Cast Boolit in M 31/90 Mosin Nagant

[Adam604]

Cast Boolit in M 31/90 Mosin Nagant

I wrote a several months ago about loading the Lee 312-160TL in an Enfield .303. Well after finally finding and saving enough 7.62x54R brass that I can reload I tried the same with my 1943 Tula Mosin.

The barrel slugs almost the same as my Enfield so I used the same Lee 312-160TL boolits. I cast from straight Wheel Weights, water dropped from a "Beagled" 2 cavity mold. Lube with Lee alox then size to .314 with a Lee sizer, then relube. I've weighed by bullets and seem to have two weights, 168 gn and 170 gn, I guess the two cavities cast a bit different. So I sort and label the two different weights.

I loaded up 40 rounds at 9, 10, 11 and 12 grains of Unique with COW as a filler. (10 at each weight)

The shooting was from a bench with sandbags

First target at 25 yards, Dang, they all look good, less that 1/2 in groups.

Then 50 yards the 11 grain load produced the tightest group of about 3/4 and inch the others were not too bad

Then 100 yards the 11 grain load still at 3/4 inch and the others opened up a bit.

No sign of pressure problems and I think I found a plinker load to use with my Mosin...

I have a 3x-7x pistol scope on my Mosin mounted on the rear sight bracket, think "Scout Rifle". I just don't like to drill holes in my rifles and I need a scope as I can't see very well these days.

The load

Brass: 7.62x54R Privi Partizn Brass (full length resized some range pick up brass)
Primer: CCI large rifle
Powder: 11 grains Unique
Filler: 2.5 CC Cow (cream of wheat) Lee scoup to half way up neck
Bullet: Lee 312-160TL water dropped straight wheel weight sized to .314 lee alox lube


You guys have really helped me learn about how to get good results with tools, I can't thank you enough for all the info you have provided me.

[Calamity Jake]

Now try the same load of Unique without the COW filler, it's not needed with any powder in that burn speed.

[Adam604]

When I loaded for the Enfield I tried with COW and without and the the loads with the COW produced much tighter groups.

I will try them with out to see the difference in the Mosin as it does add an extra step in reloading.

[Maven]

Adam604, Calamity Jake is right: You don't need a filler with those loads. Btw, I've been using pistol powder, WC 820 (AA #9) in cavernous cases (.45-70, 6.5 x 55mm, 7.5 x 55mm, 7.62 x 63mm, 7.62 x 54R, 7.65 x 53mm, 8 x 57mm) with CB's for years and have obtained wonderful accuracy from them even with the issued sights.

[jonk]

Not only is filler not needed on low charges, it can become a problem. Those powders are so fast that all that extra weight and volume, if near a max charge, can cause damage quick.

[Buckshot]

Adam604, Calamity Jake is right: You don't need a filler with those loads. Btw, I've been using pistol powder, WC 820 (AA #9) in cavernous cases (.45-70, 6.5 x 55mm, 7.5 x 55mm, 7.62 x 63mm, 7.62 x 54R, 7.65 x 53mm, 8 x 57mm) with CB's for years and have obtained wonderful accuracy from them even with the issued sights.

................I have an old "Rifle" magazine article about a guy working with a 40-90 Sharps and he mentioned getting excellent results with WC820. Wouldn't specify a load because the powder was surplus :-)

................Buckshot

[Bret4207]

Nice to hear of some good results! Good on you!

[Adam604]

Well,

I now know of a no COW load to NOT use in my Mosin...


I tested my Mosin Nagant load yesterday..

I loaded up 30

Brass: 7.62x54R Privi Partizn Brass
Powder: 11 grains Unique
Filler: 2.5 CC Cow (cream of wheat) Lee scoup to half way up neck
Bullet: Lee 312-160TL water dropped straight wheel weight sized to .314 lee alox lube

I loaded up 10 with out the filler.


Picture shows my results:

at 50 yards 2 of the 5 shots without the COW filler even hit the paper


At 100 yards not one of the 5 shots without the COW filler even hit the paper

I have had much better luck getting good results with a filler and cast bullets out of both of my WW2 rifles, a .303 Enfield and a 7.62x54R Mosin

So I will keep on using fillers and keep an eye out for pressure and maybe some day I will be able to find a powder and load that works for me without them...

[Maven]

Adam, You should try 22grs. of Accurate Arms' 5744 or 18.5grs. Accurate Arms #9.

[autofix4u]

So I will keep on using fillers and keep an eye out for pressure and maybe some day I will be able to find a powder and load that works for me without them...

adam I have a 1947 m44 that slugs at 299-312 using a lee 150gr flat nose as cast at .313(the only 30 cals I have cast yet) and 13grs of IMR trail boss I get under one inch groups at 50 yds with issue sights. this is the most accurate load I have found in this rifle so far. but I hope to try some 180-220grs in the near future.

[Andy_P]

With the Mosin Nagant and their often large bores (0.312"+) you need to be especially careful about neck clearance - you need at least 0.002". I have one with a 0.3155" bore, but it will not chamber bullets larger than 0.312" and still offer safe neck clearance. I use a gas-checked 180gr 0.318" bullet from a custom mold and have to neck turn. It loves 22.0 grs of SR4759 - gives an accurate 1900 fps.