7.62x54r 174gr Varget Loads?

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I have here some 3031 (I think that's the number) Hornady 0.312" RNSP.

Being able to find Varget locally again, I'm starting loads with that.

Not much data, but the stuff I find is conflicting and for use 0.308" bullets.

My 91/30 rifle shoots well with 0.308" to 0.312" bullets. It slugs at 0.3095" (average of five sluggings). It is tight for a Mosin.

The throat is fine for up to 0.312" but no more.

I figure to start at 42 grains of Varget and work up 0.5grn at a time. I have five 42 and five 42.5grn loads made up, and will fire those tomorrow. Am getting ready to make up some 43grn and 43.5grn loads tonight.

I think I will consider 45 grains max. This is under what Hodgdon lists as max, but it's about 1.5grns under what Hodgdon lists as max with their 0.308" bullets.

Figure there has to be an accuracy node in that range.

Thoughts? And has anyone worked up loads for 174grn bullets and Varget in 7.62x54r? What are the loads you find work best?

Regards,

Josh

[EmmaGoldman]

Those loads are pretty similar to what I'm loading in .308 Winchester. I don't know if that means these are sensible loads or not.

This is a secret message.

[Pthfndr]

I've used 46.6gr with no issues even here in Sacramento in the hot summer. So work up loads to that. Sweet spot will likely be between 45-47

[Noonanda]

Hodgdon website info

From the hodgdon website, you can use this data as starting data for .310-.312 sized bullets just work up your loads.

Cartridge: 7.62 x 54R
Load Type: Rifle
Starting Loads

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Maximum Loads

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Bullet Weight (Gr.) Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure

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110 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.715" 51.0 3016 34,700 CUP 55.0C 3200 39,900 CUP
125 GR. SIE SP Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.715" 51.0 2967 37,400 CUP 55.0C 3139 45,700 CUP
150 GR. NOS BT Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.875" 47.0 2721 38,000 CUP 50.5 2985 46,400 CUP
165 GR. BAR XBTC Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.950" 45.0 2581 39,800 CUP 48.3 2727 46,000 CUP
180 GR. SFT SCIR Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.975" 43.0 2409 38,400 CUP 46.5C 2575 45,900 CUP
200 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.950" 41.0 2304 41,500 CUP 44.0 2412 46,000 CUP
220 GR. HDY JRN Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.830" 40.0 2178 42,300 CUP 42.5 2269 46,000 CUP

[Hunter47]

I've used 46.6gr with no issues even here in Sacramento in the hot summer. So work up loads to that. Sweet spot will likely be between 45-47

Rob is right on. I shoot with Rob in Sac and I use 45 gr. of Varget. No issues what so ever.

[Josh Smith]