The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

I'll be testing a few hand loads tomorrow at the range. I'm just setting up to form the cases using 220 Swift as the parent case, so these are strictly experimental tests. Rather than purchase specific dies, these were formed using a 7.62x39 resizing and seating die but with the brass trimmed to get the overall case length for the 7.62x45. The bullet is 150 grain and the powder is 21.7 grains of IMR 3031. The bullet had to be seated a little deeper than usual to get the appropriate overall length. Since there's not a lot of data for the 7.62x45, I'm starting with the minimum load Hornady gives for the 7.62x39. Maximum load they list for 7.62x39 with a 150 grain bullet and IMR 3031 is 26.5 grains, so this should be well within safe limits.

After forming the cases in the dies, the only thing I really had to do is turn the diameter of the rim down slightly. I have some cartridges that I got from Buffalo Arms, so I took measurements off them. So far, I've only formed seven cases. If the results are good, then I'll start cranking cases out and do ballestic testing.

Tested the cartridges and the cases worked fine. Now to turn out more. Starting load may be a little on the light side- a couple of the spent cases had primers partially pushed out of the pocket.

Does the 7.62x39 sized brass trimmed to the right length for the 45 fireform into correct x45 cases?

Yes it does.

Cool.

Actually it's 220 Swift brass trimmed to the correct length. The dies are only used to form the neck and shoulder of the case.