7.62x54 R FMJ?

Question

Hi. I have 800 round of 7.62x54R with metal jacket. I'm thinking to pull the bulets & replace them with hallow point 308 , 160 GR & 180 GR.
is it safe to shoot ?

I live in California. target shooting is not alowd in forest & metal jacket ammo's are prohibited in shooting range.

case is brass

The Rifle is a Mosin M44

Answer 1

NO
You never try to reuse unknown components.
You need to know the powder burn rate, mix the wrong powder to the wrong bullet and you got your self a pipe bomb.
You don’t know the chamber pressure that this mix could result in.
The 7.62 x 54R is usually over .310 diameter and you will be using a .308, at best when reloaded the right way you will probably see your accuracy poor at best.
Before you do this get a reloading manual on the 7.62 x 54R and reload as to instructions you need to replace both powder and primer to be safe to match the reloading data in the manual.

That a lot of money and work to get low accuracy ammo don’t you thank.
Do it the wrong way you well could be paying a lot of money for a hospital bill if you live.

Do you have any reloading experience?
Do you have the reloading tools as in press, dies and bullet puller?

If the answer is no to any one of these, you would be better off buying ammo you can use at the range.
And just save this stuff for a bad day if it come your way.




D58


Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 2

maybe yes, maybe no. I assume the rounds are surplus, and you did not say what type of crimp.

If the shell is steel, no way, do not !!!!

Many people do use 308 bullets in the 762-54 but it is under size and may affect accuracy. There are .310-.312 bullets available. You have no idea what the load was work to, so dump the powder and get some loading data for the bullet you want to use.

The type of crimp can also determine if the shell can be used as is or need to be reworked.

But why? There is hunting ammo available from many sources. Use the 800 round for targets and get something you can count on for hunting.

Answer 3

I own a rifle that shoots the 7.62 x 54R. I have tried to reload with a 308 but your accuracy will be way off. I want from a 3 to 4 inch pattern from 100 yards to 6 to 8 inch pattern with very little consistancy. You also have to look at the surplus rounds you bought. I have bought surplus rounds before and they dont reload very well with a 308 round. I'd say spend the money and get a 308 rifle. It would probably be safer. What kind of rifle do you have that shoots the 7.62x54r?

Answer 4

If that's Commie Surplus, not only is it metal jacketed it's also likely Steel Core armour piercing. That's why the ranges prohibit it....it will punch through 1 inch steel plate, plus all their range hardware.

I have pulled the projectiles and replaced with cast lead bullets for silhouette shooting, which is all that's allowed with good results. Don't spend too much on the bullets, as you will not get match results, but it's good for target fodder. I think .308 is too small as was noted....

Answer 5

Well, since the case is brass and you can't use metal jacket ammo at the range, then go for it.

Remember to measure the bore of your rifle and know what you're doing before you attempt to replace the bullets.

Answer 6

Much ado over nothing. Be safe, not sorry; use the fmj or plinking and target shooting and go buy some commercial reloadable brass for hunting; if you are into reloading.

Answer 7

Why don't you just sell the ammo out of state and use the proceeds to purchase some bullets and brass to load some hunting ammo.

doc

Answer 8

You would be better off just buying commercial hunting ammo, and using the surplus as target ammo. Also the surplus ammo is not re-loadable. Just buy commerical ammo and then you can reload them, assuming that you do infact reload. I myself use commerical soft points when i hunt with my MN(s)

Answer 9

D58 has it
unless you want to risk a rifle coming apart in your face then the answer is no.
uknown powder+unknown pressure= possible hospital stay or worse

Answer 10

Using the powder that's in them, it's probably a disaster in the making. If they're steel cases, it won't work. I won't say absolutely no, but chances are very slim, and you'd best know what you're doing.