7.62x54 Russian loads?

I and an elderly friend each have M-44 Moisens, and want to shoot some cast bullets in them. Mine will likely be dedicated to cast only, and he may not know it yet, but his likely will be too. He's on drugs that make him really need some light recoiling loads, and nothing could be better than cast. I'll be loading and casting for him.

I have the Lee C312-185-1R, and have several hundred cast up as of this afternoon. Need to size and lube them & test for fit in my barrel, but I doubt there'll be any problem. Have Graf's brass & Lee dies, so all I need is a load.

It's close to the '06 in case capacity, so I'm thinking of halving the difference between the '06 & .308 for published data, but am interested in knowing if anyone has any good loads to recommend with this rifle.

I think (?) I want to start with 2400 and maybe the 4227's (have both H and IMR). Don't want a lot of sizzle in these loads, but something on the order of 1400-1600 fps, but am interested in any loads that have proved accurate in your guns.

Thanks for any data you can provide.

The 7.62X54R is a pretty easy cartridge to work with. If your boolit fits the barrel, you should be able to get good groups with your Lee 312-185. However the guns it comes in comes in can be pretty rough, especially the wartime production runs. My M44 and my 91/30 are pretty accurate, but the trigger pulls are terrible and the bolts work like the action is filled with sand. One of the first milsurps I bought after I obtained my collector's license was an M39 Finn. Compared to my two Russian models, this one is a Cadillac. I've done alot of shooting with that gun and tried an awful lot of bullets and powders and all of them worked well. I settled on a load of 18 grains of SR4759 and the Lyman 311291 as my favorite. When I got my 91/30 and M44, I found both guns liked the load as well. For some reason. I've never chronographed that load, but I'll bet it's right in your 1400-1600 range. If you're going to use 2400 powder, I'd start with 16 grains.

Blackwater, 21.0 4227 yields about 1600-1650 in the '06 with 180ish boolits and is very mild to shoot. A shooting buddy has used as low as 16.0. Another shooting buddy has a 44 and he's used Herco (and others) with 180ish boolits. I think Maineboy has the best idea, though, to start with 2400. It's a fine cast boolit fuel for this application. My 'goto' though, for many years, for starting something like this has been 4227 - meters good and burns cleanly and consistently - could say the same for 2400. sundog

Blackwater .... I agree with Maineboy & Sundog. My 91/30 chronographs at 1605 with 18 grains of 2400 & a 205 grain bullet cast of WW. This particular rifle likes 19.1 grains of Surplus SR4759 with that same bullet & chronographs at 1625 with a spread of 7 fps. The SR4759 load will improve 10 shot groups by about 3/4" when shot by a younger shooter with good eyes.
oksmle

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Originally Posted by Maineboy

The 7.62X54R is a pretty easy cartridge to work with. If your boolit fits the barrel, you should be able to get good groups with your Lee 312-185. However the guns it comes in comes in can be pretty rough, especially the wartime production runs. My M44 and my 91/30 are pretty accurate, but the trigger pulls are terrible and the bolts work like the action is filled with sand. One of the first milsurps I bought after I obtained my collector's license was an M39 Finn. Compared to my two Russian models, this one is a Cadillac. I've done alot of shooting with that gun and tried an awful lot of bullets and powders and all of them worked well. I settled on a load of 18 grains of SR4759 and the Lyman 311291 as my favorite. When I got my 91/30 and M44, I found both guns liked the load as well. For some reason. I've never chronographed that load, but I'll bet it's right in your 1400-1600 range. If you're going to use 2400 powder, I'd start with 16 grains.

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a 311...not a 314 ??

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Originally Posted by mike in co

a 311...not a 314 ??

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A lot of Finn 7.62x54R rifles are in the .3085 to .309 groove diameter range.

CDD

No problem with any of the above recommendations, but also consider Lyman #311041 and/or #311291 if they cast large enough and can be sized to fit your bore, and certainly #314299. My powder choice is any of these over 18.5gr. WC 820 (1,660fps with #-299). 23gr. H/IMR 4198 is another good one, as is 21-22gr. 5744 (No longer marketed by Accurate Arms). If you like slow milsurps, 48gr. WC 860 + mag. primers is accurate as is 47gr. IMR 5010 + mag. primers + 1cc poly filler.

:lovebooli Im working with that cal. my M-39 slugs out at .3105---I use a .311--gas checked---have not seen anything that knocks my socks off yet but persuing it--I love the AA 5744---use it in many cal.---just need time to test and find the right load--also 2400 which is not case sensitive.

here's the straight dope:

314299 sized .311, 40 grains IMR 7828, std. primer

If your rifle won't shoot this, trade it.

Thanks, guys. I do want to get a good load for this gun. Mine's nearly new looking, and some of the milsurp collectors will swoon, but I put a scope amenable handle on it and had it drilled and tapped - a concession to my eyes and the fact that I may actually want to HIT something with it. It's got a good, smooth feeling bore, and will have that slugged and miked, and a chamber cast taken soon.

My elderly friend just rebarreled his with another milsurp barrel because the original one wouldn't shoot Hansen jacketed stuff worth spit. I'll work on my trigger - it needs it pretty badly - and he'll likely work on his. He's a retired dentist and a darn fine home gunsmith, too, so his will probably turn out even better than mine, but all either of us wants to do is make up a nice, hardy "truck gun" that'll hit small to medium stuff at under 100 yds. mostly, and maybe on out to 150. Rarely would it be shot further than that, and I don't think either of us will ever shoot a deer with them.

Just want to play with them, mostly, if the Truth be told, and I want to use it as a dedicated rifle to start learning this cast bullets in rifles thing. I appreciate the help.

Do you find that dacron helps with any of these loads? I figured I'd try these bullets both ways, watching pressure of course.

One last question: Any advantage in using pistol primers for initial testing, so they'll register pressures a mite quicker than harder rifle primers? I figured it'd help keep me out of trouble since these fast burners are kinda' a new sphere for me to work in.

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Originally Posted by NuJudge

A lot of Finn 7.62x54R rifles are in the .3085 to .309 groove diameter range.

CDD

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sure wish one of those whould find its way to my house...

i have never seen one.....all of mine( two 44's, three 39's, a fin 91/30) no where near 308...
it was my understanding only finn 28's were 308...???

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Originally Posted by mike in co

sure wish one of those whould find its way to my house...

i have never seen one.....all of mine( two 44's, three 39's, a fin 91/30) no where near 308...
it was my understanding only finn 28's were 308...???

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My Finn is .310. I haven't slugged my either 91/30 or M44.

I've got a model 27 Finn and it slugged .3085

Hey JumpTrap, what velocity are your getting with 40 grains of 7828? That sounds like a heavy load, especially with the 314299!

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Originally Posted by trooperdan

Hey JumpTrap, what velocity are your getting with 40 grains of 7828? That sounds like a heavy load, especially with the 314299!

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Actually it is quite mild....7828 being slower than 4831. I fell onto this load by quirk. I had a 8lb canister of the powder left over from my 280 ackley days and for ****s and grins, tried it in the Finn......wow! I never did chrono the load.....but i'll guess around 1600. I never loaded it heavier because it shot honest 1" groups at 100 yards....phenomenal in my book.

Ge whiz, Jump! Looks like I'm going to have to get some 7828! Can also use it in my son's 7 mag, too. Thanks!