7.62x54 loads on cast bullets

[THOR5624]

hey guys. I was wondering if anyone can give me some safe start loads for using .312 155gr. gas checked cast boolits. I have been shooting jacketed .311 SP for a long time and just started casting last week. By boolits come out .312 and weigh between 152-155gr. I am casting with a good hardball alloy and dont want to exceed 1600fps. I have alliant #2400, H4895, H4350, and HVarget. Thanks!

[runfiverun]

15 grs 2400 should be close to what you want. and would be your best powder choice from what you got.
don't be afraid to try a large pistol primer with that load.

make sure of your bbl's diameter.
those moisins run from 308 through 317 most are close to 313.
if you have a gas checked design, velocities up through 1900 should hold as much accuracy as your rifle will give without much trouble.

oh yeah, welcome to the forum.

[carlsonwayne]

If you want a nice accurate light and quiet load, try 9.5 to 11 grains of Trail Boss. I run 9.5 grains, and they sound like a 22 pistol, and kick like a 22 rifle. I haven't put them on paper, but shooting at cans, rocks, plates, and anything else small and fun to shoot, I never miss out to around 50 yards. I started loading with TB in my 308 at 10 grains, just for fun (it is right around the subsonic range) in hopes of getting a suppressor soon. There is even a formula available to find what the starting load should be for all rifles. It is a fun powder to play with. I even have some buckshot that fits the neck of the 7.62x54, so I put 1.5 grains in and they barely make a POP. Once again, I haven't put those on paper either, but I can hit a metal 5 gallon bucket every shot with penetration of both sides at about 50-75 feet. Its fun for back yard play time and doesn't make enough noise to irritate the neighbors. (Edit 10/17/2011 for additional info) I forgot to include that I use the exact same bullet in my guns. For my Russian guns, I size to .311 and for the 308, I size down to 309. For high velocity loads I do gas check them and get zero leading. I started with 30 grains of IMR 3031, and am currently using 40 grains of it with that bullet. If I remember right, the 30 grains was with no gas check. One thing to check on is the load of 15 grains of 2400. I use 17 grains of 2400 in my AK (7.62x39). 15 grains sounds light for the 7.62x54. If I had any empties, I would try it out and advise accordingly. I have some nice glulam blocks I use to test loads into in the hallway. (end of edit)

[Paul B]

I have a tendency to prefer heavier cast bullets in my various 30 calibers. Mosly I shoot .308 Win. and 30-06 with bullets ranging from 175 to 190 and sometimes 200 gr. in weight. I have what I call my "universal" load which is 25.0 gr. of either IMR or H4895. With one 190 gr. bullet, Lyman #311644, 25.0 gr. of 4895, a one grain tuft of Dacron, just about any brand of brass and the bullet sized to .310" in a Winchester M70 chambered to .308 Win. I can get groups in the 1.5 MOA range at 200 yards and 2.5 MOA at 300 yards if it's not too windy.

That same bullet in the 30-06 with the same charge will hit a 300 meter pig silhouette fairly consistantly and if you hit that 50 pount pig high enough, say the top 25 percent of the target it will knock it down. Surpises the heck out of a lot of people.

Another .308 I have, a Savage 110S silhouette rifle will on a good day stay right up with that M70.

I strongly suggest you slug your bore and size the bullets .002" larger than the groove diameter. I haven't a clue why sizing the bullets oversized make a difference in acuracy but take my word on it, it does.

FWIW, I'm currently starting to shoot a Lyman #311284, a 220 gr. RN bullet in my 30-06. I'm planning on using SR-4759 with that bullet. It's a powder that is supposed to be fantastic for cast bullet shooting. I just bought some more as I'd run out using what I did have in a 45-70. Should be interesting.
Paul B.