7.62x53r ammo reloading experiment

[stubbicatt]

In my days of convalescence, I am pretty bored. So I decided I would attempt to handload ammunition approximating the Finnish 7.62x53r round. Consequently, I purchased 100 of these .311 200 grain rebated boat tail full metal jacket bullets.

I haven't settled on a powder yet, but figure I'll try RL15.

After I ordered this box of bullets at $50, I began to have buyer's remorse in a big way, considering that I still have milsurp ammo I can shoot in my rifles so chambered.

Oh well. Maybe I'll learn something that will come in handy some day.

Anybody have a charge weight of whichever powder with 200 grain bullets that worked well for him?

[Helen Keller]

IMR 4320/4350

BLC-2

[abpt1]

Id try Hodgens 4831sc or maybe even benchmark ?

[Schuetzenman]

Never done it but the case volume is similar to .30-06. You might look at some of the 200 gr. Match loads for the 06 round as a starting point.

[cootertwo]

54R not 53R

[El Laton Caliente]

I'm interested in 7.62x54R, but in a light bullet in 145 grain / 150 grain range for my semis...

[El Laton Caliente]

Here are several loads in that weight bullet:
http://www.reloadersnest.com/query_b...lletWeight=200

Didn't the Finn's call the round x53R?

[gschnarr]

Yes the Finns do call it 53r. Even Lapua still refers to the ammo as 7.62x53R/54R. Just to confuse us. Here is a page with some loads. http://www.stevespages.com/310_2_200.html With these pages as with all loads, especially the Mosin's wide variety of bore diameters, start low and work up slowly.

[res45]

The Finns call there version the 7.62 x 53r because the factory case is 53mm long as apposed to the Russian factory case that is 54mm long but you can use either case in either rifle. The will grow out that much and more after first resizing anyways.

Load data for Vihtavuori powders for the 7.62 x 53r. http://www.lapua.com/en/products/rel.../relodata/5/71

Before I settled on a load I would contact Lapua and see if they have a cross reference using Reloader #15. N140 and Reloader #15 are pretty close in burn rate,right next to each other to be exact. They both use the same starting charge weight in the Lyman manuals and it take .05 grs more Reloader #15 to reach the same Max. load but the manual only goes up to 180 gr. bullets so charge weight will be lighter for the heavier 200 gr. how much I can/t say.