7.62 x 54 Russian?

[qajaq59]

I'm curious if anyone is loading for the 7.62 x 54 Russian. If so, what bullets have you had the best luck with?

 

[gns4me]

I have been trying my own cast boolits. I cast from WW with added Tin Solder. the two molds are a 170 gn Gas check lee mold and a 110 gas check flat nose Lee mold. So far its looking good. I have 5 different mosins so I havnt gotten to them all but one of the 44's seems to group pretty good with the 170's. over 12 gn's of unique. Oh yea the boolits are sised to .312

 

[salty]

Load 54R all the time - any .308 bullets will work. I have used everything from 125 gr. on up to 200 gr. You can zip a 150 gr. at 3000 fps, 125 TNT's for varmit plink'in or 180 gr PSP's for hunting. Lee dies - any powder suitable for an '06 - Fed or CCI primers. Shhot SVT, Finn M39's, 91/30 and M38's.

 

[TN Shooter]

Hi there-

I would suggest slugging your bore first to determine the proper diameter bullet to use. The bore diameters can vary widely on these old workhorses.

My bore diameters are around .310 to .312 so I use the bullets made for the .303 British with great success.

TS

 

[cloudcroft]

A big problem with the cartridge is a lack of jacketed bullets for it. Most are lightweights to fit the 7.62x39, not the 7.62x54.

A very disappointing state of affairs, so I gave my Mosin '91 away.

Good luck,

-- John D.

 

[armoredman]

I get reasonably good groups with my 91/30 at 100 yards, with Hornady #3120 .312 diameter 150gr Soft Points over H-4985.

 

[Clark]

I elk hunted with a $60 91/30 in 2005 with the military sling and a 2x7x33 scope

Nagant 7.62x54R, 28.25" recrowned barrel, 8.25 pounds, 3" average
history, pillar bedded front and rear, glass bedded

49 gr. Surplus bulk IMR4895, 180 gr. Sierra 2310, 3.002" OAL,
measured 2873 fps, 1.5" 5 shot group @50 yards

47 gr. 1.25" 5 shot group @ 50 yards

 

[Cosmoline]

A big problem with the cartridge is a lack of jacketed bullets for it. Most are lightweights to fit the 7.62x39, not the 7.62x54.

What? Nonsense. You aren't looking hard enough. Midway has an array of bullets in the .310" to .312" range. It also carries the D-166 Lapuas. You can find everything from 123 grainers to 215 grain woodleighs.