762x54r

2731 Views 12 Replies 5 Participants Last post by FatAlbert, Jan 5, 2020

Sammo62

Discussion Starter · Jan 10, 2019

I have one I cut down and have done extensive work on and it shoots good, (less than 2 moa) and am hunting loads for the 150 grain bullet. I have 4895, 4064, 3031 and some 4320. I am after 2600 fps with these loads. My barrel is 20 inches and am thinking 45 grains 4895 and 4064, 43 on the 3031 and 47 or so on the 4320.

Wondering what loads might get me to 2600 on any of these.

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Trapper6L

· #2 · Jan 10, 2019

From the Lyman Reloading Manual #45, the 7.62 Russian also known s the 7.62x 54R shooting 150gr Remington bullets out of a 24" barrel. Max loads listed and velocity. You can load down from there if you like.
IMR3031 powder max 46.0 grs= 2785'ps
IMR4895 powder max 48.0 grs= 2762'ps
IMR4064 powder max 49.0 grs= 2793'ps
IMR4320 powder max 51.0 grs=2849'ps

Accuracy load is 55.0 grs IMR4350= 2695'ps. It shows to be a compressed powder charge.

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Sammo62

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 10, 2019

Trapper6L said:
From the Lyman Reloading Manual #45, the 7.62 Russian also known s the 7.62x 54R shooting 150gr Remington bullets out of a 24" barrel. Max loads listed and velocity. You can load down from there if you like.
IMR3031 powder max 46.0 grs= 2785'ps
IMR4895 powder max 48.0 grs= 2762'ps
IMR4064 powder max 49.0 grs= 2793'ps
IMR4320 powder max 51.0 grs=2849'ps

Accuracy load is 55.0 grs IMR4350= 2695'ps. It shows to be a compressed powder charge.

I am very grateful Sir! Thank you very much. Will post a pic of my old rifle later and the things I have done with it.

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Terry N.

· #4 · Jan 11, 2019

Hodgdon has load data on their website, but not with the IMR powders that you listed. I believe Hornady also lists data.

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Sammo62

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 13, 2019

I just read a very good article on barrel length and velocity loss of a Mosin rifle. I wish I had cut my barrel to 22 instead of 20 but was thinking of the M-44 carbines too much at the time.

I also noted that an approximate velocity loss of about an inch per inch of removal.

Lesson learned and now I have a basis for velocity in my reloading to compensate for the loss. I tender my regret with the appreciation of a shorter barrel moving in the brush but do not really think I would have noticed a 22 inch much more.

If I were to make a recommendation for anyone cutting a barrel back? I would say cut it 24 inches.

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Sammo62

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 13, 2019

Correction; I noted a loss of 25 FPS per inch of barrel loss.

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Trapper6L

· #7 · Jan 14, 2019

Almost sounds like you're taking the data as an absolute measurement of velocity. It can vary as much as 150'ps from rifle to rifle. The only way to tell how your barrel performs is to put the ammunition thru chronograph screens. You might find out your barrel is pushing bullets far beyond the printed data. One reason for the variation- roughness of the cut of the barrel. Assuming it is a military rifle, they weren't all that interested in a super accurate barrel for a military rifle. Most soldiers had to fire over 50 rounds just to get one hit. The soldiers were not expert marksmen so there was no need to make an extremely accurate rifle. Your barrel may be extremely smooth and let the bullets fly. More commonly, the barrels will be rough and cause drag on the bullets as they go down the barrel which reduces velocity. They didn't change out the cutting tool that cut the rifling near as often as any current non-military rifle barrel. Put your ammo thru a chronograph. You might just surprise yerself.

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Sammo62

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 14, 2019

Trapper6L said:
Almost sounds like you're taking the data as an absolute measurement of velocity. It can vary as much as 150'ps from rifle to rifle. The only way to tell how your barrel performs is to put the ammunition thru chronograph screens. You might find out your barrel is pushing bullets far beyond the printed data. One reason for the variation- roughness of the cut of the barrel. Assuming it is a military rifle, they weren't all that interested in a super accurate barrel for a military rifle. Most soldiers had to fire over 50 rounds just to get one hit. The soldiers were not expert marksmen so there was no need to make an extremely accurate rifle. Your barrel may be extremely smooth and let the bullets fly. More commonly, the barrels will be rough and cause drag on the bullets as they go down the barrel which reduces velocity. They didn't change out the cutting tool that cut the rifling near as often as any current non-military rifle barrel. Put your ammo thru a chronograph. You might just surprise yerself.

