[BattleRifleG3]

Looking at the costs of current manufacture ammo in this caliber coupled with my new desire to hunt with it, I'm considering reloading 7.62x54R. Anyone do this and have any tips on affordable dies and safe heavy loads? I figure with a long barrel you could use some slow burning powders to get good performance, like >30-06. Yes, no?

 

[toolman]

I just started so I haven't really had time to work up many loads for it yet. I would check with jarcp as he's done a lot of research on the 54r. He's also doing custom loading for it. I've got Lee dies but they are built for a .308 dia. bullet. Grafs has dies from Lyman, Redding, Forster, and Hornady as well as the cheapest brass I've seen @ $27.99/100.

 

[jarcp]

Toolman, Thanks. You are correct on the brass, it's the cheapest we've see as well. Err, at least cheap in cost. It has held up just as well as the Norma with all my loads, we've only gotten to re-load #5 so we'll see how many sessions they'll go through.
The powders suited for the .30-'06 work well for the X54, BL(C)-2, Varget, H4895 to name a few. I wouldn't bother with the VV powders unless you are one of the lucky few to own a Romak or a very accurate MN. Our match load uses the MatchKing bullet from Sierra .303 cal (.311 dia) 174g HPBT #2315. There are some smaller houses out there that make better bullets, but the cost far outweighs the benifit. Standard LR primers are fine, unless you are using bulk GI surplus powder. You MAY find the MLR works better with the surplus. Let me know if I can be of any more assistance.

 

[Shaun]

jcarp sounds like we have the same advice on this caliber I have also found that IMR 4895 works awesome - velocities are equal or better to the "06 in my testing in the following rifle I have a sporterized Nagant with a 26" barrel and have recorded shots out to 900 yards with the 168 gr Nosler J4 - so far this round has been one of my biggest sellers in the 54R. many of my customers have found the .308 dia rounds more accurate compared to the .311 but that something open to debate with everyone.

 

[jarcp]

Shaun has a good point I completely forgot to mention. Bullet size! I have seen most MN shoot perfectly with the .308 size bullets, but there are a few that prefer the .311 size.
Shaun, what are your J4's going for?

 

[Shaun]

jacarp

here are the numbers - all rifle ammo we load here is manufactured to Match grade status with all powder charges measured to a a standard of plus or minus .01gr difference. The rounds are produced one round at a time to verify the level of quality in the products. of course once the customer has the brass we put them on a reloading program at a huge savings since we only have to service , measure and verify condition.
new J4's
100 500 1000
$94.95 $339.95 $649.95 Sales Price
$18.99 $17.00 $13.00 Avg cost per box of 20

 

[BattleRifleG3]

I think I bought a can of 4895 for my M1, so it'll be great to use for both.

 

[FEG]

I have had good results with IMR 4895 and the 123gr .311" bullets intended for 7.62x39.