Can I make 7.62 x 54 brass?

[Castinoff]

Brass for 7.62 x 54 is very hard to find AND it is expensive. Can I form this brass from another cartridge and if so, which one? I was told it could be done with 45/70 brass but it too is expensive (if indeed it can be done). I was hoping it could be done with brass in more common use (read as cheaper). Any ideas?

[wiljen]

http://www.grafs.com/metallic/product/181582

$40 / 100

It's a whole lot easier to order em than make em.

[floodgate]

Castinoff:

Where are you? Good 7.62 x 54R brass is readily available in the US; I have 50+ mixed once- or twice-fired Winchester (made by Sellier & Bellot) and S&B brass I'll be happy to pass on to you anywhere in the US for the cost of postage - but I WON'T try to send it to Canada or elsewhere outside the US, due to our weird export rules. You can get the brass from Norma in Sweden, and from Lapua (who list it as 7.63 x 54R, but that is the Finnish designation for the same cartridge) - but these are PRICEY, especially Norma's. PM me to follow up.

floodgate

[jhrosier]

I have bought some 7.62x54mm brass from vendors on Auction Arms for about $40 per hundred in the past few months. It is marked Graf. I didn't think that was too bad of a price.

Jack

[pa_guns]

Hi

Privi loaded ammo in 7.62x54R runs about $10 per box of 20 at the local gun shows. If you are lucky, they'll sell you 5 boxes for $40. That's not far from the price you see on brass, and the Privi stuff is reloadable.

Bob

[Larry Gibson]

It's just not in the cards to make them from another case, cheap or otherwise.

Best is to get quality cases and take care of them. Mosin Nagants have a great variation in actual chamber dimensions so you take care of them by dedicating cases to a specific rifle, minimal sizing (neck sizing prefered) and in the case of this forum; use reduced cast bullet loads for very long case life.

I purchased two boxes of Norma 7.62x54 in 1968 to shoot in a Type 53 and M91/28 I'd brought home from Viet Nam (it was not one word when I was in Viet Nam but the two words as I've used). I still have all of those cases and all are still in use. They've all got signs of insipient head seperation but I now use those cases for Cat's sneeze loads of a 90 gr SWC or HBWC over 3.2 gr Bullseye. I don't even have to size the necks for that load and expect the cases to last forever. I also picked up 120 once fired Norma cases about 20 years ago at the portland gunshow. They have been in use with two MNs since then and are still going strong after I don't know how many firings. I also picked up 200 new Norma about 12 years ago when I picked up a M39 and my 91/28 sniper. I've yet to lose a case. Then I managed to pick up 3 boxes of new Winchester 180 SPs for the price of 50 new cases when Big 5 had a sale. I've also managed to accumulate about 35-40 once fired cases through range pick ups and swaps. I'll use those when I hunt with the M39 or M91/28 sniper.

I neck size with a modified Redding bushing die and only size the necks so that there is .002-.003" neck tension. That way there is minimal working of the case necks. I've yet to split a neck. I see RCBS is making a neck size die but suspect the intitial sizing takes the neck down for use with .308 bullets. It probably (any one know?) is dependant on two different expanders for use with .308 and .310+ bullets. To me that works the brass way too much and will lead to split necks or the need to aneal the necks often. I do not have that problem with the bushing die as I can tailor size the neck to the bullet without needing an expander.

Anyways, long story short with 7.62 cases: take care of them cause that's all there is.

Larry Gibson

[Castinoff]

You guys are AMAZING! Thanks for all the generous offers, both of information and brass. It's no wonder this site is so popular.
I believe you guys could fix anything from a broken rifle to a broken heart!

[joejr]

i have made some from 8x56r brass just for something to do

[pa_guns]

Hi

Never rule out the trash can at the range as a source for brass. I have picked up a couple dozen once fired reloadable 7.62x54R's that way.

Bob

[Three44s]

Graaf's is likely where I will get mine.

I have S&B and I am OK with the 7.62X54R cases ...... but have not been too satisfied with 7.62X25 from them.

Three 44s

[kawalekm]

Hi Bub
Check out page 23 of Midway USA's January 2008 flier, #247, They have 20 rounds of Winchester 180grain JSP for 20$. That appears to be boxer primed. On page 13 they also have Norma brass 20 for 28$. Seems the Winchester rounds might be perfect for you.
Michael

[Ricochet]

Graf's cases are made by Prvi Partizan. So are Wolf Gold. They work fine.

[pa_guns]

Graf's cases are made by Prvi Partizan. So are Wolf Gold. They work fine.

Hi

I've used the Graf's stuff as well, and they have done fine for me.

Bob

[beemer]

I have also had good luck with Graf's brass. I bought some Winchester ammo in 7.62x54 for the brass. It seems to hold up well with cast loads but the primer pockets are shallow. I have to seat primers with a press because my Lee primer tool doesn't have enough leverage. I have heard that it was made by S&B.

beemer

[Charley]

Donnelly says it could be made from .45/70 cases. No thanks,. I'll spend a few bucks and save a whole lot of labor.

Don't forget Lapua brass in 7.62x54 (headstamped 7.62x53). As good as Norma, but cheaper.

[pa_guns]

Hi

The basic problem with making 7.62x54R is the R. It's a rimmed cartridge. There are not a whole lot of them out there. Putting a rim on an un-rimmed case is impractical.

The .303 British is the most common rimmed cartridge. If you can't make what you need out of a .303 that gets you into the "tough" category. Essentially everything you are likely to use is going to be more expensive and / or harder to find than the 7.62x54R.

With care a small batch of brass can last you a *very* long time.

Bob

[dbldblu]

Winchester loads this round so just buy a box and when you are done you will have 20 rnds brass. Repeat as necessary.

