Dies M38 MN w/cast

[Hayfield]

I just started on a Finnish 7.62x54 Mosin Nagant last week. Used some of my SMLE bullets (314299) and sized them in a .312 Lee sizer (.31175 or so) and I'm going to open that up a smidge. Slugged bore at .311 and an rch. Lubed with LLA and shot at 50yds. It's a keeper. OK folks, what neck sizer dies are you using? I just got out some close dies and finageled some loads to shoot. Used a 303 collet which only sized the neck 1/2 the way down to the shoulder and a 30-06 seater die and eyeballed the OAL. Real pain and need to order some dies. I called Lee and I'm going to send them some formed brass and bullets for a custom but thought I'd check here first. Thanks in advance, Hayfield.

[Ricochet]

I've been using a regular Lee die set, with a .303 expander ball in place of the original which sized the necks for .308" bullets. Works the brass more than I'd like, but it handles .314" bullets which didn't seat well in necks sized for .308"; I got collapsed shoulders at first. Lee doesn't apear to have a collet die for the 7.62x54R.

[Hayfield]

Hi Ricochet. I don't want to size too much as that, I've read, is the main cause of early case failure in the 303. Which isn't all that different that the 7.62x54. I had checked with the Lee site and saw that they didn't make the collet die for that round but I figured if someone had some tricks to play I'd give them a try before ordering custom dies from Lee. I made a .310 mandrill for my 303 set for the SMLE and use the .308 mandrill for the Krag for which I also use a 303 die set.

[Ricochet]

Most Enfields have way oversized and quite variable chambers, so when they're full-length resized and fired the body gets a tremendous working. I'm sure the Mosins have a good bit of chamber variability too, but the ones I have are pretty close to standard. As with the 8mm Mausers, I fully size 'em all for interchangeability. With the Enfield you've really got no choice but to segregate brass for individual rifles and neck size only. I can get away with loading up all my ammo for a caliber and just grab it to shoot any of my rifles in that caliber doing it this way.

[WineMan]

Try this out:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/colletswap/index.asp

I have not tried it but it looks sweet...

Wineman

[RU shooter]

Why not just partially size the neck with the FL sizer? I have always done neck sizing this way and never a problem.

[Hayfield]

Wineman. Worked like a charm. Thanks, Hayfield

[mike in co]

stiring the pot....the problem is most mn's are not 308...........you are sizing too much...... now find me one that will do 311....312.....

[38-55]

Hey Ya'll,
I'll just let ya know how I go about this... I neck size with a lee 308 collet die. I put a washer (.175) over the case after it's in the shell holder in the press and I just size as normal. I use lyman 311299 sized to .311 and everything works just fine. This set up works well as it does not move the shoulder in the least and doesn't require any lube while sizing. Works for me.
Calvin

[trooperdan]

Mike, just change the central rod for one from a .303 Br. I think Lee make the collet die in that caliber. Lee will also sell just the central rod.

[Larry Gibson]

7.62x54R NS’ing

Get a Redding bushing die for the .284 Winchester. Shorten the bottom end of the die enough that the shoulder of a fire formed 7.62x54R case in the shell holder will just be short of bumping into the shoulder of the die. If you have fired 7.62x54R cases segregated for more than one rifle us the cases with longest head to shoulder measurement. That way the shorter cases will fit without readjusting the die. The die can be shortened with a bench grinder but is best done with a lathe. A machinist or gunsmith should not charge too much for this if you can’t do it yourself. Then with 3-4 bushings .002-.003” apart you can perfectly size the size the case neck with .002-.003” neck tension for bullets of .308, .310, .311. 312, .314 or .314”. This gives a perfect fit for the bullet diameter used. I’ve not lost a cast to split neck or incipient head separation since I began using this method 15 years ago and I shoot several 7.62x54Rs quite a bit.

Larry Gibson

[singleshotbuff]

I neck size my 7.62X54R cases with a Lee 7.5X55 Swiss collet die. Once the die is adjusted for the 7.5, no further adjustment has proved nessessary. It comes with a mandrel for .308" dia bullets, but I'm fairly sure you could order a mandrel form Lee for .311" boolits for about $5.00. That's what I paid for a custom diameter mandrel for the 8X57mm collet die.

Just a thought.

SSB

[beemer]

I ordered a collet and a mandrel for the 303 Brit and shortened then to size the 7.62x54, just change when needed. The 303 works best because of the .311 bullet size, your cases are sized less. Every time I tried to seat a .311 bullet in a case sized for a .308 it caused problems unless it was opened up with a M die.

Lee FL dies for the 7.62x54 come with an expander for .308 bullets and info that you can order a bigger one. Lyman dies also have a .308 exp.

Someone told me that RCBS sends both size expander balls with their dies. That might be worth looking into but it would still work the brass a lot.

There are several ways to skin this cat, just find one that works for you.

My Finn is a M39, it's probably the best cast boolit shooter I have.

beemer

[jukezo]

Hi you all american companions in arms!!
Iam newbie!!
I have a few my domestic mosin which are best of world..I have also a few russian mosin..
I neck size my 7.62X53R cases with a Lee 32S&W long carbide sizing die with Hornady 7,62X39 (.310) decapping pin.
No lube.Fast!Easy action!

I have also mosin M28-30,too. Its barrel is the orginal narrow 7,83 millimetres of groove-caliber.
I neck size my M28-30 cases with Lee .32S&W long die and with Hornady .308 Win decapping pin.
With .308-bullets .308-decapping pin in not binding and I don´t need it at all with berdan-cases...308-bullet fit very well without inside-sizing of neck...


JL

[twotoescharlie]

welcome to cast boolits jukezo!!

TTC

[Three44s]

jukezo,

A big welcome to the Boolit forum!!!!

May your stay be rewarding and enjoyable!!!!!

Three 44s

[joejr]

i use rcbs die set that does have 2 expander balls, i use the larger one and neck size only. my best load so far is lee .312-185gc,40 grainsh380,cci200lrp,col2.780". i don't know fps but they shoot good in my m44 and m91/59
joejr

[LIMPINGJ]

Jukezo welcome and thanks for the 32S&W die idea. I just got a Finn and was wondering if I could make use of some dies I have on hand.