7.62x54R... did I oops?

[weezil_boi]

I have been shooting some ugly ammo out of my mosins for awhile now. Im sure its corrosive and looks like a ligher projectile... 147-ish.

Not sure of the origin/maker... I got it crazy cheap years ago... when the ammo was insanely cheap. I got a big rubbermaid tub of it in exchange for a staple gun Id say it was in the 2500 rds ballpark.

Over the years, Ive shot most of it. I had no interest in reloading for the 7.62x54r since so cheap. Now that Id like to try it... I need some brass.

My last time out, I save a handfull of these cases for kicks. Came home and took a closer look at them. I always thought they were steel case-copper washed or something. Ive been tossing them.

They are 100% brass. I polished one up... nice and shiney. I took a hack saw to one to see if full brass... yup.

Now... my big question... is any of the old mil-surp ammo reloadable? This stuff has an "86" headstamp.

Please tell me I didnt blow it. I only have about 100 rds left.

[Brasspolisher]

You may be able to look yourself in the mirror if it's Berdan primed (and it probably is). If it's Boxer, hang your head and cry -- Win brass was about $40/100 when I last bought some (several years ago).

In either case, that's a heckuva trade -- just remember all the good times you had running through it!

[huckberry668]

Boxer cases are reloadable and Berdan are not. Berdan case has 2 little flash holes and boxer case has 1 flash hole in the center. You probably have Berdan cases judging from your description.

[MKfan]

Sounds like Albanian light ball, that's some good stuff and hard to find. It is Berdan primed so it's not worth reloading but it is worth scrapping at the recycler

[gunboat]

Actually Berdan is quite reloadable -- However, primers are hard to find and the process is time consuming -- In years past, many cases were not available in boxer ammo such as 6.5x55, 7.35carcano, 11mm mauser, etc but berdan primers were generally available -- I still have a small stache --A few cases even lend themselves to being converted to shotshell primers.

[mif_slim]

Actually Berdan is quite reloadable -- However, primers are hard to find and the process is time consuming -- In years past, many cases were not available in boxer ammo such as 6.5x55, 7.35carcano, 11mm mauser, etc but berdan primers were generally available -- I still have a small stache --A few cases even lend themselves to being converted to shotshell primers.

lol, thats what I've done with some of my 54r's that were berdan primed.

Only ones I found so far that are reloadable are S&B and Winchester. One time I found about 200 rounds of winchester 54r at the range!! That was like winning the lottery! LOL.

[Stryfe76]

Actually Berdan is quite reloadable --A few cases even lend themselves to being converted to shotshell primers.

Care to elaborate?

[hlcarbine]

lol, thats what I've done with some of my 54r's that were berdan primed.

Only ones I found so far that are reloadable are S&B and Winchester. One time I found about 200 rounds of winchester 54r at the range!! That was like winning the lottery! LOL.

what range? It was probably my brass that I didnt pick up, lol

[gunboat]

Stryfe76 -- Repriming berdan - two general methods of removing primer, 1-hydraulically with a close fitting rod in the case mouth and case filled with water -- messy but effective. 2- tool, claw type affair that digs the old primer out. Takes a bit of fiddlin' and you mess up a few cases. Priming requires the correct size priming pin - there are a half-dozen diameters of berdan primers.
Converting to shotshell - depending on size of old berdan primer, drill out case for shotshell primer, forget drill size, slightly counterbore case for the flange on the shot shell primer -- and Bob's your uncle --
There are even a couple cases that use a berdan primer slightly smaller than a boxer primer that can be converted, 7.35 carcano comes to mind -- remove old berdan primer, mount on a spud, bullet diameter, mash the berdan tit flat which will close off the two flash holes. Make a flat nose drill .208-209, drill out new primer pocket and drill a new flash hole -
All of these procedures are time consuming and only reasonable if modern boxer cases are not available. In the late 50's and early 60's a lot of these surplus weapons we now enjoy just had no boxer cases available and when the surplus ammo ran out necessity was the mother of invention --
my ha-penny

[Bigtwin]

I do sometimes just shoot some old milsurp, no reloading for it though.
I have just been buying Winchester Metric ammo for about $18 per 20 or Prvi Partizan $16 per 20, saving the brass and reloading it!