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Thread: 7.62x54r with IMR 4350? Recommended bullet?

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub commando223's Avatar
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    7.62x54r with IMR 4350? Recommended bullet?

    I have an 8lb jug of this powder with about 7-1/2 lbs left from when I had a 7mm mag. I no longer have any use for it but I would like to start loading some powder coated gas checked bullets for my Russian M44 and 91/30 rifles.

    If possible I would like to use this powder and if you guys can recommend a mould to use that would be great I have some brass and dies coming just no bullet mould yet.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    I use the Lee 313-185-1R bullet. The full write-up is located here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wLGkEQ5npE6QKUxG8

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    I have used IMR 4350 in 7.62x54 with 123 gr Jacketed 7.62x 39 jacketed bullets.
    They shot really good.
    I can't see why that powder wouldn't work good with cast Boolits.
    It is a very slow burning powder and did exhibit a lot of muzzle flash , especially out of my M 44 and Chinese M 53

  4. #4
    Boolit Master


    nagantguy's Avatar
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    Yes is the short answer; can be used and many find it to work well, 4895 either flavor is much better in this roll for cast as it reduces better and just seems to work wonders on all flavors of old surplus rifles. If I had 4350 of either flavor to play with I’m sure I could cook up a working load with cast in the 54r .
    Funny that you mentioned 7mm mag- I using IMR 4350 right now for 7mm weatherby to make my final test rounds for elk hunting , went with a light for caliber mono bullet that is shooting past all expectations.
    And yes some cast rifles/rounds will be going to the Rockies with me, mainly a 1919 beautifully sporterized 8mm Mauser . And of course super Blackhawk in 44 . Stoked with big 315 WFL can’t be to careful in bear/ mountain lion country

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
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    314299 is the bullet you'll want to use. Cast of an appropriate alloy, lubed or PC'd and GC it should do well with the 4350 powder in the 1850 - 1950 fps range.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
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    A heavy cast bullet with gas check should do well. I did always find it hard with 4350 in the low velocity ranges to get the pressure required to burn clean in my finn m39. So I would bump it up to fix it and push the cast to hard and get poor results. The load I use 4350 for is with speer 150 jacketed round. When I load cast I use universal or unique. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

    Sent from my LM-X410PM using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    Kraschenbirn's Avatar
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    I load 4350 in both 30-40 Krag and .303 Brit but haven't yet tried it in an M-N, however, believe it should work fairly well. I shoot the Lee 309-200 in the Krag and a powder-coated 312-185 in the Brit and both are as accurate as I can hold with original military sights.

    Bill
    "I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."

    Jimmy Buffett
    "Scarlet Begonias"

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy kaiser's Avatar
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    My best load has been with a 180gr (.311) Sierra bullet and a couple of grains under the "Max" charge listed by Sierra using IMR4350. The 185gr Lee cast bullet (unsized) seems to work better than the lighter weights in my rifle by using medium burn powder (IMR4895, etc.) at velocities below 2000fps.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy
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    IMR 4350 is a jacketed go to powder for me in 7.62x54R. Used with both .308 and .311 dia. 150 gr.bullets 50.0gr was reliably a good grouper . I have not tried it with any cast though...

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    Lyman's 314299 is the go to cast bullet for the 7.62x54r. I'm in complete agreement with Larry about this one. My Finn model 27 slugs out at .3115 and I size to .3135. My Lyman sizer die must have been made on a monday as the interior finish looked like a bad road. Reamed it out to .313 and then polished the inside. So that is the finished dimension of the sizing die. Have about 3,000 of the 314299 down the tube. Frank

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy blackpowder man's Avatar
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    The Noe 316299 did best in the one I had, far better than factory stuff. I’m pretty sure I used 2400.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    In an M-39 I have had good results with the Lee 200 grainer at .311 and 5744


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
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    Last edited by John Boy; 08-19-2021 at 09:07 PM.
    Regards
    John

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy Eddie1971's Avatar
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    I use 40 grains of 4350 under an NOE 316299 in my 91/30.

  15. #15
    Boolit Bub commando223's Avatar
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    I made some test loads 6rnds of 36,38,40, & 42gr I'll see what shoots best.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check