7.62 x 54R and 2400

[NY_Treeguy]

I picked up several; old cast bullet manuals and was surprised to see 2400 listed for loads in 7.62x54r. I am sure the data is accurate, but it just seems "off" to me. For the 311466 154 gr it shows 23.5 gr 2400 and for a 311316 125gr 18 gr of 2400. I was wondering if anyone has a good load for these bullets using a rifle powder, of which I have plenty (4064, 4831, 4350, 3031, 4198, 4320, 4064, 4350, Varget)

Thanks,

Angelo

[1johnlb]

The slower rifle powders work but the slower the powder the more powder position problems arise. 2400 probably the only one that doesn't need a filler in the case. There's a great wright up in cast loads or under military loads [sticky] on loading cast with pistol powders, and another for the proper use of fillers. If you haven't read these I highly suggest them. That 2400 load sounds a bit large, you might want to get some newer manuals. All those powders can be good for the 54r with the 4198, 3031 maybe fast enough to shoot without a filler. Read that ED HARRIS STICKY FIRST. I think 4198 is on there.

[HARRYMPOPE]

16g-18g with 150-220g bullets is magic.

[Maven]

16g-18g with 150-220g bullets is magic.

+1 to the above. Also, while not "magic," 22 - 24gr. IMR 4198 works well with heavier CB's, e.g., Lyman's #314299 in that cartridge.

[Garyshome]

This might help just a bit: Smokeless Powder burn rate chart. I keep this on my desk.

http://gsgroup.co.za/burnrates.html

[Larry Gibson]

16 - 18 gr of 2400 in the '54R under the 311466 will do very well. It will do better with a Dacron filler. No it doesn't "need" the filler but it will do better with more consistent ignition and thus better accuracy.

Larry Gibson

[1Shirt]

Both my 91 and 38 like 2400 with dac fill. Have shot 16-17-18 on up to 22 gr with fill and without. With fill accuracy is almost always improved. 16 gr shoots well, and saves powder and is accurate. If I ever decide to shoot deer with either of the mosins will probably be with the 22 grain load.
1Shirt!

[Bored1]

Both my 91 and 38 like 2400 with dac fill. Have shot 16-17-18 on up to 22 gr with fill and without. With fill accuracy is almost always improved. 16 gr shoots well, and saves powder and is accurate. If I ever decide to shoot deer with either of the mosins will probably be with the 22 grain load.
1Shirt!

+ 1 to this!!!! Been there and seen it. Also makes his 91 and 38 a heck of alot more fun to shoot!

[runfiverun]

well I guess I don't need to type 16-18 grs.
just put 17 in and tip the barrel...up.

oh if you have some pistol primers laying about you wanna shoot up, now would be a good time to use them and move along in the powder amounts too.
18-19 should settle out nicely with them.

[nagantguy]

2400 with or without cream o wheat or the stuffins of ma's old pillow is good gas for the old Russian mule.

[303Guy]

This might help just a bit: Smokeless Powder burn rate chart. I keep this on my desk.

http://gsgroup.co.za/burnrates.htmlI had a look at that one and found some discrepancies. For example they list Varget as being between H4895 and BL-C(2) and give CFE 223 as being the same as AR2208. That is wrong. I think Varget and CFE 223 have been transposed. At any rate Varget and AR2208 are one and the same.

[LAGS]

I am trying loads for the Ruskie this weekend with Reloader 7
I use 2400 without filler with 155 , 198 and 202 gr Cast Boolits, from 16 to to 27 gr with the lighter bullets, 22 max for the heavier ones
I have and like IMR-4198 and H4895 as well as SR-4759.
A friend uses IMR-3031 with loads like for the 30-30 cast bullets.

[Baja_Traveler]

20gr 2400 and dacron = magic on the long range silhouette's with an NOE 311365 - guys at the range are constantly amazed at what an old rifle and cast bullets can do at 500 meters...

