not alot of data for 54R

skizzums · January 5, 2015, 07:27 AM

hey guys, i am doing some powder shopping today to start loading for the 54r, looking at hodgdon data. i was hoping to get away with 4064 because it's almost always avaiolable, but i need a powder that can go from 150gr-180gr and possibly beyond. the powder choices, even when only talking about 10gr difference in bullet weight, seem to be very specific. like they have no data for 4064 in the 175gr, but have it for the 180gr. they list things like h335 in some of the lighter and heavier loads, and not in the mid-weights. the only powder i see that is used across the board seems to be varget, which i may or may not be able to find. i am a little confused to as why 4064 seems to be a good all around powder in 30-06 and 308 with a wide range of light to heavy bullets, but only 180 and up in the 54R. i guess what i am asking is, what powders would be good for this? does anyone have data that shows 4064 being used with 150gr and 175 and up? maybe i can find some 4895 or some varget to be able to use the new hodgdon data, we'll see, but i already have a few #'s of 4064

hartcreek · January 5, 2015, 07:45 AM

Any powder that works for .308 or .30-06 will work for 7.62 x 54R.

From my Herters circa 1957

4064

173 & 180 grain jacketed
37.0 gr 2030 fps
42.0 gr 2270 fps suggested
47.0 gr 2500 fps max

220 grain jacketed
34.0 gr 1730 fps
30.0 gr 1920 fps suggested
44.0 gr 2110 fps max

trapper9260 · January 5, 2015, 09:36 AM

I would say go with what hartcreek stated and work your loads start with the min and do test loads.With 5grs off on the weight do not worry about it just work the loads .

rogn · January 5, 2015, 06:30 PM

H380 has proven to be a good powder, I have seen data for 180s, but Ive been using it for 150s and 175s. Good accuracy, but have not choreographed any.

skizzums · January 6, 2015, 01:17 AM

thanks for grabbing that old data for me, that really helped confirm the ata I had. so I am starting at 42gr(hodgdon min is 42.5) and working up to 46. I have seen on a couple other boards that 44.5 is pretty accurate, I like that it's right in the middle too. when I grabbed these 303 bullets, I thought they would be a hit, they looked nice and long and had the perfect diameter, but I am finding out that they are pretty darn short. to be at the cannelure I would be 2.700, which isn't really a problem, but I can only imagine the bullet jump to the lands since my surplus is 3.05. so I am seating under the cann, which still leaves plenty of bullet for good tension, no crimping obviously. also, I have Winchester brass and surplus brass, on the win, the primers seat flush and the surplus they seat about 1/16th under flush. no problems, just an interesting round to reload for, I will probably have to find a longer bullet, problem is finding selection in .310-.312. oh well, wouldn't be fun if it was easy

Clark · January 6, 2015, 01:53 AM

Back in 2003 I took my first 91/30 to the range and worked up a load with 4895 and 180 gr Sierra and 2.843" AOL.

I worked up 10 gr in 1 gr increments with 3 shots at very increment.
Then I got to the difficult to lift bolt handle.
I came back the next day, that that time I only fired up until I was within 1.4 gr of where the bolt handle was sticky the day before.

A couple years later in 2005 I took 10 guns to the range to see what I would hunt with. The 91/30 won.

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

49 gr. IMR4895, 180 gr. Sierra 2310, 3.002":
measured 2873 fps, 1.5" 5 shot group @50 yards

47 gr. 1.25" 5 shot group @ 50 yards

I don't know which load I hunted with.

hartcreek · January 6, 2015, 02:14 AM

How many and how fast would you need them? The 155 grainers that I hard cast would do you fine or you could hard cast and gascheck em yourself.

As you can see from the pic you have some room to put a crimp.

The mold I use is Lee 312-155-2R. With a gascheck and lube it is right at 160 grain. I size them for .308 and 30-06 with one sizer and for 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R with another.

I just went through 700 of them loading .308 and 30-06 so I would have to cast em up but you can do the same if you have alloy.

I am shooting them out of my 721 at 2600 fps with no leading so you surely could do similar if you have the alloy.

Found fifty some that I had forgot about. They are tumble lubed so you will have to clean the lube from the exposed bullet with some thinner. I no longer tumble them but apply the lube with a Q tip but these look to be of the same allow so I can send you 50.

skizzums · January 6, 2015, 02:38 AM

are you offering? I would love 50 or a hundred to try out. I would gladly pay or trade some ingots. what mold are you using?

