Anyone reloading 7.62 X 54?

[Jekemi]

I have re-conditioned an old Mosin Negant. I Replaced the wooden stock with a synthetic one. I Put in new alluminum mounting posts. I replaced the old straight out bolt with a new stainless steel one that drops down so you don't hit your knuckles on the scope. I have mounted an alluminum scope mount to the octagonal receiver and put a cheap Redfield scope on it - I had it machine drilled into the receiver; not the cheap rail that sits on top. Next step is to have the barrel re-crowned.
I want to begin reloading for it but I can't find new brass anywhere. All the cases out there are steel. Any thoughts?

[carpsniperg2]

the only stuff i have seen is steel cases and it has been bulk crap my buddy had a rifle in the 7.62x54 he got rid of it a few years ago.

[phishisgroovin]

I would just pull bullets out of the military loads and press in some nosler bullets in the surplus ammo rounds.
you will get away far ahead because all you will need is bullets and bulk surplus ammo.

300 rounds of Bulgarian ammo is only around $85 and the Nosler bullets wont set you back real far.
Otherwise, you will most likely have to shop ot graf and sons online and get Wolf or whatever commercial ammo and save your brass.

[machine]

$13 a box isn't bad and it gives you an excuse to go shooting so you have brass to reload.http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=AP76254SP150&groupid=40

[phishisgroovin]

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/771

[lokidog]

I've reloaded for mine, makes a nice load and dang accurate.  Safety sucks on those guns though....

I think I bought most of my ammo as cheaply as I could with reloadable brass and then just had fun plinking it so I could reload.  Shot a deer a few years back in WI with it, open sights.

Have fun.  Phishisgroovin has a good idea, be careful though.

[FC]

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/65834-5.html

Ouch!

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=459745  Dies.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=223459

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=1270189782 brass

[phishisgroovin]

youre going to have alot of fun shooting that. heres my two carbine M38 Mosins flashing off last weekend.

[Bscman]

Nosler and Winchester sell brass. S&B also loads rounds in reloadable brass.

None of it is all that easy to find, or cheap...especially considering the availability of .308 which is a close ballistic match.

You can buy cheap soft points in steel cases from Wideners...$6 per box, 203gr. Even with my re-crowned, bedded, M44 with trigger job it would only do ~3" at 100yds with that ammo.

Fun rifles, no doubt....especially when you could still buy 440rnd tins for $35.

[shaneman153D]

You sporterized an octagon??!!!!   

May consider counter-boring when you re-crown too (if it's not already done).  Made a world of difference on my '44 Izzy.
 

[e55komp]

7n1 ammo is unbeatable. shoots 1/2 @ 100 out of a psl

[shaneman153D]

7n1 ammo is unbeatable. shoots 1/2 @ 100 out of a psl

Uh, not out of mine.  Less than impressed.  Best ammo I had for the PSL was the Wolf 150gr FMJBT that they specifically made for the PSL.  They don't make it anymore.

If you want some 7n1 I have a little, collecting dust.

Shane

[Jekemi]

The barrel is round but the receiver is hexagonal. The scope mount is from Rock Solid Industries. It is cemented, drilled, and tapped to the left hand side of the receiver ($90). The stainless steel bolt is drop down so you don't hit your knuckles on the scope ($70).
The instructions said to mount the scope to the scope mount first, then screw the mount to the receiver, after drilling and tapping.
I replaced the old bedding pillars with nice new machined alluminum ones ($12) and new screws as well ($10).

I found Prvi Partizan Ammunition 7.62x54mm Rimmed Russian (7.62x53mm Rimmed) 150 Soft Point Box of 20 at Midway USA. Takes the boxer primers. Not sure how easy it is to press those primers into the cases. Anyone know if a standard hand-primer loader works with boxer primers? You can reload those with .308 ammo.

[BigGoonTuna]

boxer primers are the kind that are typically used in most reloading, as opposed to berdan primers.

[Jekemi]

So any standard large rifle primer, shuch as the ones I use for my .270 should work fine?