Russian collusion

[madsenshooter]

I loaded 38gr of the Russian powder into PRVI .303 brass that I'd previously used in one of my Krags. Used Federal 210 primers. Since the Russians left me a nice crimp groove, I decided to put a slight rollcrimp in them. OAL is 3.065". If I loaded the bullets in Krag brass and seated them to max magazine length, I'd only get .035" closer to the throat. Hopefully the improved ignition and more consistent powder charge will help. I've used the bullets from the light and heavy batches, keeping the 173 point somethings for later. They were in the majority.

[madsenshooter]

I'm afraid that US primers and slight reduction in charge didn't help much. If my target would have been a groundhog or pop can, I'd likely have hit it. The powder used wasn't what they use in 7.62x54R, seemed to be closer in burn rate to 3031 or Accurate's 2015. ODNR responded to my cat track pictures. They responded by disking, seeding, and putting straw over them! Talk about a cover up!

[madsenshooter]

I'm sorta having fun with these components, something to tinker with while the majority of my reloading equipment still sits in boxes. Next trial was some of the Russian powder, 38gr, with the 173gr Russian bullets loaded in PRVI .303 British that had previously been fired in a Krag then full length sized, vs some max length 30-40 cases that I made from PRVI .303 British blanks. Both were loaded to the same max magazine length of 3.10". I used CCI #34 primers for both loads. Bullets were +/- only a few tenths of a grain. The 30-40 cases shot a slighter smaller group, but as you can see, both had a flier out of the group. I was able to see by primer condition that the loads made from the full length blank cases produced a bit more pressure than those made from shorter .303. They were neck sized only after previously being fired in a Krag. I noticed that the inside of the case necks were gray, rather than the black I saw with both the Russian DDNP and Federal primers. For what I have remaining, I think I'll reduce the charge another grain, the bolt was getting sticky at the top of the stroke with the full length cases, which by the way are now over max length. Pretty good 100yd performance from a 122yr old rifle, a 70yr old 6x scope, and non-match grade components!

[madsenshooter]

I had 46 bullets remaining, those with the least variation, and I have them loaded with 37gr of the Russian powder into neck sized cases from my Camp Perry rifle, which I know has the tightest chamber of my rifles. The cases were from Camp Perry last year, and there's not much weight variation in them either. Again I'm using the CCI#34 primers. Before the temperatures drop I'll get out and use them for some position shooting from my .310" groove diameter long rifle and post the results. I'd guesstimate velocity will be 2400-2500fps for the 173gr bullet out of the 30" barrel.

[reincarnated]

While you were weighing the Russian bullets, did you check diameters? Variations are not limited to weight. One more variable!

[madsenshooter]

They were very consistent .310" diameter, though I didn't measure them all.

[reincarnated]

I had 2 of those big Russian spam cans full of 7.62x54R military ammo (ordinary ball) in packets of salmon-colored paper tied up with string. More than 400 rounds per can.

Exercise #1 was to see if they would all chamber in my M39 or SA-marked 91/30. They would not all chamber.

Exercise #2 was to pull about 250 bullets and measure diameters. Very few less than .310". But many were .311 a d .312. Some were as large as .315. Cartridge cases with the fat bullets would not chamber in either of my rifles.

[madsenshooter]

One could run Russian bullets through a Lee push through sizer, but I prefer to use the throat of the rifle. My K31 has a very tight .3055" groove diameter barrel, but it shoots .308 bullets very accurately. As long as load development is started low and worked up, and the load is used in the same rifle, I don't see a problem with slightly oversized bullets. I have a bullet I pulled from 7.62x54R, Silver Bear ammo. 147gr, but it is just as long as the 173gr bullets I have been shooting. It strongly attracts a magnet. It is .3108" diameter. A .315 bullet is about max diameter for my Krags.

[reincarnated]

The fat ones do well in my 7.7 Jap. A rifle for every type of bullet.