7.62x54 with cast

[tomme boy]

Need a little help with loads with the Russian 91/30. I have already slugged the barrel and had Tom at Accurate Molds make me a mold from a impact slug. It fits the throat very well. I have tried a few loads and I am not happy with the results I was getting. The boolit I am using is this one. http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=31-215B-D.png

I sized it at .314" and I am using Tac1 to lube the groves then I am tumble lubing it in Alox after. I am seating it right at the crimp grove. It is just touching the lands. I am not running out of lube as there is a star at the muzzle. I have tried a few loads that have worked in a few other Mosins I have an they are not working in this at all.

What are you guys using to make yours shoot? It is going to be used for shooting steel plates at longer distances.

[wellfedirishman]

I had good results with the NOE 247 whisper bullet, sized about .314 to .316, with Trailboss:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?140022-Range-Report-for-Mosin-Nagant-with-Scout-Scope-and-cast-boolit-load

[MtGun44]

What is the groove diam? Probably should have the bands at groove +.002 or .003,
at least that is where my rifles like it.

Bill

[craig61a]

I have quite a few mosins, and load cast for some the roomier bores. Slug the bore so you know what the diameter is. When I began loading cast for my mosins, I order a couple different sized (.309, .311, .312, .313) mandrels from Lee Precision for the 303 British collet die. You have to hone out the piece of the die that holds the mandrel to get the larger mandrels in there. You should be sizing the necks so that they are .001" smaller then the bullet diameter for best accuracy. Crimping wiith a 7.62x54R factory crimp die helps too.

[tomme boy]

They are 0.3126" most of the way. Then the last 10 inches it tapers down to 0.312" It's not a tight spot, you can just feel were it starts to get tighter as you push it the rest of the way. The bore is nice and shiny with sharp lands.

This time of year, it is just too hard to work on. I hate winter. It really messes up my shooting. I have a enclosed shack to shoot out of, but I just hate the cold. Just hoping to hear some other success stories til it warms up and I can shoot again.

[skeet1]

tomme boy,
You don't say what the results are that you are getting? The 91/30 is not a bench rest gun. Some shoot very well and others not so well. Some years back I bought a Ruger 77 .220 Swift and hoped that it would b e as good as one I owned before. It didn't come close and I'm sure that it was to factory specs. My expectations were too high.

Ken

[Maven]

Your post doesn't indicate the powder type and charge you're using, nor do you say what the OAL is. Could it be that you're pushing those CB's too fast? From what I've read here, an "as issued" MN 91/30 should be capable of 2 - 4 m.o.a. as issued with a well-fitted CB. Some more questions: (1) Have you tried those CB's as cast rather than @
.314"? (2) Have you tried them with a heavier coat of lube? (3) Are you seating them into the rifling? (4) Have you tried something like 12gr. - 13gr. Unique with those CB's? (5) Have you checked the bedding and/or action bolts for tightness? (6) I hesitate to ask, but can you lay hands on a small quantity of "fat" Loverin CB's for testing in that rifle?

Btw, I have an "as issued" M 39 (Sako) that will shoot 2 m.o.a. with Ly. #314299 @ .312" with no crimp and the Unique load above (or other propellants for that matter). This is inspite of the fact that the nose is unengraved by the rifling.

[Larry Gibson]

Tomme boy

What Load?

What velocity?

Larry Gibson

[tomme boy]

I have tried 2400 from 16-20 grains. These held about 2-2.5" at 100 yds. the 18 gr seemed to be the best at 2" I also tried some 5744 at 19-22 grains. The 19 gr load was right at 2.25" Then there was H4350. I started at 35 grs then went to 40 grs. It was the worst of all. It started at about 3" and went as bad as hitting the 1 out of 5 with a 24" square target. H4895 at 28 grs. was another one that shot right at 2.25"

These are all seated at the crimp grove on the boolit. This boolit was designed to be just touching the rifling in the throat seated this way. The gas check is right at the bottom of the neck.

The gun is a 1943 91-30 Sniper. The bedding seems good. This was bought new from local dealer. The crown looks good. The trigger is not that great. I think this is hurting the groups a little.

[Larry Gibson]

If those 2 - 2.5" groups are with the issue Iron sights they are very good, especially if the rifle will shoot that accurately all day long. I suggest you start working up 1/2 gr at a time with the 28 gr 4895 load to 32 gr and use a 1/2 - 3/4 gr dacron filler. a very good load in the 1850 - 1900 fps range should be found. My 91-30 sniper with iron holds 2 moa with the 314299 and H4895 and 1 - 1.5 moa with the PU scope. My load stays sonic to 500 yards and will ring and 12" steel plate all day long at that range when I do my part.

Larry Gibson

[tomme boy]

Larry, this is with the PU scope.

[Jack Stanley]

I really wanted to buy one of the Russian "snipers" untill I actually got one in my hands and realized there was no way to get a cheek weld with the rifle . My experience on this line was with a scoped M1A that caused you to use a "chin" weld which for me was never repeatable and from that accuracy was trash . As long as you are getting two inch groups smile and be happy that would be a good standard to try other loads like Larry has suggested . You may just be up against fitting the equipment to the physique sort of thing . I use 2400 in my standard issue stuff and the results are good as well .

I'd say you're doing something right with it .

Jack

[Larry Gibson]

Larry, this is with the PU scope.

Good, then ork up the load as suggested. What aloy BTW?

Larry Gibson

[Ray1946]

My best load was with the 185gr. Lee mold and 17.5grs. of 4759. With the issue sight I was able to get a group slightly under 1/2" at 50 yds. from a rest. This was with Norma brass and a Rem. 9 1/2 primer.

A friend of mine has a sniper he bought a few years back. He fired it several times with only mediocre accuracy. He finally bedded the action and floated the barrel with a pressure point half way up the stock like a Lee-Enfield. He says his groups are now hovering around an inch on a good day...........................