century with the mighty, FLAT-BASED, 174gn Mk7 bullet..

With flat-based bullets you are NOT going to have any major problems.

Stick with "surplus" 150gn, ex-30-06, 150 grain FMJs, (if you can find them), or try some of the "commercial" offerings. Take a look at the Hornady #3120, 150 gn bullet for the .303, with a slightly larger diameter of .312". This soft-point bullet features a secant ogive for maximum bearing surface in the barrel, useful in "tired" rifles.

Sierra also currently list a similar bullet as the #2130.