CowTowner · January 7, 2015, 05:19 PM

Quote:

what mold are you using?

Quote:

The mold I use is Lee 312-155-2R.

Looks like he gave you that already

skizzums · January 7, 2015, 06:53 PM

thanks hartcreek, very cool of you. let me know when you run low on lead, I have a great stash built up. ill probably do half as is, lubed, and powdercoat half and see how I like it. a ee mold is 25 bucks shipped, so I will prob get one soon if it shoots well. thanks again.

thanks for the helpful post CowTowner, as you can see his post was edited this morning.

Wreck-n-Crew · January 7, 2015, 10:40 PM

Skizzums is this for your Archangel Mosin? Did you ever get that scope mount straight?

Kinda interested in seeing how she turns out...accuracy and all.

skizzums · January 8, 2015, 01:19 AM

yes it is. I believe the scope is fixed, I just took the screws back out, re-relocktite and tightened again, i'll just have to keep checking next time. I probably won't get back out until next weekend, but excited to see what it will do. I will definitely post an update, thanks

skizzums · January 19, 2015, 03:15 AM

I have already posted this in the bolt section, but i'll throw it up here as well.

found my best load to be 45.5gr IMR4064 with hornaday 174 303/7.7

100 yad target. top left 42.5 - 46.5 on bottom right. middle target is the 185gr barnual which my gun apparently doesn't like, this is the second outing with mirroring results with the 185. 1 and 1/4 MOA with 45.5. I will tweak that load starting at 45-46 in .2gr incrememnts and find the perfect load.

now that I know these 7.7 bullets work well, I need to try out sierra's offerings as well

rude robert · January 21, 2015, 04:41 AM

Nice grouping for sure, did you get the bore reworked? I came across my first brass for the 54r and it was a regular primer, I ended up breaking a pin, trying to size my brass. Next time I buy used brass I will be sure to check which type of primer is in there lol

gman3 · January 22, 2015, 08:48 AM

If you want a variety of load data for that cartridge, get a Hornady manual. They have eight pages of data for the 7.62x54R. There is more data for it than the 30-06.

skizzums · January 22, 2015, 11:34 AM

the only upgrades to the rifle that may affect accuracy wound be lathing off the rear sight base, a new crowning and free-float. it sure helps how tight that stock is too. that stock is fantastic, the fit is pretty amazing. it also has an adjustable barrel tensioner, although I didn't play with it, nor do I really understand the concept, just removed it and let free float

I am pretty happy where I am at, although I think I may be able to shrink it a little if I can find a longer .310-.311 bullet than the stubby hrn 7.7

January 5, 2015, 07:27 AM	#1
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	not alot of data for 54R hey guys, i am doing some powder shopping today to start loading for the 54r, looking at hodgdon data. i was hoping to get away with 4064 because it's almost always avaiolable, but i need a powder that can go from 150gr-180gr and possibly beyond. the powder choices, even when only talking about 10gr difference in bullet weight, seem to be very specific. like they have no data for 4064 in the 175gr, but have it for the 180gr. they list things like h335 in some of the lighter and heavier loads, and not in the mid-weights. the only powder i see that is used across the board seems to be varget, which i may or may not be able to find. i am a little confused to as why 4064 seems to be a good all around powder in 30-06 and 308 with a wide range of light to heavy bullets, but only 180 and up in the 54R. i guess what i am asking is, what powders would be good for this? does anyone have data that shows 4064 being used with 150gr and 175 and up? maybe i can find some 4895 or some varget to be able to use the new hodgdon data, we'll see, but i already have a few #'s of 4064

January 5, 2015, 07:45 AM	#2
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	Any powder that works for .308 or .30-06 will work for 7.62 x 54R. From my Herters circa 1957 4064 173 & 180 grain jacketed 37.0 gr 2030 fps 42.0 gr 2270 fps suggested 47.0 gr 2500 fps max 220 grain jacketed 34.0 gr 1730 fps 30.0 gr 1920 fps suggested 44.0 gr 2110 fps max

January 5, 2015, 09:36 AM	#3
trapper9260 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 119	I would say go with what hartcreek stated and work your loads start with the min and do test loads.With 5grs off on the weight do not worry about it just work the loads .

January 5, 2015, 06:30 PM	#4
rogn Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2005 Posts: 203	H380 has proven to be a good powder, I have seen data for 180s, but Ive been using it for 150s and 175s. Good accuracy, but have not choreographed any.

