Heavy Ball Ammo in M44

[Jack757585]

Hey folks, just signed up! Nice place. I've been a fan of Mosins since I was 18, been through 2 m91/30s and an M44. Guess I'll fit in just fine.

Anyway, we all know the reason the M44 gives off so much muzzle flash. 7.62x54r was designed to be fired through a 28" barrel as opposed to a 20" so with the m44 you got wasted powder exploding outside the barrel and reduced muzzle energy because of it.

1.) With a heavier 180-203gr. bullet, would you lose less energy energy short barrel?
2.) I also figured with less wasted powder exploding outside the barrel it would be easier on the ears(not that I don't plan on wearing hearing protection).

[desdem12]

Jack! I haven't used a chrono on these but i would think it is minimul at best. I'm not sure on the loudness but i feel it would be the same if designed for it. The russians used the carbines extensively through out the last years of the war with a great deal of successs.

[Jack757585]

Thanks bud. You're right, the carbines only lose about 150fps with light ball. Drops them to about 2630 fps. But I'm just curious about it y'know.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Welcome to the forum Jack.

[res45]

Here is a good evaluation using Bulgarian Yellow tip Heavy Ball ammo in five different type Mosin rifles.
http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmo016.htm

[tjtM38]

Welcome to the forum, Jack. I'm handloading a Hornady 174GRFMJ in PPU (Serbian) brass with about 41 grains of IMR 4895. I get less recoil and muzzle blast with the heavier bullet and medium burning powder (as compared to Russian or Bulgarian surplus light ball). I wanted this kind of load specifically for the carbines. I'm getting really nice accuracy from my M38 carbine, but the load has a somewhat lower point of impact than the surplus light ball. I don't have any experience with the Bulgarian Heavy Ball, but would like to try some. I'm assuming that it will still be a hefty, full power load and will have the typical fire-breathing Mosin Nagant result, but if you try some let me know. I haven't seen any on the market from my usual sources. I have fired some of the Winchester 180GRFMJ commercial loads (Czech manufacture), and they are full power loads with even more recoil than the surplus light ball. The muzzle flash is equally impressive. I've gotten to the point where I am shooting the surplus light ball in the M91/30s and my handloads in the carbines. Shooting my handloads is more comfortable and I can wait until I get home to clean the gun or even let it sit for a couple of days because of the non-corrosive priming.