best 7.62x54r ammo

[Just.a.guy]

Hi guys,

I just got a new m44. Matching numbers, clean bore, its really a work of art. I took it to Metcalf yesterday, and had a blast. The problem is, with the ammo I used, I was shooting minute of fat Russian at 100 yards. I'm a halfway decent shot with modern rifles, but I was all over the paper with big5 MFS ammo. My brother also shot it, and had the same problem.

He found half a box of wwb, so we shot that. It grouped way better, still not great, maybe 5 MOA. Then we both shot a 91/30 with each ammo, and the MFS sucked and the wwb was fair. I'm willing to blame my bad accuracy on ammo.

Should I expect terrible accuracy with all steel surplus? If I buy a spam can for $.24 a round, am I going to be all over the paper? Midway has ppu and s&b for $16ish a box, but if I want to spend that much for accuracy I'll just shoot .30-06.

What is the most accurate 7.62x54r ammo that won't cost an arm and a leg?

[VegasND]

I've only bought 2 kinds of 7.62x54; the '40s on stripper clips in the 300 round cans and Silvertip from various countries.

Silvertip works pretty well -- minute of paper plate at 75 to 100+ yards is plenty good enough.

Our habit has become to bring a Mosin and, last thing before we pack up, each shooter is given a loaded stripper clip and we pick something off in the distance to shoot at. Casual fun with cheap ammo: it's what Mosin does best.

[rp55]

I have a PSL in AK furniture and the most accurate 7.62x54R for it is the Prvi Partizan. Ammoman has it.

[BruinGuy]

I'm surprised the MFS shot so poorly for you. I've found it to be better than either the Russian heavy or light ball surplus by a touch. The best ammo I've shot is PPU and some Soviet brass cased "match" ammo. The worst is the new production Russian...it comes in a white box. I think it is made by Ulyanovsk but I'm not sure. It's pretty shoddily made and shoots like it.

With the M44 you may want to try shooting with the bayonet extended. That doesn't really explain the ammo variation, but it will help close up your groups a little bit.

PPU can be found online for about $14/box...a better deal than Winchester in any case.

[rojocorsa]

Prvi Partizan surplus, aka Yugo M30 ball if you can find it any more.


And notice that someone else is vouching for the modern PPU as well.

Both of these are heavy ball, that's why I like it so much.

[Lucky Scott]

PPU works best for me, a huge improvement over surplus. Although I shoot more surplus than anything.....

I just watched a review of good commercial ammo on youtube by a guy named Iraqveteran
do a search and he will turn up.

[Timm24]

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTxqST9G6Xc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Vlad 11]

There are way too many factors involved to give a one size fits all answer to what is the best x54 ammo.

Bore size - projectile size - powder variance - bore condition - trigger.. on and on

One ammo may shoot great in one rifle and suck in another

If your using iron sights @ 100 i would say 5moa is about avg for a carbine

That being said IMO the best ammunition by far no question is the Russian Extra Match surplus

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I think all of the spam can stuff is satisfactory. My Mosin accuracy tightened up dramatically when I stopped flinching, closing my eyes in anticipation, and letting go of the rifle when it went off.

[Edvil91]

Remember, you are shooting a carbine...

[SFCRangerDoc]

Remember, you are shooting a carbine...

carbine or not...5-7 MOA at 100 yards...that's still pretty damn bad

[NOTABIKER]

saw a test on a mosin in surplus mag a while back. trhe surplus shot better than the horniday. ?

[SOAR79]

hahahaha

[CA-Libertarian]

I think all of the spam can stuff is satisfactory. My Mosin accuracy tightened up dramatically when I stopped flinching, closing my eyes in anticipation, and letting go of the rifle when it went off.

THIS!!!! Plus make sure those screws are tightened!

[Shredwell]

I'm surprised the MFS shot so poorly for you. I've found it to be better than either the Russian heavy or light ball surplus by a touch. The best ammo I've shot is PPU and some Soviet brass cased "match" ammo. The worst is the new production Russian...it comes in a white box. I think it is made by Ulyanovsk but I'm not sure. It's pretty shoddily made and shoots like it.

With the M44 you may want to try shooting with the bayonet extended. That doesn't really explain the ammo variation, but it will help close up your groups a little bit.

PPU can be found online for about $14/box...a better deal than Winchester in any case.

Bayonet retracted/extended makes a huge diff with my M44. Usually shoot Bulgarian silver tip (pretty sure its '72 Bulgarian) and some brass case stuff (cant remember, prebably was the Partizan stuff) but had best results with the surplus. The biggest factor for my accuracy is the bayonet and having it extended when shooting. 7 inches left @ 100 yards unextended, extended back to tight groups. For WIW...