Reloading for the 7.62x54 questions

[billybob123]

What is the preferred aka most accurate bullet weight to reload with. I am thinking either in the 150gr to 175 gr range. What has worked out the best for you? I am going to be reloading .311 diameter for my M38, what brand and style of bullets are you using for the .311 in the 150-175 grain range?

[desdem12]

There is absolutely no way in this earth to tell that. You have to do your own testing. I would wager the most accurate way would be to slug the bore and then cast the correct size bullets and do powder testing for that particular gun. There are at least 10 factors if not a 100 that would effect accuracy from any one or any rifle. I would suggest making up some test rounds and trying it on the range. I have some ready for testing in a rifle that i know shoots good with different weights of bullets. I have at least 20 different mosins if not more and i suspect that every one would like something different. I have preliminary test rounds loaded with .303 british bullets and some with .308 bullets. I will test theses and then test some others and move the tests to other rifles. The .303 bullets i have are hornady and i think they are 174 but not sure. The .308 bullets i have are 165 nosler seconds i get from their factory. Testing when it gets warmer for me.

[Dragunov sniper 777]

like desdem said , you will have to find out what your gun likes , i basicaly only have two mosin loads , 150 gr speer ,.311 and 174 gr FMJBT hornady .310.5 , both bullets are .303 enfield , well i have a plinker load that uses a 120 gr .313 32-20 cast bullet and trail boss .....

[desdem12]

I will have to look for the speer bullets. Here it is hard to find any off caliber stuff. Hornady is around but speer is less so. I did check for some 6.5 bullets and the prices were up there around 28-30 per 100. Getting up there for those little ones.

[rfdillon]

I have had good success with Hornady 3130 projectiles in my M 44, but it is best to slug your barrels to determine what size projectles will shoot best in your guns.

[res45]

My M44 shoots bullet weights for 125 up through 174 gr. all very well. Best accuracy is always been best with jacketed bullets in .311" dia. The bore on my Mosin measured .312" groove to groove.

With cast loads a bullet in the 160 to 180 gr. range gas checked and sized to .314" at a MV between 1800 and 2K fps. out shoots any jacketed bullet I've tried.

[tjtM38]

I reload this bullet:

http://www.hornady.com/store/searchammo ... &x=25&y=12

I'm getting good results in the carbine (M38) with IMR 4895 and PPU cases. I get the load data from Hornady.

[Burrhead]

I'd slug the barrel first and make sure you will be OK with what ever you settle on. I have 5 different Mosins and two are M39's and some have tighter bores so you may want to be sure on this first. As to bullet weight I shoot 150 grain bullets in my 91/30 rifles and the 174 grain .3105" in my M39's I also use AA4350 powder and IMR-4064 in these loads.
Burrhead