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

[jrapose]

I am shooting a SVT-40 at a local range...and they do not allow shooting any steel core ammo to be used.... so instead of buying new ammo I bought a big load of surplus 7.62X54 Russian .... and plan on pulling the bullets and replacing them with bullets I bought at Midway....problem is the original bullet weights something like 146g and I can not find that weight....all they have for the 7.62 (.311") is 125g and 200g bullets....

Using the power that was in the surplus ammo...(WHO KNOWS WHAT IT IS) anyone have an idea of what to expect ?? Dangerous ? I would sure hate to replace the powder...but again I would really hate to replace a hand...

Joel
kalifornia

Information

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[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.

[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..

[navystang]

You can pull the bullets and replace them but also the powder charge will need to be measured. I also pull and reload my 54r surplus the lee collet puller has been a life saver.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Firstly, if you have standard ball, you can replace the projectiles with any 144 to 155 gn "sporting" bullet. So-called "Light Ball" is usually loaded with a bullet weight in the range: 147-149 grains, depending on the vintage, factory and country of origin. Most seem to have a diameter of .309" to .311". Bear in mind that the BORE diameter of the Russian is .300, the same as "western" .30 cal, like .308Win or .30-06.

Heavy ball, (special load for long-distance machine-gun shooting) is loaded with a somewhat heavier bullet; generally in the range of 186gn to around 204gn.

The 1: 10" twist in the barrels of ALL 7.62 x 54 service rifles means you can stabilize some long heavy bullets if you drive them fast enough.

Drop your pulled bullets on a loading scale and see what you have. Then top up with whatever is closest in the "sporting" weights.

Those tricky chaps in Finland have been doing this "Mexican Match" thing for many years; so long in fact, that the the resultant hybrid cartridge is known as the 7.62 x 53R and they re-barrel old Nagant actions with heavy, .30 / .308, 1:10 twist barrels to build match rifles. In an emergency, you can still whack standard ball through them if the "good stuff" runs out

The RCBS Collet-type bullet puller is ideal as it uses the leverage of your press to haul out the bullets without disturbing the powder load. Bashing a plastic, kinetic bullet-puller on a block of wood to pull military ball ammo gets old, VERY quickly, and powder "scattering" can be an issue if you get a bit too vigorous.

If you can find "surplus" .30 cal ball (M-2) projectiles of the 150gn, flat-based design, they would be fine in the "light ball" stuff, the boat-tailed, 144 to 147gn bullets used in common 7.62 NATO would also work nicely.

[navystang]

Sorry to highjack but isnt the svt 40 the same as the mosin nagant as in 310 for bore diam the 308 will work just depends on owners ocd and acceptable accuracy

[WarPig1976]

Sorry to highjack but isnt the svt 40 the same as the mosin nagant as in 310 for bore diam the 308 will work just depends on owners ocd and acceptible accuracy

.
.3105 is the bullet diameter of Russian ball. If one slugs a Mosin Nagant bore he will find a bore diameter of .312 or more.!!!
I can't speak to the SVT bore diameter but I'd bet it's the same.

[jrapose]

Yep, it is right up there.....311" (slug size) so I think a .308 bullet would fit mighty loose...sorta wobble down the barrel...

The problem I am running into is finding a bullet in the .311" size....all I have found is lapula .311 in 125g and 200g weights...way different than the 147g of the pulled bullet...

Joel
Kalifornia

[vintage hunter]

Yep, it is right up there.....311" (slug size) so I think a .308 bullet would fit mighty loose...sorta wobble down the barrel...

That all depends on bore dimensions and condition I reckon. It's been my experience that Finnish built Mosins and German made Argentine Mausers usually shoot just as well with .308'' bullets as they do with the 311/312's. The bores of Russian and Argentine made barrels can vary widely, groove diameters as large as .316'' have been reported in MN's and .314'' in Mausers made by the Argentines. Like WarPig I can't comment on the SVT's but doubt they'd be any more consistent.

The problem I am running into is finding a bullet in the .311" size

As said above you have to look for 303/7.7mm to find them. Had a quick look on the Grafs, Midway and Natchez websites and they're all are showing a variety of 311/312 150gr bullets in stock.

[Parashooter]

. . . If one slugs a Mosin Nagant bore he will find a bore diameter of .312 or more.!!! . . .

Not exactly. While .312" or more is likely to be the groove diameter, the bore diameter is normally closer to .300" as stated by Bruce_in_Oz earlier.



Those interested in selecting bullet diameters for accuracy might find this article useful -