using 7.62x54R bullets for loading .303

[Parashooter]

. . .how do most of you "start low and work your way up"? . . . Do you guys make like 5 rounds at a minimum load, increase the load and make 5 more, increase and make 5 more, etc., then keep them all separate and see how each load performs?

. . . And how in the world does an average Joe measure chamber pressures?

I save some time and money by working up medium-size military rifle loads in 1/2-grain increments (less for small cartridges) and loading just 3 cartridges at each step. A load that appears safe and groups well for three shots is worth loading up 10 for the next trip. If it performs well for 10 shots, it's a good candidate for more testing, minor tweaking, and possible adoption. One thing you don't want is to use up your entire supply of a powder on load development and discover you can't find more from the same production lot.

Pressure measuring equipment is generally unavailable to us "average Joes". Experience with moderate loads, combined with a low-cost chronograph, lets us learn to make reasonable estimates - or at least recognize when we're pushing the envelope too hard.

[jmoore]

Chronographs that are surprisingly accurate can be had for less than US$200, if you can found up a tripod on which to place the working bits.

I've used this one, very accurate!(as cross referenced to other units) Not enough buttons, though- I can't remember the functions w/o keeping the instuction manual at hand.

Link below:

Shooting Chrony Beta Master Chronograph - MidwayUSA

[douglass]

Hi all,
posted this here as a similar question,
my long lee does not like the normal 311 diameter 303 bullets/heads
someone told me to try 314 diameter, but for love nor money can i find anything here in the UK, are there any similar sized stuff anyone can reccommend?.
i dont wish to go down the cast route
regards
douglas

[oldrgr]

Good morning all. Was bummed out to see that Poly Gun Bags was sold out of the 7.62 bullets that rondog noted in his original post. I'm looking around for a bullet that will load in my Savage No 4 Mk 1, Arisaka 7.7 mm and my 91/30. Appears from replies above that the 7.62 x54 bullet sold by Poly GB's will work - if they ever get more in.

Since I'm 63 1/2 and have quite a bit of surplus 7.62x54 on hand, I may never have to reload for my 91/30, but obviously will for the Arisaka and eventually for my No 4 Mk 1. I do have some Prvi Partisan .303 reloadable on hand, and dies for all three calibers.

Midway sells the Hornady ".303 cal and 7.7 mm Japanese (.3105 dia) 174 Gr FMJ Boat Tail." On the Product Review link one gent noted that he got very good results using this bullet with all three calibers above.

Two questions:
1. Does Poly Gun Bags routinely carry the 7.62 x54 bullets that rondog linked to? Other sources?
2. Anyone have experience with the Hornaday bullet noted above?

All three of my rifles above are in superb condition with pristine bores. Have fired the 91/30 and No 4 Mk 1. Front sight on the No 4 needs adjusting though.
Thanks gents.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I can add another "problem" rifle to that list: the 1891 Argentines have a very long throat (see the drawing on P. 55 of Olson, Mauser Bolt Rifles, 3rd Edition). The only off-the-shelf projectile that produces usable groups in my 1891 Engineer's Carbine is the Hornady #3130 174gn round nose. Quite apart from the size, the long cylindrical portion provides better guidance than the fashionable boat-tails. Likewise, the flatbase 174gn British bullets perform better than the boat-tails in my Enfields.

Ok, so the boat-tails have a slightly better BC. Higher down-range velocity, but NOT necessarily accuracy. So how often do you shoot at longer ranges than 1000 yards? I can hit the black (mostly) at 1000 yds with a soft lead bullet out of my 45-70. And others can even slot the shots into the inner and the bull with their BPCRs. What all these shooters have, however, are bullets that are closely matched to their rifles' chambers and transition cones. If the bullet has even a little free flight between leaving the case mouth and hitting the forcing cone, it will tip a tiny bit and be rammed in at a slight angle that will ruin the exterior ballistics when it exits the muzzle, and the best BC in the world can't help you then.

Basically, the bullet must contact the forcing cone before it leaves the case mouth, which is why a bullet with a long cylindrical section can do much better in the typical generously sized military chamber than boat-tails. I recommend you try the Hornady #3130 174gn round nose in all of those problem rifles you listed. Or flat-based 174gn as a second choice.

Patrick