January 6, 2015, 01:17 AM	#5
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	thanks for grabbing that old data for me, that really helped confirm the ata I had. so I am starting at 42gr(hodgdon min is 42.5) and working up to 46. I have seen on a couple other boards that 44.5 is pretty accurate, I like that it's right in the middle too. when I grabbed these 303 bullets, I thought they would be a hit, they looked nice and long and had the perfect diameter, but I am finding out that they are pretty darn short. to be at the cannelure I would be 2.700, which isn't really a problem, but I can only imagine the bullet jump to the lands since my surplus is 3.05. so I am seating under the cann, which still leaves plenty of bullet for good tension, no crimping obviously. also, I have Winchester brass and surplus brass, on the win, the primers seat flush and the surplus they seat about 1/16th under flush. no problems, just an interesting round to reload for, I will probably have to find a longer bullet, problem is finding selection in .310-.312. oh well, wouldn't be fun if it was easy

January 6, 2015, 01:53 AM	#6
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	Back in 2003 I took my first 91/30 to the range and worked up a load with 4895 and 180 gr Sierra and 2.843" AOL. I worked up 10 gr in 1 gr increments with 3 shots at very increment. Then I got to the difficult to lift bolt handle. I came back the next day, that that time I only fired up until I was within 1.4 gr of where the bolt handle was sticky the day before. A couple years later in 2005 I took 10 guns to the range to see what I would hunt with. The 91/30 won. CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information. 49 gr. IMR4895, 180 gr. Sierra 2310, 3.002": measured 2873 fps, 1.5" 5 shot group @50 yards 47 gr. 1.25" 5 shot group @ 50 yards I don't know which load I hunted with.

January 6, 2015, 02:38 AM	#8
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	are you offering? I would love 50 or a hundred to try out. I would gladly pay or trade some ingots. what mold are you using?

January 7, 2015, 06:53 PM	#10
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	thanks hartcreek, very cool of you. let me know when you run low on lead, I have a great stash built up. ill probably do half as is, lubed, and powdercoat half and see how I like it. a ee mold is 25 bucks shipped, so I will prob get one soon if it shoots well. thanks again. thanks for the helpful post CowTowner, as you can see his post was edited this morning.

January 7, 2015, 10:40 PM	#11
Wreck-n-Crew Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,820	Skizzums is this for your Archangel Mosin? Did you ever get that scope mount straight? Kinda interested in seeing how she turns out...accuracy and all.

January 8, 2015, 01:19 AM	#12
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	yes it is. I believe the scope is fixed, I just took the screws back out, re-relocktite and tightened again, i'll just have to keep checking next time. I probably won't get back out until next weekend, but excited to see what it will do. I will definitely post an update, thanks

January 19, 2015, 03:15 AM	#13
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	I have already posted this in the bolt section, but i'll throw it up here as well. found my best load to be 45.5gr IMR4064 with hornaday 174 303/7.7 100 yad target. top left 42.5 - 46.5 on bottom right. middle target is the 185gr barnual which my gun apparently doesn't like, this is the second outing with mirroring results with the 185. 1 and 1/4 MOA with 45.5. I will tweak that load starting at 45-46 in .2gr incrememnts and find the perfect load. now that I know these 7.7 bullets work well, I need to try out sierra's offerings as well

January 21, 2015, 04:41 AM	#14
rude robert Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Posts: 116	Nice grouping for sure, did you get the bore reworked? I came across my first brass for the 54r and it was a regular primer, I ended up breaking a pin, trying to size my brass. Next time I buy used brass I will be sure to check which type of primer is in there lol

January 22, 2015, 08:48 AM	#15
gman3 Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Posts: 408	If you want a variety of load data for that cartridge, get a Hornady manual. They have eight pages of data for the 7.62x54R. There is more data for it than the 30-06.

January 22, 2015, 11:34 AM	#16
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	the only upgrades to the rifle that may affect accuracy wound be lathing off the rear sight base, a new crowning and free-float. it sure helps how tight that stock is too. that stock is fantastic, the fit is pretty amazing. it also has an adjustable barrel tensioner, although I didn't play with it, nor do I really understand the concept, just removed it and let free float I am pretty happy where I am at, although I think I may be able to shrink it a little if I can find a longer .310-.311 bullet than the stubby hrn 7.7