[sixpointfive]

anybody have 7.62x54 brass for sale?

[KCSO]

Back in the bad old days I made a reamer to fit shotgun primers to old berdan cases and it worked OK for light loads, but it did string the groups some. If you are dead cheap you can make a d reamer and use old berdan brass.

[rhbrink]

If you would look in the CB/ Military forum there is a stickey about making Berdan brass into boxer primed brass. IT would take a bit of work but as a last resort it is workable.

Richard

[Jack Stanley]

Does anyone know if Winchester makes the brass here in the USA or is it made by someone else and marked with Winchesters headstamp ?

Jack

[rhbrink]

Pretty sure that the Winchester brass is made in Europe, the Winchester brass that I bought had to have the primer pockets reamed before if could seat a primer to the proper depth. Other than that It is great brass the Privi brass that is on the market now is also good brass although the necks are a bit thinner than the Winchester.

[Jack Stanley]

The S&B brass I had was like that . So far I've used two different lot numbers of Privi and no problems with it other than it doesn't like my LEE shellholder .

Jack

[emrah]

Not sure who makes 'em, but I have about 200 pieces of Winchester brass and it is excellent. I'm on the 5th or 6th firing on some of them and I've only trimmed once. In fact, in my rifles (an M44 and 91/30), I set the sizing die to just resize the neck and stop short of touching the shoulder. I have NO problems chambering and my brass growth is almost nil.

Emrah

[29yrsreload]

Midway USA has Lapua new brass at $109.99 per 100, but they also have Prvi 150 grain soft point for $15.99 box of 20. That is the route I went last year when I got my Mosin. Bought 5 boxes (100 rds) of Prvi new ammo suitable for hunting, for about the same price 100 rounds of new brass cost. At least, brass that wasn't "out of stock". Even if new brass would be half the price the Prvi seems like a good bargain. :CastBoolitsisbest:

[Lead Fred]

Hi

Privi loaded ammo in 7.62x54R runs about $10 per box of 20 at the local gun shows. If you are lucky, they'll sell you 5 boxes for $40. That's not far from the price you see on brass, and the Privi stuff is reloadable.

Bob

Yup, cabella's had it on sell a few months ago, bought 300 rounds.
After I shoot up the 182gr match ammo, Ill have lots of cases to stuff Hornady bullets into.

[Junior1942]

Trim your new Graff's 7.62X54 brass. The length of my batch varied .050".

[sixpointfive]

wow, brass $1 each

[tmanbuckhunter]

Winchester 7.62x54r is made by S&B.

[wallenba]

Winchester 7.62x54r is made by S&B.

Yes, and I find it the best quality of all the ones out there in the affordable range.
Lapua and Norma...well, they are just a bit (a lot) more than I'd ever spend.

[tmanbuckhunter]

I personally don't care for S&B Brass. It is brittle and doesn't last very long at all compared to prvi.

[Jack Stanley]

Winchester 7.62x54r is made by S&B.

Thanks for the info sir !!

Jack

[Lance Boyle]

I thought PRVI made the Winchester and the Wolf brass. I did hear that Wolf makes winchester's 7.62x54r hunting ammo.

I have some Winchester marked brass that a friend used for hunting and I've stocked up on the PRVI 182 grain loads for the brass.

[rhbrink]

I personally don't care for S&B Brass. It is brittle and doesn't last very long at all compared to prvi.

Anneal it! I like to take any brass that I get and fire form to my chamber and then anneal that brass. I'm not too sure that any new brass other than Lapua needs to be annealed before any work is done with it period.

Richard

[Larry Gibson]

If you have good milsurp brass cases then it's easy to conver to boxer primers;

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=143958

The original 19 cases in that conversion have been fired 9 times so far without a single problem.

Larry Gibson

[muskeg13]

After waiting over a year, it's finally in stock again.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/12651

[ciphery]

Yes you can make them but it is a long drawn out process.
You start with 45-70gvt cases
In a lathe; Turn chamfer on the rim of the case and turn down rim dia.
Then resize to 40-60
Then aneal
Then neck size to 38
Then trim
Then turn neck
Then aneal
Neck size to .357
Then aneal
Then size to 7.62x54R
Then trim
Then turn neck
Then aneal
I may be forgetting a few steps or mis stating a few as I have only read about it since any one of these steps done wrong will result in a tossed case and I just buy mine.
But it is POSSIBLE to make them from 45-70gvt

[Freightman]

Yes you can make them but it is a long drawn out process.
You start with 45-70gvt cases
In a lathe; Turn chamfer on the rim of the case and turn down rim dia.
Then resize to 40-60
Then aneal
Then neck size to 38
Then trim
Then turn neck
Then aneal
Neck size to .357
Then aneal
Then size to 7.62x54R
Then trim
Then turn neck
Then aneal
I may be forgetting a few steps or mis stating a few as I have only read about it since any one of these steps done wrong will result in a tossed case and I just buy mine.
But it is POSSIBLE to make them from 45-70gvt
Not very LI is it, it is possible to re-do primers but it is a PIA and this sounds about as productive. Think I will just buy loaded ammo.

[richhodg66]

I have found the Privi stuff to be decent ammo in 7.62x54 and others. Our Cabela's here has it all the time for about $16.99 a box I think. I bought a sporterized Swedish Mauser a while back and though I have dies, I may just buy ammo for it for the cost difference (I'm not set up to cast for 6.5s, so for jacketed loads, the cost saving would be minimal).

By the way, that Lapua brass is very good quality stuff. I bought some several years ago before boxer brass became easily available, but it is kinda pricy.

[ciphery]

Privi is my favorite 762x54R brass.....unfortunately BELL is the Canadian importer of privi partizan and has delved deeper into herbal remedies rather than ammunition.