7.62X54 Question about bullet replacement in Mil Surplus rounds...

[Sentryduty]

You might be able to determine the bullet weight by posting some photos of the packaging or ammunition, but generally most 7.62x54R is a 174 gr projectile.

Pulling the bullets will take some determination as most are sealed at the case mouth, but it can be done with deliberate whacks of the pulling hammer or sometimes breaking the seal with a slight bump on a bullet seat die before pulling.

Now about that powder, this is where you have to accept responsibility for anything you do with this information. There is no good way of telling what the powder in there will behave like based on known loading charts. However a logical approach is to pull a series of rounds, 10 or more, carefully measuring each powder charge as factory loaded. Keep diligent notes, until you can establish the average factory powder loading. This can be used as a baseline for the recycling process loading.

From there it would be wise to begin load development with the new projectiles at a reduced powder charge, working up carefully observing chronograph velocities and pressure signs by examining cases and primers. It has been done before with good results, yes, but I cannot/will not offer any data beyond the theory.

Information

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[WarPig1976]

7.62x54R is a 174 gr projectile.

That's the heavy ball, down here the 147g ball is the common weight.
Not quite what you want to do but a few years back I played around with the Ruski stuff.
Tweaking 7.62+54R


P.S
I forgot how sucky the stuff is..