CB Load 7.62x45R with Lyman 311291 mould and N-110 Powder

[Chrome1981]

Hello,
I need some help, I bought a used single cavity Lyman 311291-GC (I don't know if it was a right choice for my mosin nagant,but was cheap). My experience in bullet casting is only on the pistol calibers (.40 S&W, 45 ACP)

My equipment includes:
RCBS Pro 2000
RCBS LAM-2
Mosin Nagant 91/30 1943 (izhevsk arsenal)
Vihtavuori N-110

What i think that I should buy (any suggest is welcome)
RCBS Neck Expander Die 311
RCBS Lube-A-Matic Lube and Sizer Die 313 or 314 Diameter ( i have to slug the barrel)
RCBS/Lyman top punch 465

Can u suggest me a right Load for 7.62x54R with N-110 for funny shoot at 100 yard ?
I dont' want push too fast my bullets, because my lead is not good quality.

Thank you!!

(Sorry for my English)

[Lance Boyle]

Your English is fine! (much better than my italian which would be a list of Italian food I like)

I would slug the throat of the rifle to see if that mold will work for you. Some Russian rifles are wider than US bores. US rifle grooves tend to be around .308 which would be ok if that mold cast bullets .310-311 wide. Those same .310-.311 bullets would be a poor fit if your russian bore's throat was say 0.314" wide. You'd probably have issues with accuracy and leading. If you have a tight bored rifle in the .308 range you may just be fine with that mold and bullet width.

As to that powder I have zip for experience. I use IMR 4759 and trail boss.

ETA-

I would take a 7.62x54r fired case that chambers in your rifle, preferably berdan so you're not losing much and fill it with lead to a point at least half way up the neck. Cast some bullets with your mold. Insert one plain, unlubed, unsized, no gas check in the throat, chamber your lead filled brass behind it. Insert a stout brass rod down the bore and give it some firm whacks with a mallet to get a pounded down slug to fill out your bore's throat. Open action, remove lead filled brass. Carefully tap out the pounded down bullet/slug. Measure the fattest part. That number is your throat diameter. You want your sized bullets to be 0.001-0.002" fatter than that to seal the bore.

[Duett]

I use 21,5 grn of Vihtavuori N110 in my M39 and with a NOE 316299 sized to .314. This load has shown some promise in three different M39 so far.

You should of course start with lower charges and watch what your rifle is telling you...

[andreadavide]

Bentrovato!

Sarei tentato di risponderti direttamente in Italiano, ma non sarebbe cortese nei confronti dei padroni di casa...

(Translation: I'd be tempted to address you directly in Italian, but that would be rude to the masters of the house)

Given that usually Soviet Mosin Nagant have a "generous" bore diameter (Finnish are a completely different thing) sure you won't risk an oversized ball. All you may risk is some gas escape and leading of the barrel. Nothing irreparable.

At present, since my TSN (State controlled firing ranges in Italy, for the US people here) has a limit to 50 metres, I am experimenting with reduced loads.
Up to now I've developed a "cat whisper" ammo with a .32 wad cutter and 2 grains of PEFL26 (a quick burning powder used for shotguns and "off label" for 9mm here in Italy). It works very well, and with a noise less than a compressed air rifle @ 15 metres.

Next step is experiment with a lyman 311241. I'll tell you how it goes. And maybe we can swap some boolits for experimenting.

Andrea from Pisa

[felix]

You want your sized bullets to be 0.001-0.002" fatter than that to seal the bore.

Only true if the boolit is HARD. Softer boolits need to be sized smaller, no more than the exact size of the throat or perhaps a smite less. Reason: Hard projectiles don't expand as much when hit fast and hard from the rear. Softer projectiles will deform considerably more and perhaps cause the "seal" to be more "sticky". There is a balancing act between size and hardness for the best accuracy given a constant powder load. That is what makes casting boolits such a fun hobby. Lifelong entertainment is guaranteed! ... felix

[Chrome1981]

I use 21,5 grn of Vihtavuori N110 in my M39 and with a NOE 316299 sized to .314. This load has shown some promise in three different M39 so far.

You should of course start with lower charges and watch what your rifle is telling you...

Bentrovato!

Sarei tentato di risponderti direttamente in Italiano, ma non sarebbe cortese nei confronti dei padroni di casa...

(Translation: I'd be tempted to address you directly in Italian, but that would be rude to the masters of the house)

Given that usually Soviet Mosin Nagant have a "generous" bore diameter (Finnish are a completely different thing) sure you won't risk an oversized ball. All you may risk is some gas escape and leading of the barrel. Nothing irreparable.

At present, since my TSN (State controlled firing ranges in Italy, for the US people here) has a limit to 50 metres, I am experimenting with reduced loads.
Up to now I've developed a "cat whisper" ammo with a .32 wad cutter and 2 grains of PEFL26 (a quick burning powder used for shotguns and "off label" for 9mm here in Italy). It works very well, and with a noise less than a compressed air rifle @ 15 metres.

Next step is experiment with a lyman 311241. I'll tell you how it goes. And maybe we can swap some boolits for experimenting.

Andrea from Pisa

Thank you very much for your advice, i have NobelSport GM3 for .45 ACP and For .40 S&W. but should i use any case filler (like cotton, polyester) ?

I dont never understand when i must use case filler.

Thanks for your replies!

[Duett]

I don´t use any fillers with Vihtavuori powders. I think you will be pleased with the N110 with 20-22 grn loads. No recoil to speak of...

I also shoot CBA postal matches with 7x57R and use Vihtavuori N340. My load for this calibre is NOE 150 grn and 11 grn N340. Very good results so far

Have fun and be safe!

[smkummer]

If you get that bullet to shoot out of a Mosin, then it would be rare indeed. Lee's 312-160TL for the SKS sized .314 with a gas check is getting about 4 in. at 100 yards with red dot in my son's carbine.

[Chrome1981]

Only true if the boolit is HARD. Softer boolits need to be sized smaller, no more than the exact size of the throat or perhaps a smite less. Reason: Hard projectiles don't expand as much when hit fast and hard from the rear. Softer projectiles will deform considerably more and perhaps cause the "seal" to be more "sticky". There is a balancing act between size and hardness for the best accuracy given a constant powder load. That is what makes casting boolits such a fun hobby. Lifelong entertainment is guaranteed! ... felix

I slugged my Mosin Nagant Barrel, and is .311, but the lead that i use is soft, so is for me better buy a RCBS Lube-A-Matic 312 Sizer Die?

And i think that is better for me a subsonic load right?

Thank you very much!

[andrew375]

I use the Lee .312-185. 28 gr. of N110 gives 2200 fps, which is maximum for accuracy. GM3 is a superb cast bullet powder, but don't bother with fillers, I use it in .375H&H and get consistent 0.6 moa accuracy; I suggest starting load of 12 gr.

[Chrome1981]

I use the Lee .312-185. 28 gr. of N110 gives 2200 fps, which is maximum for accuracy. GM3 is a superb cast bullet powder, but don't bother with fillers, I use it in .375H&H and get consistent 0.6 moa accuracy; I suggest starting load of 12 gr.

Thank you very much for your tips my mold is 311291-GC, and I would start first with 12 gr of GM-3 and then witn N-110, but 2200 fps isn't too fast?