what is the safest depth to drill scope mounting screws

[LAGS]

I dont think Varget is a good choice for cast Boolits.
I know some people might use it, but there are better choices.
You have to load powders like that too low, to kep the pressure down for the cast boolits.
You load Pistols ?
What pistol powders do you have ? Maybe Unique ?

[corey012778]

have not been able to find unique local.

do have (pistol powders have been hard to find local)
win 231
bullseye
powerpistol
cfe pistol (find what you can get when you can get school of thought.)

[LAGS]

I do not have any loads for the 7.62x54R with those powders, but I know they use the Bullseye in other CB rifle loads.
But they are not that high of velocity.
Maybe someone else has a load they have tried in this caliber.
I mostly use Reloader 7 , 5744 , Imr4198 and 2400 is my universal CB rifle powder, but I cant find any.

[LAGS]

My Lee Second Edition says that for the 180 grain Jacketed bullet the starting load is 43.0 at 2400 FPS.
The manual does not have Powder reduction factoring numbers for this caliber or I could tell you what load you would have to reduce it by to get to a lower pressure compatable for cast bullets.
But I would say that if you reduce the load below 40.0 gr, you would likely have to use a Dacron Filler because of the low case fill ratio, being less than 60%.
Maybe one of the others can help you better than I can or have tried a load with this powder.
They use 4895 and 4064 on this caliber with Cast bullets, but I dont know any tested loads, or if they use fillers.

[corey012778]

gotta pull out my lyman cast loading manual. maybe I can get some ideas from it. maybe try that new cfe at 30 to 35 grs with Dacron or cow.

[LAGS]

I prefer Dacron or Pillow Stuffing.
COW can sometimes cause problems from Humidity in Bottleneck cases forming a plug if it is Humid when you load.
Straight cases dont pose that issue as the Plug just blows out behind the bullet.
Be safe and fire the first loads off of a Cradle or as we call it, Absent of the Body.

[corey012778]

I have a lock down rest I use for cleaning. it is a shooting rest I did not like. I have twine so I can remote shot it to be alittle safer. think a ratchet strap to hold the rest and a bungee to help hold the rifle.

[LAGS]

I think that 30 Gr of Varget with a Dacron Filler is a Safer Choice than 30 gr of CFE.
CFE is for Smaller Cases with Lighter Bullets.
At least you know that Varget is used in that Capacity case WITH that weight of Bullet.
You are trying to Reduce the load.
I see no where where CFE is used in a similar Capacity Case with that heavy of a Bullet say like in a .303 or 30-40 Krag

[LAGS]

I just found Varget listed in the Lyman 4th edition for the 30-40 Krag
173 Cast 27.5 to 34.0
The 200 gr lists 25.0 to 35.0
You can use loads similar to the 200 gr bullet for the 180 gr, but Start LOW, and for the first loads, try a .5gr, fluff of filler.
Does anyone else concur with my thinking ?

[corey012778]

use to load 30-06 with varget. I know it was an 150gr j word. can't remember the charge. no longer have that gun.

[LAGS]

I think I can at least get you started with the loads that I found for the Krag.
It is a Similar case design and capacity, in a rifle in the same Chamber pressure range.
But keep your eyes open for a more suitable powder for cast boolits that have published data.
I swear by the Reloader 7 , itworks in all my rifle calibers with cast bullets

[corey012778]

ok here is what I found on hodgdon site for some data on varget and 7.62x54r

jwords

180gr start 43.0grs max 46.5grs
200gr start 41.0grs max 44.0grs

pull out all my manuals and cross reference some things.

[LAGS]

A 25.0 load is 58% of the same weight bullet using the 43.0 jacketed load.
That is why I recomend a filler for that much of a reduced charge to reduce the chance of a Flash over.
And a 30 gr load is 69% of the charge for a 180 gr bullet using 43 gr jacketed load
That is above the limit where you might experience flash over, but I would still use a filler to keep the powder near the primer better.
But the max load for the 30-40 is 35 gr, that is 81% of the 43gr load for the jacketed bullet
These loads are all experimental, and should be tested carefully and the cases and primers watched for pressure indications.
But then these may not be the Top loads for your rifle either.
There are several factors that even though the cases are similar, could effect performance.
And too, the pressures are different using Jacketed Vs Cast Bullets using the same load.

[LAGS]

What did the Hodgdon site say the loads for the 30-40 Krag were using Varget and the same Jacketed bullet weights for comparrison.

[corey012778]

no data for a Varget for the 30-40 krag.

[LAGS]

My Lyman 48 has Both calibers listed with the 180 grain Jacketed bullet and Varget.
This will give you a good comparrison.
7.62x54 R
180 gr starting load with Varget is 42.0 at 2261 FPS
the max load is 46.5 at 2542 FPS
No chamber pressures are listed.

Now the 30-40 Krag
The 180 gr Jacketed bullet with Varget starts off at 36.0 with 2077 FPS at a pressure of 28,900 CUP
The Max load is 40.0 going 2341 FPS at 38,900 CUP

The book lists loads for the Krag with a Cast bullet from 190 to 210 gr Start at 25.0 gr Varget at 1514 FPS on the 190 and1515 for the 210 gr.
No pressure is listed for the cast bullets.
But you can load a slightly lighter bullet like even down to 180 with the 190 and 210 bullet loads
Max loads are 35.0 for both bullets, but the 190 is going 2065 FPS and the 210 going 2046 FPS

[LAGS]

You need to start a Thread in one of the Reloading sections where more reloaders might be able to see it.
A lot of reloaders dont scroll thru the Gunsmithing section for reloading or would see your thread and be able to give their input.
I bet there are others that Have tried Varget in the 7.62x54 already.

[corey012778]

yeah we got a little off topic after I finished up the base. (maybe finished the base)

[LAGS]

It is your thread, you can go where you want to.
It isn't like someone else Jacked your thread.
But you will get more viewers on a reloading Question Thread.

[corey012778]

did a little research, may have found something. an old thread with some varget data. but think I would post and research. maybe something will come up.