Velocity and Energy figures from a Mosin-Nagant M38

[Elm Creek Smith]

I took my Mosin-Nagant M38 to the range last weekend and got numbers from my Chrony.

147 grains 2,622.52 fps 2,245.49 ft/lbs
203 grains 2,289.46 fps 2,363.30 ft/lbs

The 147 grainers are FMJ light bullet Bulgarian ammo. The 203 grainers are Barnaul SP ammo. Even out of the short 20 inch barrel of the M38, the 147 grain ammo is equivalent to a .308 or .30-'06, and the 203 ammo would do for elk or moose. I don't know that I'd want to pick on a big bear with it, but it would beat a handgun.

Anyone else have numbers?

ECS

 

[FlyinBryan]

I havent tested or ran a ballistics program on my mosin.

my 30-06 loads are very similar to your numbers at about the 200 yard mark.

at ten feet they are:

velocity, 3021fps
energy, 3156 ft/lbs

your a little short of a 30-06, but not enough to matter if you hit anything with a pulse.

i actually think your numbers might be a little low cuz when i shoot my 91/30 it feels like the most powerful thing ive got.

you say anything short of a big bear, but i wouldnt want to be a big bear in front of you.

in my opinion, the russian 7.62x54r is plenty for anything in our hemesphere.

maybe the planet with a well placed shot.

its definitly a mean motor scooter.

 

[jpwilly]

M91/30's have 28.75" bbls that would explain the increase in velocity over an M38 with 20" - wouldn't it! MV from a 91 is around 150fps more and 300ft/lbs more with 180gr pills than the M38.

 

[NCsmitty]

I chronographed the Prvi-Partizan 180gr FMJBT rounds the other day from my sporterized M44.
Average was 2480fps from the short barrel, and guess that the 91/30 would be 2600+fps.
More than adequate for most big game using the SP version.
i thought that I would add the energy. 2480fps=2459 ftlb

NCsmitty

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I'm glad I'm not the only chronograph geek around.

What's the barrel length on your .30-06, FlyinBryan?

I bought a can of 440 rounds of the 147 grain Bulgarian ammo. I should be good for a month or two.

ECS

 

[wnycollector]

I just picked up 2 tins of the bulgy light ball. I will try to get to the range this week with my chrony and 91/30. I will post some numbers so we can compare them too the m38. I will also toss in some hungarian light ball, barnaul 203gr sp's and bulgy heavy ball.

I will also admit to being a chrony and numbers/data geek as well!

 

[Caliper_Mi]

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmo.htm Lots of ammo compared out of several different barrel lengths. Pretty good stuff.

FlyinBryan: you're comparing milsurp and commercial ammo to handloads. There is a fair amount of extra space in the 7.62x54R case judging by how things sound when I shake my milsurp ammo. The .30-06 does have the advantage if you want to go for broke though, it is a 7.62x63 in metric measurements.

 

[geo57]

Elm Creek Smith, I'm also a M-N fan, having a M44 . You mentioned the Barnaul 203 grainers . Did it happen to be the Silver Bear flavor ? If so, how did it extract after firing. Mine loves both Privi Partizan, which is brass cased & extracts smooth as butter, and the Wolf 150 gr, FMJ, which is steel cased , shoots GREAT, but can be a bit sticky in bolt raising ( yes fellas, the chamber is free of cosmoline ). Just wondering if you or anyone aboard have tried this Silver Bear 203 gr. ammo . The stuff I speak of have silver colored cases, which I understand are zinc plated . I'm just curious how well it extracted and if it printed any differently than your 147 gr. stuff . My M44 is dead on with 150's. Regards

 

[Hoxviii]

The .30-06 does have the advantage if you want to go for broke though, it is a 7.62x63 in metric measurements.

But the diameter of the 30-06 is a LOT less than the 7.62x54r. If you get real particular, the -06 still has the advantage, but only by about 6% nominal case capacity.

For all intents and purposes they will do the same thing with the same bullet every time, however you are correct- the -06 might just get 50 fps on the 54r at the absolute maximum loadings.

 

[Bezoar]

Well as far as hunting "big bears", a large number of the professional guides in russian bear country carry the old 91/30 and variants of it.
They have no problem shooting bears that average a typical 600-800 kilos.