Why no American ammo in 7,62x54R?

[saturno_v]

Well the only available is the high priced (and high quality) Winchester, which in reality are relabeled S&B ammo.

I wonder why with the huge invasion of Mosins and, to a lesser extent, Dragunovs and Romanian PSL no American ammo manufacturer has took the opportunity to produce this fine round.

After all, they produce the 7,62x39....I don't think this has to do with the fact that they do not want to compete with the cheap military surplus ammo or Eastern European manufacturers like someone said before...after all the same logic applies to the 7,62X39 which they still make it....

Instead they continue to produce cartridges that are, IMHO, less common nowdays such as the 30-40 Krag, 7mm Mauser and others....even the 303 British.....in my neck of the wood I see many more Mosin at the range than Enfields..

So why, despite the enormous popularity, do you think American ammo producers shun the 7,62x54R?


Regards

 

[Nugilum]

With the market flooded with cheap military surplus ammo, there's no money in making the rounds commercially.

 

[dispatch55126]

My guess is that there is too much surplus out there that they cannot compete price wise. From a manufacturing standpoint, there is no reason to make something if I cannot make money doing it. The amount of tooling required to spin that up to be marketable would be way to cost preventative.

That said, if russian surplus is banned like the chinese surplus was, you could then see local manufacturers tool up for 7.62x54R and 5.45x39.

 

[WardenWolf]

Because there's very little money in it, because (1) surplus ammo is very cheap, and (2) foreign producers like PRVI Partisan fill this niche well. At $11.50 a box for PRVI Partisan soft points, there's no way I'd be paying the prices for US-made ammo when that stuff is just as good. And (3), if people want a more accurate load for a precision rifle, they typically handload.

The main problem, though, is that commercial 150-grain ammo, as needed by the PSL and other Dragunov-style rifles, is hard to find. Handloading can cover it just fine, but not everyone handloads. PRVI Partisan and Wolf (rebadged PRVI Partisan) are the only brands that cover this.

 

[saturno_v]

Because there's very little money in it, because (1) surplus ammo is very cheap, and (2) foreign producers like PRVI Partisan fill this niche well. At $11.50 a box for PRVI Partisan soft points, there's no way I'd be paying the prices for US-made ammo when that stuff is just as good. And (3), if people want a more accurate load for a precision rifle, they typically handload.

The main problem, though, is that commercial 150-grain ammo, as needed by the PSL and other Dragunov-style rifles, is hard to find. Handloading can cover it just fine, but not everyone handloads. PRVI Partisan and Wolf (rebadged PRVI Partisan) are the only brands that cover this.

I agree with the logic by the same concept apply to the 7,62X39....enormous amount availavle from the military surplus stock and very cheap...and many inexpensive Eastern European brand available...still the American ammo companies make them...

And, as you mentioned before, the surplus ammo is corrosive and many (including me) do not want to use it and military stock is only FMJ which is banned for hunting in many states..

When it comes to SP ammo actually the 7,62X54R is not that plentiful or very easy to find....I thought some American company could pick up the slack.....

Case in point...it happened more than once even before the "ammo crisis" at these big box sport retailers....many Mosins available for sale and no ammo but if you look at the shelves there were several boxes of 30-40 Krag, 7mm Mauser or 303 British...

 

[Nicodemus38]

the issue is liability. if they make the ammunition in america, it will not be any where near what the velocity/chamber pressure used in european ammunition. it would most likely end up being slightly between 30-30 and x39 in power.

because the fins rebarrelled rifles into .308, that will preclude them from reloading ammuntion. they would be too scared to load a bullet thicker then .308 because the lawsuits if finnish barrels blew up from oversized bullets.
only barnes and sierra make bullets that can be used in a true soviet produced mosin barrel, those bullets are all made for the .303 enfield but will work in most of our mosins with russian barrels.


the other big issue is that they have spent to much money on making proprietary cartridges to corner the market with, they have no reason to cut the profit margin they get already. winchester merely has prvi partisan box their soft point and fmj ammo into winchester logo boxes. really cuts the profit loss that way.

strange thing is, when my local store has winchester fmj in x54r in, its 2 dollar cheaper then the wolf softpoint and fmj.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

A lot of the American 7.62x39 is not preferable. The American ones use a true .308 bullet but actually com-bloc firearms have a .311 bore and bullet. So the American ammo is under pressure and doesn't have proper terminal ballistics.

 

[GRIZ22]

Why no American ammo in 7,62x54R?


There used to be made by the big boys as late as the 1970s as I recall. The other answers given say why there isn't any now.

 

[R.W.Dale]

A lot of the American 7.62x39 is not preferable. The American ones use a true .308 bullet but actually com-bloc firearms have a .311 bore and bullet. So the American ammo is under pressure and doesn't have proper terminal ballistics.

Please please don't go there!

This MYTH has been debunked on so many diffrent levels now. American made 7.62x39 ammo is NOT loaded with .308" dia bullets, never has been and never will be.




As to the OPs question, give em time, domestic mfgrs tend to lag behind the curve a good 10 yrs. But don't expect great things. Domestic companys tend to load anything metric with a healthy dose of teh suck

 

[freakshow10mm]

I can't compete with the imported ammunition. Until supply decreases to the point that demand dictates domestic production picks up the slack, it's not worth loading.

Did a market survey and they said they are more than happy with Wolf ammo for their x39 and x54R ammo.

 

[Acera]

Come on guys Winchester makes it. Their Metric Calibers line is full of the stuff.

So how your theories looking now???

$19.97 @ Sportsmans Guide
$20.61 @Able's
$19.85 @ Cheaper Than Dirt
$19.99 @ Midway USA
$19.99 @ Grafs

So it's out there with just about every major online seller. I've seen the stuff at Gander Mountain this past week.


That is not that bad considering it's hunting rounds. I don't know about the comment it's made overseas, but most of the stuff we buy now is. Winchester is at least a American name.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Um, Winchester's metric calibers are made by S&B in the Czech Republic for Winchester, that's why they can afford to sell it. S&B also makes WWB, which is why it's so cheap.

There goes your theory.

 

[Blue Brick]

"Um, Winchester's metric calibers are made by S&B in the Czech Republic for Winchester, that's why they can afford to sell it. S&B also makes WWB, which is why it's so cheap."

Do you have documentation? Another reason for me boycott Winchester.

 

[Runningman]

After all, they produce the 7,62x39

Keep in mind that American Ammunition manufactures did not manufacture the 7.62 x 39 ammo till Ruger stated making rifles in that chambering.

Mostly the same deal with 6.5 x 55 Swede.... American ammo manufactures did not make it, till Remington, Winchester, Ruger started making rifles in it. See the pattern here? For this reason I think odds are slim to none that the 7.62 x 54R will be loaded in the US.

 

[Acera]

My theory is that it is competitive with everything else, and it is.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Do you have documentation? Another reason for me boycott Winchester.

Call Winchester.

Oh, and Federal Premium ammunition is made in Sweden by Norma. So is Weatherby ammunition.

There is a lot of subcontracting for ammunition manufacturing in the industry. My tiny company even makes ammunition for other companies that brand and market it as their own ammunition.

 

[atblis]

Norma, huh. Is that why the Federal is so soft? Never made the connection before.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Lot of things in the ammo industry the public isn't privy to know. Very interesting stuff going on and I'm blessed to have some of the knowledge that I do about it. Jerry Springer doesn't have anything on this circus.