7.62X54R Ammo Comparison

[gandog56]

Decided to test all the kinds of 7.62X54R I have. Test Conditions.

Rifle: 1944 VKT M39, iron sights
Range: 50 Yards, Temp 77, light breezes
Two groups of 5 each for ten total shots on target
First up, Czech Silvertip 147 grain. The two high shots were with an absolutely cold barrel, they came down after them.


Next up, Bulgarian Heavy Ball, don't remember how many grains the bullets were..yellow tips.



Then, Russian light ball, 147 grain.


Last of course, my reloads. JMS brass, 147 grain FMJBT's 49 grains of H4895, Win LR primers.



Wish I would have had a few more examples of milsurp ammo.

Information

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[happydude]

Looks pretty good. My 91/30 patterns like a shotgun with Hungarian heavy ball, tightens up with modern commercial ammo, and gets as accurate as my Enfields and Mauser with handloads using good brass.

[Swede]

I would be real happy with my handload if I were you.

[Schwehn]

Hey, I am hoping someone here can help me out. I just picked up an SVT 40, and I have tried to take it out, however It jams after the first shot. The gas system is set at 2 andI am using the Czech silver tip ammunition. I'm new to gas systems, so i dont know if i should adjust something or get different ammo... ideas or thoughts?

[katooutdoors]

After testing a variety of different rounds with three rifles, a M-39, a 91/30 and a M-44 it seems like the 182 grain bullets give you better results overall.

The M-39 gave the best groups with the heavy and light ball although the light ball accuracy wasn't all that great. The groups that I got using Wolf Gold ammo with the 150 grain bullets and Russian light ball in the 91/30 and the M-44 were absolutely terrible, those groups ended up at about 8 inches at 50 yards.

Now, with Winchester 182 grain (made by S&B) and Brown Bear 182 grain I was able to get groups from 2 to 3 inches at 100 yards without any problem with the M-39 having the tightest groups, since the M-39 rifles had their actions more carefully fitted into the stocks figure that this is a contributing factor for their accuracy. The 91/30 and the M-44 I'm sure would tighten up if you were to bed the actions on them since it seems that the ones made during the war years were not that carefully put together.

If I wanted to go for the most in the accuracy department then I would run reloads using the Sierra 174 HPBT along with IMR 4064 powder.