7.62x54R Brass

[1Shirt]

Just picked up a M38, and would like to load for the thing. Surplus ammo is pleantiful and cheap, however it is jacketed. Got a big supprise when I went looking for brass on the web and the only thing I could find that was boxer primed was Norma at about the cost of three arms and a leg. So with that in mind, am looking for words of wisdom about the where and how of getting some reloadable brass that I can afford to try loading cast. A friend was telling me that there is a way of modifying berdan brass to shoot boxer primers, but didn't know the specifics. I have never heard of this befor and am a bit more than dubious of the process. However, if anyone knows a SAFE way to do this that works, I would be interested in knowing how. Lastly, would of course be looking for cast loads from experianced shooters of this thing. Thanks in advance!
1Shirt!

[trooperdan]

Hey 1Shirt!! Graf's usually has their brass of brass in 7.62x54R. it is made in Yogoslavia or the general neighborhood and is pretty good, the price is right anyway. You can also find the same brass as loaded ammo in Privi Partisan brand.

The Graf's brass is $34/100, less if you have an FFL, even C&R FFL gets the discount.

[junkbug]

The latest Midway catalog has Lapua brass available. It is not cheap; $69.99 for 100 pieces. Lapua is a Finnish firm, so they call the cartridge 7.62x53R but the it is the same.

[jballs918]

shirt have you ever thought about just using the berdan primers. it is pretty easy to make the jig to remove them. like 5 bucks or so and some time. there was a long story done on this on surplus rifle forum. alot of good info on the reloading of them

[mag_01]

--- 1 Shirt----185 Lee .312---sized .312 G/C--- with 18grs. of 2400---overall length is 2.775--A load that has done well for me in all 4 Mosient Negants---1 being the M39----most important is Throat fit ---My bore on the M39 is .3105 ---the tightest throat is a 91-30 made in 1900---it leaves marks on the brass in throat area---- good luck with your new toy----Mag_01

[bruce drake]

Wolf offers Boxer-Primed Brass at an affordable price in their Gold Line. I recommend PRVI PARTISAN myself. You just have to shoot those J-words out first.

http://www.ammunitionstore.com/pricelist_762x54r.htm

Bruce

[NickSS]

I just bought a couple hundred cases from grafs and it is good stuff. Been using it with cast bullets all summer. I use the Lee 312- 185 gr bullet and 14 gr of Unique for a fun plinking load. It is fairly accurate and does not wear out your shoulder.

[Ricochet]

Just bought some 7.62x54R brass from Graf's but didn't know to give 'em my C&R. Shucks!

It's nice looking brass. Haven't loaded any yet.

[Shepherd2]

Send them a copy of your C&R along with a note asking to be put on their dealer list. They'll send you a catalog with the dealer pricing in it.

[tom barthel]

You may want to check Cheaper Than Dirt or, Graf & Sons. The Yugo Wolf Gold or S & B are good bets. Both are boxer primed and reloadable. You can just enjoy shooting the jacketed bullets first. Don't let anyone sell you solid gold cases with diamond bullets. The Wolf Gold and The S&B shoot just fine.

[RayinNH]

1 Shirt, Midway has Winchester brass, 50 primed cases for $12.19. Stock #471063...Ray

OOPS, just saw that it was discontinued. Might give them a call anyway just to see if they have damaged packs or returns on short packs.

[1Shirt]

Many thanks to all that replied to this thread. Just ordered 100 cases from GRAF.
Will be trying the recommended loads as soon as the dies come in. An impressive little rifle baring the tool chatter marks on the receiver, and the fact that the bedding leaves a whole lot to be desired. Oh well, that along with refinishing the stock( although that really isn't that bad) will be one of those winter jobs, along with refinishing the stock on my K-31. For a rifle made in 1942, and costing under $100.00 with accessories, think it will be a lot of fun. Will probably start out with around .314 as about half of my molds seem to drop around that dia. Will report on results as soon as I get it all together.
1Shirt!

[1Shirt]

Elmer wrote about shooting rocks at long distance in the mountains, and a week and a half ago, I got the chance to do the same. Let me tell you that it is a real kick in the tail. Shot .243, 6.5x55, 7x57, 308, 7.62x54R, 7.5x55, 8x57's etc. in every thing from Ruger 77's to AK-47's, 98Persan Mauser, to Sweds, to Swiss. Closest rocks (range finder used) was 236 yd, fertherist (Festis Hagen speak) out was over 650. Had a bit of trouble with cast after shooting jacketed surplus, but once I figured out elevations, was dropping them in quite regularly. We were shooting from benches, sitting, and offhand. One pretty good size boulder that was probably about 4 ft in dia. was at 346, and I concentrated on that with most of the cast that I shot. Jacketed FMJ make a big splatter and a pile of dust comes off. Cast make a splatter, but with little dust being kicked off the rocks. ( We were shooting at near 12,000 ft, against a tallis backgroung, and the mt. probably extended another 800-1000 feet above-------so, from a safety standpoing couldn't have asked for better conditions.) In cast I shot .243, 6.5x55,
7x57, .308, and 7.5x55 that were mine. Regret that I didn't have any 8x57 to try in the Persian mauser, but it wasn't mine. Will have to get a 98 one of these
days. Never could get the 243 to shoot consistantly to the 346 mark (85 gr Lovern GC), but all the rest did well to that range, with emphasis on 6.5x55 w/140grGC, in a Swed (issue), and 7x57, 160gr.GC, w/4x Scope). 7.5x55 and .308 were close behind. Never had the time to play with cast much beyond the 346 level because of the drop beyond that with loads running 1600-2000. (Maybe next time). Wish I had had my 45-70 to try at the 346 mark-would have taken a whoop of elevation, but would have been fun. With jacketed, was regularly plinking at a diamond shaped rock at over 600 against tallis, and impact was easily seen. Best results at that range were with an FAL in 308, a Garand in 308,
and my 7x57. Consistant hits on the rock or within inches of it (even offhand a few rounds with my 77 Ruger in 7x57). This is the first time I have had the chance to experiance this type of shooting, and the longest ranges I have been able to shoot since I was a young Marine back in the dark ages. God willing and the creek don't rise, it won't be my last.
1Shirt!

[felix]

1Shirt!, now you are getting into my arena. Around here 300-600 yards would be dangerous for sure, so we have to reduce the range considerably to about 100-150 max. That means the rocks will have to be shotgun shell size or smaller for a commensurate feel good. Enter the smaller calibers! ... felix

[MikeSSS]

I have Lapua and Graf. Lapua works, have not tried Graf yet.

S&B was a real problem. The primer pocket might be tapered. I had to beat the primers into the pockets.. A no fun and B not real safe. I tried my benchrest primer pocket uniformer and it didn't help. S&B is off my list.

[StarMetal]

I have the Grafs brass, from their first go around, in both 7.62x54R and 8x56R and let me tell you I have shot the living daylights out of both calibers and not lost one piece of brass yet. Very very good stuff.

Joe

[1Shirt]

Felix, You owe it to yourself to head high into the mts. where you can really get some range safely. Most fun I have had with a rifle in a long time other than shooting P-Dogs.
1shirt!