using 7.62x54R bullets for loading .303

[HotTom]

The ONLY bullet I use for reloading .303 is a 147 grain 7.62 x 54R FMJBT. Widener's was selling them cheap in bulk a few years ago and I have many thousands of bullets waiting to be loaded.

I think they were made by Prvi Partizan.

I've heard scare stories about boat tails (the gas escapes around them blah blah blah) but they have served me well. As Calif Steve notes above, I wouldn't use it in worn barrels that have seen lots of old cordite ammo. It's safe but the bullet kinda rattles on its way down the worn barrel

Very tight groups with 45.0 grains of Reloader 15. It's a pretty hot load (around 2700 fps out of a P17 with an excellent barrel that's longer than an Enfield barrel producing a bit higher velocity because of the extra langth) but gets a standard deviation of just a hair over 10 fps and that's not shabby. Lighter or heavier loads had much higher deviation and wider groups.

I haven't tried a heavier bullet but I'd have no worry about the size. You may have to do as I did and try lots of recipes with a chronograph.

My personal caution is that I only use them in Enfields having really good barrels (the ones I wouldn't want to crud up with Milsurp, I have other more beat up rifles for that stuff).

Anyway, the simple answer is yes, 54R works well in .303 barrels that are in very good shape.

HT

[rdm1962]

I shoot Hornady .3105 fmjbt bullets in my #4 MK1. I get groups like this at 100 yards.
Ralph

"A bad day hunting or fishing is always better than a good day at work."

[andiarisaka]

Pat McDonald sells pulled Russian bullets. I use them in my Krag that has a .310" groove diameter barrel. $89.99/1000 http://www.patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.htm

[Calif-Steve]

Not certain, but I think the bullets Weidner's has been selling are pulled Bulgarian 7.62x54R. They are not newly made Privi bullets. I, too, have a pile and they run very well in the right rifle.

[Beadwindow]

Hmmm..... 7.62x54R is expensive enough here in Canada that I'll save the ammo as is for my SVTs and Mosins, but pulling one or two hundred 7.62x39 bullets and powder sounds like an inexpensive way to get practice with the two Enfields and Bubba Ross that I haven't committed to shooting cast.

I was also thinking of buying the 123gr 7.62 Hornady V-Max to switch with the jacketed bullets for my SKS and CZ 858. Perhaps I'll use the pulled bullets in my Enfields if someone can suggest a suitable powder and charge for the .303 British.

Cheers,

Frank

[rondog]

OK, I finally got around to trying this. These were 147gr. FMJBT .311 bullets, not the 180gr. heavy ball that I thought they were. I loaded up 50 with 40 grains of IMR 4064. Closest load in my book was for 150gr. bullets, showing 39gr. of IMR 4064.

What sez y'all? Should this be an OK load? 147gr. bullets aren't too light for a No.5 carbine, are they?

[jmoore]

One grain over the stated max w/ an untried bullet w/ possible bearing length, jacket hardness, diamater, powder lot number, case internal volume differences?

Well....., I wouldn't!

Start low- work up! This ain't a drag race.

[Edward Horton]

rondog

I have a box of a 1000 147 grain 7.62X54R bullets from Wideners, the weight and diameter varies (they ain't Sierras) and they are "STEEL CORE". I crossed checked all my reloading manuals and the max load varied from 41.5 to 44.7 grains of 4064 as being max loads.

I'm shooting them with 40 grains of Varget with no problem BUT remember each rifle is different so play it safe. Reload like you are playing Black Jack and "Stay light and beat the dealer". Or start at the lowest load in the book and work up and not go "Bust" and lose to the pressure dealer.

Below is some printed info for you, please note the 150 grain bullet is .312 and ALL pressures listed are at approximately 43,000 CUP or 46,000 PSI. The .303 British is rated at 45,000 CUP or 49,000 PSI as maximum chamber pressure.

NOTE: Factory loaded .303 ammo is kept at or below 43,000 CUP due to all the older .303 still being shot today. The ammunition manufactures and the reloading info below is "playing it safe" and keep pressures well below maximum of 45,000 CUP or 49,000 PSI.

Rule #1 in asking reload info online, "TRUST NO ONE" and double and tripple check the information and then cross check check it again.

The link below is a VERY good source for reloading info.

Basic Manual Download

[rondog]

One grain over the stated max w/ an untried bullet w/ possible bearing length, jacket hardness, diamater, powder lot number, case internal volume differences?

Well....., I wouldn't!

Start low- work up! This ain't a drag race.

No, the 39gr. that I mentioned was the STARTING weight recommended for 150gr. bullets, not the max. I figured with a lighter bullet, going one gr. over the minimum for 150gr. bullets would be OK.

And Mr. Horton - thank you very much!

And help me out here....how do most of you "start low and work your way up"? It's an hour drive to my range, one-way, so testing is a pain. 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?

I don't have a chrono, or know anybody with one. And how in the world does an average Joe measure chamber pressures?

[Edward Horton]

rondog

Get a plastic 50 round cartridge case and load up 50 rounds, each five rounds increase the load half a grain. After each 5 shot group label each target with the load info.

Go home and study your targets and then reload the 50 cases with the most promising powder loads and retest.

Remember, when the .303 British was in use we didn't have the "slower" burning powders we have today. You have a 25 inch barrel, take advantage of the long barrel and slower burning powders which equals lower pressures and higher velocities.

Again please take notice the load data I posted keeps the chamber pressures at or below 43,000 CUP. If you load higher pressures than 43,000 CUP you will be loading the American cases to a higher pressure than what the factory loads them to. (And the cases will not last as long)

Use the rubber o-ring method of fire forming your .303 cases and then neck size only.