7.62x64R powder?

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Catpop

Catpop

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Getting ready to load a few 7.62x54R c 150 and 175 grain FMJBT and need to select a powder. I don’t want to use H4895 as that’s my favorite Garand powder and I’ve only got 1 pound left. I don’t have any Varget.
Anyone have any good selections to get me started?
Thanks
Catpop

update:
I have the following on hand
IMR 3031, 4350, 8208XBR
Hodgdon 4198, 4831, 4895, CFE223
 
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I think when the dust settles you will find that powders like IMR4895, IMR4064, Varget, AA2495 VIHT N135, VIHT N140 and several others will shoot just fine in the 7.64 54R cartridge as well as .308 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield as well as several other similar cartridges. Look for your most popular powders and when you find one buy an 8 Lb container. Albeit slowly powder is showing up, you just need to keep a watch on what shows up when and where.

Ron
 
Reloadron said:
I think when the dust settles you will find that powders like IMR4895, IMR4064, Varget, AA2495 VIHT N135, VIHT N140 and several others will shoot just fine in the 7.64 54R cartridge as well as .308 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield as well as several other similar cartridges. Look for your most popular powders and when you find one buy an 8 Lb container. Albeit slowly powder is showing up, you just need to keep a watch on what shows up when and where.

Ron
Click to expand...
At least you didn't say reloader 16 cause no one can find that... or 15.
 
IMR4350 works just as good in the Old Russian as it does in the ‘06.

Just takes a little less.

If you want to see how good a Mosin can shoot, load some of the discontinued Hornady.312” 174gr Match BTHP’s. Grafs used to carry them but have been out for 2yrs or so now.

I was getting 4-8” groups from my 1943 Izvesk refurb with a like new barrel. I had some of the 174’s I’d bought for a splendid #4Mk1 I enjoy shooting.
Wow! The Mosin began shooting 1.5” groups at 100yds with iron sights! Not picky about powders either.
You have several good powders on your list that will work, besides the H4895. CFE223 would be my next choice.
4831 with a 200+gr bullet.
 
I shoot IMR 4350 with the Sierra 174 SMK in a 91-30 PU. I have also used IMR 4064 and Varget with this bullet, but got the most consistency with the 4350. I'm shooting this at 300 and 600 yards for CMP Vintage sniper.

In my carbine, I prefer IMR 4064 with both the 174 Hornady RN and the 150 grain Speer and PRVI FMJ. It is less blasty in the shorter barrel than I got with 4350.

I should think 8028 and CFE 223 would work, but you'll likely be off-book as for data.
 
Well, I chose to come out of the starting gate using IMR4350.
First 3 cartridges were 50.0 grains of I 4350 under 147 FMJ BT. My 1973 Lyman spiral bound called for starting load of 50.0 grains and a max of 55.0 grains.
It’s probably been reduced over the years BUT that’s OK because I’m using the last of a can of I 4350 made during the same time period!
25 yard three shot group was 1 1/2”. But I’ve got room to improve as I move on out to 100 yards.
Thanks for getting me on the right road. I’ll continue to keep you posted.
 
H380 was the oldclassic for that. Not sure where to get it these days. Im sure there is a vv equivilant.
 
I burned a bunch of IMR 4350 under Speer 150gr. HotCor bullets from my Mosins through the years. I believe my data was 53gr. of 4350. They shoot really well and accounted for 2 deer. I was getting them for about 9.99 a box in the mid 2000s so the HotCors got shot a bunch.
 
EMC45 said:
I burned a bunch of IMR 4350 under Speer 150gr. HotCor bullets from my Mosins through the years. I believe my data was 53gr. of 4350. They shoot really well and accounted for 2 deer. I was getting them for about 9.99 a box in the mid 2000s so the HotCors got shot a bunch.
Click to expand...
.308 or .311?
I’m trying 51.0 grains this pm and then on up ladder to 55.0 which Lyman called max
Thanks for info
 
Powder selection is dependent on three factors.
Weight of bullet (relative to others in the same caliber).
Volume of case (closely associated with weight of powder charge).
Strength of action.

On a brief inspection, one finds the case is about the same volume as the .303 British or the .308 Winchester. So, one would think powder suitable for the .303 and .308 would be good candidates. CHECK A LOADING MANUAL! Various shooters will report 'this' powder gives better accuracy than 'that' powder. But rifles are notoriously individual. So what works for me or Wally over there may or may not work as well for you and your Mosin.
Wish I could give a better answer, but the battery in my crystal ball ran down.
 
Second test today
51.0 gr I 4350. I decided to stretch out to 50 yards in hopes to widen the groups a bit.
Today’s result was 2.25”, yesterday was 1.50” at 25 yards.
So yesterday’s test multipled by two would be 3” —- so a .75” improvement.
But today’s group looked like 2 very close and one stinking flyer
OR
My bad shooting- very probable.
So far with I 4350
50.0 gr 3”
51.0 gr 2.25”
Next test will be 52.0 gr. And all future test will be at 50 yards.
EMC45 stated his best was a 53.0 gr, so I hope to see things get better as I move along toward that number
 
Catpop said:
Second test today
51.0 gr I 4350. I decided to stretch out to 50 yards in hopes to widen the groups a bit.
Today’s result was 2.25”, yesterday was 1.50” at 25 yards.
So yesterday’s test multipled by two would be 3” —- so a .75” improvement.
But today’s group looked like 2 very close and one stinking flyer
OR
My bad shooting- very probable.
So far with I 4350
50.0 gr 3”
51.0 gr 2.25”
Next test will be 52.0 gr. And all future test will be at 50 yards.
EMC45 stated his best was a 53.0 gr, so I hope to see things get better as I move along toward that number
Click to expand...
Are you shooting .311 or .312 jacketed or cast???
 
Catpop said:
FMJ BT bullets mic .3105, but box was hand labeled .311. My mic may be off a hair. I need to calibrate that old mic.
Click to expand...
Jrb did the testing you are doing now with the .311 Sierra and the .312 Hornaday. The .308 bullets were bad...
 
While we are on the topic of the 7,62x54R, this rimmed cartridge with significant taper responds VERY well to neck or "soft" FL resizing. The 91-30 PU I shoot for CMP competitions went from 3" 5 shot groups to 1" 5 shot groups at 100 yards by backing the sizing die off 2 full turns. It is such a night and day difference with this particular rifle, that I will not shoot FL or new sized brass in this rifle. I will burn 100 rounds worth of components to fire form the brass for any serious work with this gun. I've noticed this with other 91-30s intuitively, but as these are iron sight equipped, any difference is difficult to quantify. In the case of my m39 it couldn't care less if I'm shooting Czech 149 gr steel cased ball or finely tuned handloads. It pretty much throws the same good but not spectacular groups with any ammo, so fire forming is not a 100% rule across the caliber.
 
Test #3 52.0 gr I 4350
Disappointing- 3 shots 4 1/2” in a straight line. I must have been too tired after work this pm.
I’m going to rerun this test hopefully tomorrow.
 
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