Adapting load data from another cartridge

[Gromann]

So as a forward; I'm still fairly new to reloading and most of the loads I've done were strictly from the Second Edition of Modern Reloading.

The dilemma comes when I find myself in possession of a good deal of Reloder 15 and no reliable recipes for it anywhere for reloading 7.62x53R for Finn Mosins (okay, so 7.62x54R brass that gets a .310-.3105 bullet).

I know that in terms of power and cartridge size it's very close to .303 British so I'm wondering if I can basically split the difference between .30-06 and .303 British loads to use as a base line for load data?

If anyone has recipes I'd also love to see examples!

[NapalmCheese]

Lyman 49 has some loads with RL-15 for the 7.62x54R.

Looks like 47 max for 180 grain bullets according to Lyman, 48.5 max with 150 grain bullets, and 51 max with 125.

[Gromann]

Cheers, into the notebook it goes!

[kevins750]

Pretty sure Lyman has data for RL 15 if you are looking for 7.62x54r info.

[MongooseV8]

Absolutely not. Find published data or find another powder.

[FLIGHT762]

Norma 203-B powder is very similar to Reloader 15. They are both manufactured from the same facility in Sweden. Look at your Reloader 15 bottle.

Norma has 7.62X54R reloading data with Norma 203-B powder on their web site.

https://www.norma-ammunition.com/en-gb/reloading-data/7-62x54r-russian

Look up Norma 203-B & reloader 15 similarity on the net.

Here:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2015/09/alliant-reloder-15-vs-norma-203b-the-numbers-tell-all/

Start low at the minimum charge and work up.

[jsanch03]

Are you shooting polymer coated bullets or fmjs? I just started loading for a mosin of mine with my own cast boolits. I heard RL15 works with reduced loads with cast. Curious for an update on how the load works out for you.

[Bastard]

get another book.

to answer your initial question;
in short - no.
longer answer - you may be able to generate a starting point by cross referencing multiple sources and then dropping that percentage even lower while looking/checking every round for signs of pressure... but if you, as you stated, are fairly new I wouldn't recommend it

I could look up what my Lyman book says and when I get up to grab another beer I may just do that out of my own curiosity but you should really have more than one book and if you are shooting anything besides jacketed you really should have the cast book as well - and for a relatively it can not be stressed enough to not blindly trust forum posted load data...


edit - my 8th edition Honrady book lists x54 & x53 as the same data, and a quick search basically says the data/cartridge is interchangeable... the Lyman book gives prescriptions (this a lyman joke for anyone who looks up RL-15 in it) and the Hornady also gives load data for the round using RL-15. if you were to tell us what bullet you are using we might be able to send the published data from either book

[Gromann]

Are you shooting polymer coated bullets or fmjs? I just started loading for a mosin of mine with my own cast boolits. I heard RL15 works with reduced loads with cast. Curious for an update on how the load works out for you.

I've heard that using cast boolits in a mosin usually means going down in charge by a margin of like 10% so haven't gone down that rabbit hole yet.

And with all the responses here it does seem like I should pick up a Lyman manual in the next couple of weeks so I'll be doing that before I muck about with the M39 and R15.

[Bastard]

And with all the responses here it does seem like I should pick up a Lyman manual in the next couple of weeks

why wait

https://www.amazon.com/Lyman-50th-Reloading-Handbook-Softcover/dp/B01H2JD6CK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=VKYMUEQYDBOK&dchild=1&keywords=lyman+reloading+manual&qid=1605496540&sprefix=lyman+re%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-1

[Epaphroditus]

New to reloading? Stick to published guides as a reference.

Expert reloaders are a cautious and careful bunch because the downside far outweighs any modest benefit in cost savings.

If one thinks saving a few $ is worth the risk they are not thinking clearly.

Get all the reference materials you can. Single cartridge books are a great source of varieties of components.

One must appreciate and understand the influence different components have on the final product. For example expecting all 150 gr projectiles to be interchangeable is very much wrong. Composition and bearing surface varies a lot.

Best of luck.

[jsanch03]

[Gromann]

why wait

https://www.amazon.com/Lyman-50th-Re...s%2C222&sr=8-1

I'm still waiting on some backordered gear before I can reload anything so I'm just getting stuff sorted at the moment.

[FLIGHT762]

Here's an old thread that has a Sierra PDF with Reloader 15 data for the 7.62X54R. The PDF is on post #3.

http://calguns.net/calgunforum//showthread.php?t=770253

If you compare the above Sierra data with the Norma data for 302-B in post #6, you will see the Norma 203-B data is very close to the Reloader 15 Sierra data.

[slamfire1]

I have had to do this, and my advice, be cautious and work your way up. I also use a chronograph. If I can, I will shoot commercial or ball ammunition and build a load that equals the velocity, under the theory, given a suitable powder, the pressures will be the same, or less.

Obviously don't try to load Bullseye or Titegroup in a rifle case. But in a case like 7.62 X 54R, and powder in the IMR 4895, IMR 4064, IMR 4350 range will work well, and not be over pressure if the velocities are less than or equal to commercial ammunition or ball.

The best people are the Customer Service at the powder manufacturer's. Good place to start for suggested loads that not are in print.

And there may be reasons some loads are not in print. With today's pressure testing equipment, they can now see fluctuations in the pressure curve with some combinations that they could not see with the old copper crusher equipment.