The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 19, 2018, 09:03 PM   #1
e-bear
Member
 
Join Date: October 18, 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 95
M44...7.62x54R

Going to start reloading for the M44. I have plenty of brass, primers and powders. Just wondering what are some of y'alls favorite recipes. I need to buy some bullets but not sure what is best....Any info I could get would be greatly appreciated.
__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.'- Ronald Reagan
"Denying me a gun because idiots kill is like getting castrated because your neighbor has too many kids." - Andy
e-bear is offline  
Old September 19, 2018, 09:48 PM   #2
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,401
The best bullet, in my opinion, is the Hornady 174 gr RN. The Sierra 174 isn't bad, either.

My particular M38 really likes AA3100, but I believe it has been discontinued.
AA4350 has done quite well. I haven't done much "serious" testing beyond those powders.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old September 19, 2018, 10:06 PM   #3
ligonierbill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 20, 2007
Posts: 2,437
Can't say they're the best, but Sierra 0.311 Pro Hunters in 150 or 180 gr over IMR-4320 work well in my M91 (bbl shortened by 5"). Other mid-range powders work just as well, but I have a big jug of 4320. I kind of favor the 180s.

I'm loading 49.5 gr IMR-4320 for the 150s (about 2,730) and 48.5 for the 180s (about 2,570). Wolf commercial 180s go 2,552 avg out of this gun, and I aimed to match that. Could probably go hotter, but I have no reason to do so.

Last edited by ligonierbill; September 19, 2018 at 10:13 PM.
ligonierbill is offline  
Old September 20, 2018, 03:02 AM   #4
bamaranger
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 2009
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 8,273
PSL

Been loading the x54R cartridge for several years now for a PSL rifle. Sources say the 150 grain slugs are the heaviest one should use in that SA action. I experimented with .308 dia slugs, including 150 Match Kings which actually shot pretty well, but have decided that the Sierra .311, 150 gr Pro Hunter yields consistent accuracy in my rifle and is a genuine game bullet as well should I ever want to hunt with it.

I'm using Varget powder, enough to get velocities in the 2650 range.

Also, the price of the M44's has really jumped.......wish I'd have bought one a decade ago!!!!!!!!!
bamaranger is offline  
Old September 20, 2018, 06:58 AM   #5
m&p45acp10+1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 3, 2009
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 3,930
150 grain .311 Speer Hot Core loaded over H4320 make a very accurate hunting load.

For targets and fun. I like a 110 grain .308 loaded with Trail Boss. A nice gallery load for knocking down steel plates. It moves the swinger plates about the same as my .357 magnum loads do.
__________________
No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.
m&p45acp10+1 is offline  
Old September 20, 2018, 01:33 PM   #6
T. O'Heir
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 12,453
"...not sure what is best..." Best for what purpose? With that wee cannon, a light bullet would be better than a 174, recoil wise.
"...a 110 grain .308..." Undersized. Lots of 123 and 125 grain .311" bullet around. Data is on Hodgdon's site. Little fellows are moving too. Start loads run at or a tick under 3,000 FPS.
'Ya'll' is already plural. snicker.
__________________
Spelling and grammar count!
T. O'Heir is offline  
Old September 20, 2018, 01:37 PM   #7
ligonierbill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 20, 2007
Posts: 2,437
Sorry, my Canadian friend, down here, "All y'all" is the plural. This Yankee has been corrected when he used it incorrectly!
ligonierbill is offline  
Old September 20, 2018, 04:50 PM   #8
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,401
As others have mentioned, even .308" bullets often shoot well.
If there's something you want to try, go for it.
I have plenty of .311" and .312" bullets, though. As little as I shoot the M38, I'll probably never have to buy more.



Quote:
Ya'll' is already plural. snicker.
It is.
But so is "All y'all."

Y'all can include an indefinite number of parties, which may or may not include everyone present.
All y'all, includes a definitive number of parties: all of them.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old September 21, 2018, 06:04 PM   #9
ligonierbill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 20, 2007
Posts: 2,437
Well, I had to take the old Mosin out today. I didn't have any of the IMR-4320 loads on the shelf, just some old H380s. Both 150 and 180 Sierra ProHunter over 52 gr H380. The 180s run the same velocity as my IMR-4320 loads and the Wolf commercial. The 150s run about the same, kinda slow for that bullet. (Don't remember why I loaded those.) Be it as it may, the 150s were pretty erratic. The 180s did well. The first 3 went under an inch, first 4 1 3/4", then they spread out. I was just banging away, not really letting the barrel cool. I need to do some more shooting, but right now, I will go with Sierra ProHunter 180 at about 2,550. YRMV
ligonierbill is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07065 seconds with 8 queries