Any commercial rifle in 7.62x54R?

[raindog]

I have a couple Mosin-Nagants and I like 7.62x54R - similar to 308 in power and about the cheapest surplus ammo you can buy. Of course, you can find pretty good reloadable domestic manufacture, too.

Unfortunately, the only thing I have that shoots it is old Mosin-Nagants. Not that I mind these great old guns, but it might be nice to have a modern barrel that wasn't shot out in 1944. (Yeah, sometimes you find some that aren't bad but it's not like you find 'em with new barrels).

Any manufacturer ever chamber this?

Or should I get something going on Kickstarter?

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Russian VEPR and Romanian PSL but those are semi-auto if that matters to you.

 

[zoom6zoom]

^ I have both of those (plus an SVT-40). Of the two modern ones, the VEPR would be my choice. With its heavier RPK style receiver, it can handle any x54R ammo you have, unlike the PSL which is restricted to light ball.

 

[Aaron Baker]

I don't know anything about them, but I think Baikal made some single shot rifles and double rifles.

Aaron

 

[Shadow 7D]

there was a Tigre, the hunting version of the SVD, and there are SVD's and the MND 80??? the chinese version of them

I believe that a few places have made PSL/VEPR versions of the enlarged AK action.

 

[gpb]

"Any manufacturer ever chamber this?"

Winchester made 300,000 Model 1895 rifles from 1915 to 1917 in 7.62X54R for the Russian Empire.


"but it might be nice to have a modern barrel that wasn't shot out in 1944"

Good luck in finding an original factory fresh Winchester 1895 in 7.62X54R that doesn't cost multiple thousands of dollars.

 

[mberoose]

VEPRs are very, very nice rifles.

 

[MikeOBWan]

I have a Tigr SVD it is a great weapon. Lot of fun to shoot. And Oh the looks you get when you show up to Deer camp with one.. hehe

 

[Edarnold]

Commercial 7.62x54R rifles

Check the IZHMASH site for the SV98 sniper rifle, looks like a purpose-built action in a modern stock, undoubtedly accurate. Of course, it undoubtedly costs like it looks, and actually getting one imported would be interesting.

Also if you are looking for interesting alternatives, the Russians built running-boar Olympic rifles on the Canadian Ross model 10 action, don't know if any of these were ever sold commercially.

One last thought: somebody in Finland must have produced sporting and target rifles for the cartridge years ago, something else to investigate.

IMHO

 

[Cosmoline]

Finland did produce a target version of the M28-30 and a bunch of these came up for sale a few years ago. You can find them on GB. They're not technically new firearms since they use old, sometimes very old, receivers.

 

[brnmw]

Russian VEPR and Romanian PSL but those are semi-auto if that matters to you.

This plus SVT's, and SVD variants. There are not any current mftr. other than these mentioned and quoted I am aware of. I would love to get my hands on a NIB bolt or semi-auto in 7.62X54Rmm.

 

[Rob G]

Unfortunately as many have stated this particular caliber is really only seen being used by Warsaw Pact nations and some of their allies.

The only current production guns I'm aware of in this caliber are the Russian VEPR rifles and a carbine length AK clone made by Black Horse Arsenal in 7.62x54r.

However if you don't mind looking used there are a few other options, although they're all fairly similiar:

Both TGI and Waffen Werks have made carbine length AKs in that caliber
Romanian PSL - can still be found
NDM-86 - a Chinese made version of the SVD rifle
Tigre - Russian made sporting version of the SVD
Dragunov SVD - The real deal Russian DMR

Of the options above the VEPR is the one I'd go with. They're tough as nails and reptutedly accurate. Although a Romanian PSL would be fun to have as well. The NDM-86, Tigre, and Dragunov are all very bad-@ss but they're hard to find and expensive when you do find one.

 

[Robbins290]

Too bad there weren't a m77 or m700 in 7.62x54. I like the round too.

 

[Shadow 7D]

yeah, and the history, and
Me, I see nothing great about 30.06
BUT it's nice to have caliber commonality,

So, if a collector of 30.06's, say '03, SA mauser/Madsens, had a Garrand and asked 'is there a modern semi'.... would you ask what's so great about the round?

 

[brnmw]

Not too impressed with the round myself. Is It Just because it is cheap?
__________________

Using SP bullets it will take down anything in N. America for hunting and doing it for less money than most .30-'06 Spfld./.308/.270 Win. loads using premium bullets.
Surplus ammo is always an option along with "Yes" cheaper current commercial FMJ steel/brass cased loads for just plinking/target shooting. Accuracy is not that far off either from the .308 Winchester. Many people are hurting financially, therefore the popularity of the 7.62X54Rmm is just going to get higher.

 

[R.W.Dale]

You could go with an TC encore and have an outfit like MGM make you a barrel

I've also taken one of the Russian 7.62x39 single shots and reamed it out to not x54r but 303 British




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complains about

 

[Kymasabe]

Stick with the Mosins. By the time you find another gun that'll shoot that round or have something rebarrelled, you could buy a nice Rem700 in .30-06 or .308 and never have to worry about finding ammo for it. x54R is cheap now and not too hard to find until the surplus runs out or bog brother decides not to allow importation of military caliber ammo anymore. Stock up now if you really really love that round.

 

[Quiet]

Currently being imported:
MOLOT VEPR 7.62x54R
There are four variations. Two 16" barrel and two 20" barrel.

They are more accurate than the Romanian PSL.