I know you are right! I slugged it, came out 311. I do not own a chrono, would likely spend my money on something else.

I am just making a guess at the velocity loss

I could have any rifle I wanted but am intrigued with this old turd.

I like the idea of being an oddball too.

The cartridge is very old and I like to reload it with just a Lee hand tool loader. I used to reload on a 1050 for our Dept. and had tons of reloading equipment, owned a 450 and a single stage press for years and one day just decided to sell everything and shoot one rifle.

I may buy a 223 down the road? I had three AR-15's and 8 1911's, sold them all but love a good shotgun.

I am running a 20 gauge 3 inch and #4 shot for yotes. Have to have close for it too be clean takedown.

Sorry to drift from the subject but it is relative to my choices.

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Sammo62

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 14, 2019

LInk for the data I approximated velocity loss; PDF]Effect of Barrel Length on the Muzzle Velocity and ... - Honors College
honors.usf.edu/documents/thesis/u82488180.pdf
by BL Clark - ‎2011 - ‎Cited by 4 - ‎Related articles

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Sammo62

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 8, 2019

So far I have shot two loads. 44 1/2 3031 and 49 of 4320. They are both accurate but I have only shot the 4320 at 100 yards. My Mosin has a very good barrel and is headspaced well. My barrel is cut and crowned at 21 and it is floated. Scoped, the 4320 shoots MOA with three shots. I need to go bench it, this is just shot off a decent rest, not bagged. I will get around to the range and bench it on bags and come back with some 5 shot groups later on. My trigger is very good for Mosin parts. I squared and polished the trigger sear engagement and bronze bushed the side to side out of my trigger pin. I drilled and tapped a 6x32 set screw down the top of the trigger stop and adjusted to a safe setting and although there is travel, it breaks clean at about 3-4 pounds.

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JRinKY

· #11 · Mar 1, 2019

I always figured that all those Russian Snipers in WW 2 did most of their work at less than 200 yards.
I think I read that about Vassili Zaitsev of Stalingrad fame that most of the shots were 100 meters and in. It was all about sneaking around and staying hidden from the Germans.

Not that the Mosin wasn't an accurate rifle, im sure some of them were but it was just another low budget, cheap military rifle for the millions of Russian conscripts whom a large portion had never shot a rifle before. I actually can remember when they sold for less than $20 mail order way back in the good old days.

Be happy you have a good barrel on yours because that's where most of the accuracy is. Also about the loss of velocity by cutting inches off the barrel, it is indeed noticeable with a shortened barrel. But, I just don't like short barrels so I'm prejudiced. For a reason. Velocity.

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Terry N.

· #12 · Mar 2, 2019

Sammo, have you experimented with different diameter bullets in your Mosin? IIRC, factory ammo tends to be loaded with .310" diameter bullets; most aftermarket bullets run .3105 to .311", but Hornady offers some .312" diameter bullets. Depending on your groove diameter, a thousandth of an inch or two can make a big difference in accuracy. Especially on wartime production Mosins, groove diameters tend to be on the large size with .314" being common, and some even larger.

I have a No. 4 Lee Enfield that shoots okay with .310 and .311 bullets, but really shines with .312" Hornady bullets.

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FatAlbert

· #13 · Jan 5, 2020 (Edited)

Ck your bore. I have seen 7.62x54R go from 0.3075" to 0.318". They would start with a over sized cutter and uses it till it was too small. I had a #1MK3 303 that was 0.318". I had Lee make me a push through sizing die in .318" and ran .323(8mm) bullets in it. PS: What do you think the Russ. did with the warehouses full of pulled 7.62x54 barrels that had the chamber end burned out. Have you ever heard of a PPsh-41?

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