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Old December 23, 2014, 12:20 AM   #1
skizzums
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Reloading for the Mosin Nagnt

have just received my dies for the 54r. who out here is reloading for it? I don't plan to load a whole lot of it since the surplus is still so cheap, but I do want to have the ability to load target loads a couple hundred at a time. I do not have an brass ATM, but probably just going to buy some cheap PPU loaded ammo and shoot it up. what kind of bullets are you seeing the best accuracy from? I have heard that the myosin's usually shine with heavy weight bullets, so I have just ordered 100 of the hornaday 174gr 7.7's.

what powdered would you suggest? I will be starting woth 4064 because I have it on hand, but what should I be looking for? is anyone using heavier? I know they sell some match 200gr loaded ammo that people seem to have good success in PSL's and Druganov's. any tips, pointers, pet loads,powders and favorite bullet styles/weights would be appreciated. except for the amount of powder I am going to be burning through, I am pretty excited about the venture. I would also love to hear about anyone running powdercoated cast bullets and what molds they have gone with. I was also thinking that with the so many differences between nagants chambers and barrels, that some people may just be fire forming. I did not order a bushing die, but I will if it would help. this is the first "bolt" gun that I will have loaded for, so I don't know the fine art of it yet.

thanks, excited to tool up for yet another caliber.
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Old December 23, 2014, 01:14 AM   #2
hartcreek
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I plan on using 155 grain hard casts that I also use in .308, 7.62x39 and 30-06. My hard casts are working fine in my 721 so they should work fine in the M44 that I have. I have two sizers one for 7.62 and one for .308.
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Old December 23, 2014, 01:39 AM   #3
Clark
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I have converted the Mosin Nagant to 45/70, 30-30, .223, 7mmRemMag, and I am working on a 300 Win Mag.
I have also set back the barrel on a Mosin Nagant and used a 7.62x54R reamer.
I have put a VZ59 machine gun bull barrel on Mosin in 7.62x54R,

The last two years I have helped drag antelope shot with a mosin Nagant in 7.62x54R. The old guy has been hunting with them for forty some years. He always uses the 180 Sierra .311" hunting bullet.

He uses 4350.
I use 4895, work up to a sticky bolt, and back off 2 or 3 grains.

I have used the Sierra bullet a lot, copying my friend for the 12 years I have been shooting MNs.

The best I ever get with a 91/30 mosin Nagant is 1.2" 3 shot groups.
The VZ59 barrel does better
The M39 Sako barrel does better
The 7mmRemMag rem700 take off barrel does better
The Rem700 .222 take off bull barrel in .223 does a lot better.
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Old December 23, 2014, 07:05 AM   #4
res45
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The 54r falls in between the .308 Win. and the 30-06 ballistics wise so any powder that works with those cartridges will work in the 54r as well. My brother uses IMR-4064 and I use Reloader #15.

Before selecting a jacketed or cast bullet it would be wise to slug the rifles bore to determine the correct dia. to use. Oversized bullets can cause pressure issue while undersized bullets can cause low velocity and poor accuracy.

How to slug your bore.
http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm

Don't assume all mosin bores are all alike,they can run the gamut form .309" up to .316" groove to groove. This is especially important if your shooting cast lead as undersized cast bullet can cause leading issues. I probably shoot 10 cast lead bullets to ever one jacketed.


As far as bullets go my M44 has a .312" groove bore and shoots 150 gr. .311" dia. J bullets an .314" cast lead best. Jacketed bullet weights in 150 to 180 grs. are most common in the .311" to .312" dia. range.


As to the PSL semi auto rifles if I recall it's not recommended to shoot bullets over 150 grs. as it may damage the action I have no idea if the same pertains to the Drag rifles. I'll have more I can add later time to hit the road and do some work for the man.
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Old December 23, 2014, 07:07 AM   #5
ligonierbill
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My only tested load is a 150 Sierra Pro Hunter (0.311) over 52.0 gr H380. That ran 2,760/7.0 Std. An extra grain was marginally faster with a little higher Std. COAL 2.90. Shooting from an unmodified M91. I presume you've slugged the bore. Don't think there are any Russians out there with a tighter bore, but I understand that the Finns made some .308's.
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Old December 23, 2014, 02:02 PM   #6
skizzums
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my bore slugs at .3105. I chopped off a couple inches so slugging was easy. it's a finn m91. I will definitely try out some of those 180gr sierras when I get done with the hornadays. thanks.
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Old December 24, 2014, 06:36 PM   #7
kilimanjaro
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I'm using the same 4895 or H335 powder for the 7.62x54r as I do with .308, 30-06, 7.5 Swiss, and 8mm. Both are good .30-caliber powders.

The PPU brass for the 7.62x54r is quite good, sizes easily and doesn't seem to wear out quickly. I bought 500 rounds of it just to get the reloadable brass, and am still working with the first 40 pieces.
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