116309

[NY_Treeguy]

OK. I guess 2400 it is. I have a small amount on hand. Now what to do with all that rifle powder!

[A pause for the COZ]

Shot up a bunch of these ahead of 2400 yesterday. ( not counting the 32 mags)
I have also shot plenty of 314299's ahead of I4227. RL-7, and 5744 with very good results ( no fillers needed)
Slow rifle powders suck eggs in the caliber esp with out fillers.

Sure is nice having some loads that are not fire breathing shoulder hammers to shoot. Makes it a very fun gun to shoot.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_9571_zps5e6c8e04.jpg

I was playing with my Brush gun yesterday. Getting cooler here, the itch to stalk is growing.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_9572_zps62da05a9.jpg

[LAGS]

Today I shot the Mosin Nagant with 198 NOE SPGC with 25.0 gr of Reloader 7.
It grouped 1.25" at 50 Yards.
Not to bad for my starting load, which is 2 gr above min. loading per my Lyman cast boolit book for the 200 gr bullet.

20.0 gr of 2400 was grouping under an inch at 50 Yds with the same boolit.
Now I am going to try powder coating the boolits and see if there is a differance.

[1johnlb]

OK. I guess 2400 it is. I have a small amount on hand. Now what to do with all that rifle powder!

Save it, it will come in handy soon enough.

[jr86]

16g-18g with 150-220g bullets is magic.

Well said

[blackpowder man]

Yep, 17.5 grains of 2400 works very well indeed. Somebody else said it-just tip the muzzle up between shots.

[runfiverun]

you'll find that 3031,4064, varget, 4198 and 4320 will all find a cast boolit home too..
use loads for the 308-30/06 and things will be fine.
the 4064/varget would do quite well here too about 29-30 grs and some Dacron is a fine shooting load in the 30 cal rifles.
and 3031 is very much at home as a straight up cast boolit shooter in just about everything 30 caliber.

[WRideout]

you'll find that 3031,4064, varget, 4198 and 4320 will all find a cast boolit home too..
use loads for the 308-30/06 and things will be fine.
the 4064/varget would do quite well here too about 29-30 grs and some Dacron is a fine shooting load in the 30 cal rifles.
and 3031 is very much at home as a straight up cast boolit shooter in just about everything 30 caliber.

I have an OLD Lyman cast bullet handbook which I can't locate right now. For the 7.62x54R it says, "Use 30-06 data."

Wayne

[NY_Treeguy]

I have an OLD Lyman cast bullet handbook which I can't locate right now. For the 7.62x54R it says, "Use 30-06 data."

Wayne

I have that one too.

Tried 5 rounds loaded over 17gr 2400 yesterday and a fluff of dacron. Accurate and felt like I was shootiong a .22 after a bunch of milsurp rounds.

[Boolseye]

You can't get more economical than 2400 in a big .30 cal. You need almost double the weight of even a fast rifle powder ( 4895 or similar) to get the same velocities.

[MaxJon]

Sounds like I may have to get some 2400!

[Ben]

Good luck with finding 2400 , here in the US, it isn't to be found right now.

[WILCO]

I have that one too.

Same here.

[WILCO]

Good luck with finding 2400 , here in the US, it isn't to be found right now.

Source?

[LAGS]

Today I shot 20 -7.62x54 loaded with 16.0 gr of 2400 behind a NOE 198 gr cast SP GC boolit.
They seemed like Mouse Fart loads comparred to the other loads of 26.0 gr of Reloader 7 with the same Boolit.
Accuracy want bad with the 2400, but it dropped almost twice as much as the other load when shooting at 600 Yards.

[hylander]

I use 17.5gr. 2400 under a 175 - 202 gr. Boolit, no fillers.
Accuracy is MOA. all day long
Also use 18.0gr. in my 06, no filler.
Under MOA all day.

I don't get why guys are using fillers :???: Powder does not seem position sensitive at all.