7.62x54r Reloading

[Faded]

Just ordered a 7.62x54R VEPR SVD from Atlantic. It seems I can use IMR 4064 with 180, 200, and 220 gr. .308 bullets. I had read people are loading .311 bullets though. Anyone here have experience with this round?

[Enfield47]

Yes, but not in your type of gun. I reload for my M39 and M91 using IMR4064 and 150gr .311 bullets. Do you know if its a .308 or .311 barrel? You may experience some pressure issues if you use a .311 bullet in a .308 barrel on a semi auto rifle.

[Faded]

I didn't see it specified. I imagine I can measure once I get it.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-rifles/vepr-rifle-762x54r-red-svd-style-detail.html?Itemid=0

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[Full Clip]

Slug the barrel to be sure.

[hambam105]

7.62x54R is just as expensive to reload for as .308 and ought-six and .270 etc etc. 4064 is great powder for these old obsolete calibers.

You know they are obsolete when the bullets just bounce of the paper targets at 100 yards.

[AGGRO]

Ditto on slug your barrel first.

[AandO]

In cleaning out my bench I found several hundred 311 bullets (147gr) you can have if you find your rifle needs to be fed 311's. They do have a steel core and I believe a copper washed steel jacket. Not sure what I'm doing with them, so they're yours for the shipping cost.

[deac777]

I load the 7.62x54R for my M91/30 and use .311 jacketed bullets and either IMR 4064 or Varget. Recently I have been trying out cast bullets sized to .312 and using Accurate 5744 and Alliant RE7.

[bigbully]

The problem I have with 54r is that boxer primed ammo is more expensive and my 54r vepr beats the brass to hell at the neck. Most are not usable after going through the vepr.

[rsrocket1]

Sounds like you are a candidate for learning how to reprime Berdan primed cases with boxer primers or learn how to Berdan prime. It can be done, but it also takes time and has a bit of a learning curve. My brother did it all the time back in the 70's. Since it's a "once and done" for your Vepr, you can probably even use corrosive primed steel cases if you clean them out properly.

[rsrocket1]

PS
Just came across this thread on reloading Berdan primed steel cases (7.62x39) but applies to 54R too.

[NewbieLoader]

7.62x54R is just as expensive to reload for as .308 and ought-six and .270 etc etc. 4064 is great powder for these old obsolete calibers.

You know they are obsolete when the bullets just bounce of the paper targets at 100 yards.

Will you hold a paper target in front of you at 100 yards so we could test out your theory using my 7.62X54r loads?



^Joking ^

I use .311 pills with H4895 with great results out of my M39.

[AGGRO]

My Romak is also pretty hard on cases, win brass.

[SMarquez]

I scored some Prvi 7.62 x 54r at Cabellas for $14.44 per box so I have that brass to reload. That's how I get most of my brass. I get the instant blast gratification and reloadable brass when I'm done. You can get Lapua brass from Graf and Sons but it is a little pricy.

[AGGRO]

A mid power load i just put together
caliber Max case COL powder/type Grain Bullet weight/make Primer bullet diameter Velocity
7.62 x 54 2.115 3.04 H4895 47gr 150gr hot cor speer win large rifle 0.311 2742 fps

This is about 30 fps slower than the like hornady sst. The sst is also a tad too long to feed through the magazine so I had to shrink em.