The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Thought I'd give it a try at reloading some ammo. Went with a 165gr BTHP with Hodgdon Varget powder in a brass Wolf case. What are some other options all you Mosin Masters using?

I don't reload for this caliber, but If I did, I would try the 174 gr .312 Sierra Match Kings. I use them in my .303 and it shoots well.

Those look nice. I have to get my self in gear and start reloading for my SVT40

Sounds like you are using .308 diameter from the weight of your bullet. I use a 174 GRFMJ .311 diameter Hornady and IMR 4895 powder (about 42 grains) with PPU brass and Federal primers.

I have some 185 grain cast bullet loads using 2400 powder. They used to be wheel weights. I use a gas check, but still load them lighter, and they shoot real well. Those hollow points you have there look great. I have 3 pounds of the Varget. That's great powder for the full power loads.

tjtM38 wrote:Sounds like you are using .308 diameter from the weight of your bullet. I use a 174 GRFMJ .311 diameter Hornady and IMR 4895 powder (about 42 grains) with PPU brass and Federal primers.

The bullet is a .308 dia, 45 gr of powder to start with. Just getting into reloading, will be doing 9mm, 40 S&W, 30-30, 30-06, 7.62x54r, 7.62x39 when I get all set up. I find it interesting as to all the option there are to reloading, I got alot to learn.

Did you slug the barrel? I've heard that the 308's don't work as well as the 310's or 311 bullets. Just wondering...

I've been using .311dia 150gr Hornady, Sierra and Speer bullets with PPU cases and CCI primers. So far I've used AA4350, IMR4895, H4895 and IMR4064. The 4350 didn't give me the velocity I wanted; probably a little too slow for the light bullet. I just started using the H4895 and IMR4064. Here's the results shot through my '43 Izhevsk 91/30.

IMR4895: 47.2gr, 2600+fps
H4895: 45.0gr, 2600+fps
IMR4064: 44.5gr gave me 2500+fps, needs more work

Accuracy is good with all these powders shooting through my chronograph at a target at 25 yds.

conair wrote:Did you slug the barrel? I've heard that the 308's don't work as well as the 310's or 311 bullets. Just wondering...

The guy who shot these targets loved shooting .308 bullets.......never hurts to try and see. I think the M39 is reported to have a bore of about .310 with some variations between rifles slightly. That is why it is reported that slugging the bore is best. I am not sure if Kari shot these bullets in any 91/30 rifles or not. I need to look through my old emails.

Kari Prager? cool that you posted that. He was a nice guy.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

DAMN NICE GROUP!

He sent me two targets, and on the back of one he wrote "how I keep records". That's why he wrote notes on the target about how he was feeling, and breathing, as well as the load specifics.

I have some .308s loaded and some 150 .311hornadys ready for the range. I think 10 of each or something like that. The .308s are probly nozler seconds of 160 something.

conair wrote:Did you slug the barrel? I've heard that the 308's don't work as well as the 310's or 311 bullets. Just wondering...

I haven't slugged the barrel yet, these 2 shells where shot before the reloading in the one gun that has the roughest barrel but shoots well. I'm using a Lee Reloader kit,
I also have a standard die kit. Each kit has different instructions and suggest different diameter bullets and powder charge. Using the Hodgdon reloading
annual I came up with this combination. Will have to see how they shoot.

I buy loaded PPU brass ammo, shoot it, and then use them for reloading. I have a variety of bullets for trying things out, but also because different Mosins have different size bores, as already stated. I have .308, .3105, and .311's. Weights range from 150, 168, 174, and 180. The 180's are soft point for hunting, though I doubt I'll get a chance to use them on anything other than paper based on where I live and the game we have and what's legal to use on said game.

I like the PPU brass, never have had a single issue with their factory loaded stuff, and I've reloaded that brass several times, also with no problems with the brass (yet).

So far the 174 gr Sierra Match Kings are the most accurate overall, but it really depends on the rifle...

Tcmosin wrote:

conair wrote:Did you slug the barrel? I've heard that the 308's don't work as well as the 310's or 311 bullets. Just wondering...

I haven't slugged the barrel yet, these 2 shells where shot before the reloading in the one gun that has the roughest barrel but shoots well. I'm using a Lee Reloader kit,
I also have a standard die kit. Each kit has different instructions and suggest different diameter bullets and powder charge. Using the Hodgdon reloading
annual I came up with this combination. Will have to see how they shoot.

My RCBS die set came with 2 different pieces for the sizing die depending on what you planned to load the case with. If I'm using .308 bullets, the expander is smaller so it properly grips the bullet. They also give a slightly larger one for when using .310+ dia bullets. This is not critical, but the serious reloader will use them strictly. I'm not a good enough shooter where the effect of the grip on the bullet by the case comes in to play with my accuracy

I cant remember but I think I used the 308 only for both sizes.

if you're using boat tail bullets, you can easily seat a 311 bullet in a case necked for a 308 bullet. if you're using flat base bullets, you'll have a hard time ;)

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Silk#2 wrote:

somebody has a thing for laminate stocks, eh?

NICE!!