7.62x54R bore size

[asquared19]

Good day everyone. I have a question regarding bore sizing on these rifles. I have a 7.62x54R Carbine that I haven't shot in ages. I always enjoyed shooting it, and now that I'm starting reloading, I want to reload for it also. I followed the process on slugging the bore, and found that the bore sizing was approx .316, which is definitely an oversize bore for this rifle, with the lands at .305. I checked a few of my mil surp bullets that it has shot well and they are .311, so I was planning on going that route. I know this won't be a tack driver, but would be fun nonetheless. In reading the below linked thread, a user recommended pitching the rifle if the bore is more than .312, but I'm hesitant to do this to be honest. Just a bit of nostalgia with it. Any recommendations? My brother used to reload for his 91/30 and gave me his dies, XMR4350, and a few brass cases, so frankly I would just need the bullets to get rolling.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I would load and shoot it.
Shoot for fun.
I've got a 91/30 that slugs @ .313+" in the grooves and is counterbored (Finnish capture SA stamped) and one that is .314+" and almost HAS lands
Well, maybe not that bad, but both are fun to shoot.
Wife has a Chinese carbine that lights up the night sky
312 bullets do OK in mine.
The old milsurp stuff shoots but reloads do better.

Take it out when the ARs are going pew, pew, pew and show them what a real gun does

The two new impacts on that 8" plate @100 yds are about an inch apart.

 

[DGP4]

Speer Hot-Cor 303 British (.311) 150 grain bullets work real well for me in all 3 mosins I own.

 

[Rocketvapor]

When the guys at my local range start talking about "kicks like a mule" I let the little wife show them

 

[Rocketvapor]

I think the Hornady 3135G, 150gr SST, .312" makes the Mosin carbine a good deer rifle.
Might be a discontinued bullet though.
I'd take your carbine out and see if it groups OK.
I've used IMR4064 (47gr) and IMR4350 (53gr) with the 150 SST and 150gr Prohunter with good results.
45 and 50 gr would be a good point to start and work up.

 

[ebb]

If the bore is too big to shoot .312 bullets guys at cast bullets are buying or having made a mold that makes oversized bullets the get a sizing die that makes a bullet that fits the bore and size them to fit plus a few thousands. They are saying that unless its just a sewer pipe and damages the bullets in the bore they can be made to shoot good.

 

[asquared19]

Thanks for al the insight. I'll get some pills coming (likely starting with .311) and give it a go. It is a fun gun to shoot, and the sound tuns some heads.

 

[D-4297]

I have three M-N's . Two are 91/30's . One is still in original condition, as it was purchased from a collection , and the other is still in original barrel/action condition , but changed over to a modern stock with a 6-24x50 Vortex HS-T added . The third is my custom built F-Open rifle I built just for grins , to see how well it would shoot set up with a .308 Bartlein 5r , 30" SS barrel . It has given me some very respectable high 190's with decent X count . Like a 199 -13x , 197 - 11x , and a 189 - 6x at the SWN a couple years ago . Though that wont win anything in that crowd , it did get some attention .

You might try looking at Hornady for Bullets , as they do have some 312's , and 314's if I'm not mistaken . Also look at some of the 182gr Mil-surp rounds , as some of them would go large diametrically . When the barrel does get shot out , Send me a PM , and I can fix you up with a used F-Class .308 Kreiger that you can have re-worked to fit your M-N . Just because it's not suitable for F-Class doesn't mean it's worn out . Far from it , and probably more accurate than what you have on there now . You pay the shipping and it's yours . Then you have access to all the .308 bullets , too .

 

[asquared19]

I have three M-N's . Two are 91/30's . One is still in original condition, as it was purchased from a collection , and the other is still in original barrel/action condition , but changed over to a modern stock with a 6-24x50 Vortex HS-T added . The third is my custom built F-Open rifle I built just for grins , to see how well it would shoot set up with a .308 Bartlein 5r , 30" SS barrel . It has given me some very respectable high 190's with decent X count . Like a 199 -13x , 197 - 11x , and a 189 - 6x at the SWN a couple years ago . Though that wont win anything in that crowd , it did get some attention .

You might try looking at Hornady for Bullets , as they do have some 312's , and 314's if I'm not mistaken . Also look at some of the 182gr Mil-surp rounds , as some of them would go large diametrically . When the barrel does get shot out , Send me a PM , and I can fix you up with a used F-Class .308 Kreiger that you can have re-worked to fit your M-N . Just because it's not suitable for F-Class doesn't mean it's worn out . Far from it , and probably more accurate than what you have on there now . You pay the shipping and it's yours . Then you have access to all the .308 bullets , too .

Very kind offer sir and look forward to taking you up on it.