7.62x54r improved Latest report with pics

[Grimstod]

A fella on Facbook has been developing this 54r wildcat for some time now it has 24% more capacity and is a real screamer on MV. I would like to make one myself just cause it sounds fun. Trouble is when you fire form brass like the Lapua stuff it gets shorter. To short really. So I suggested trying some blanks that have long extended brass necks. Then trim them down after fire forming them. Thing is the blanks from PPU appear to be too hard. Unlike the Lapua stuff they crack easily. Any idea guys?

 

[dedogs]

Re: 7.62x54r improved fire forming problems.

Could you fire them first in a proper chamber and then anneal?

 

[Grimstod]

Re: 7.62x54r improved fire forming problems.

That is a good idea. Primer pockets so far seam to be tighter.

This is another alternative. Thing is I cannot find any distributors that carry them.
http://www.prvipartizan.com/bbcases.php

 

[2506]

Re: 7.62x54r improved fire forming problems.

If you will take note the reason that Lapua cases end up too short is because they are short to start with. They are 7.62X53 NOT 7.62x54. They do this shorter case to get by with the laws against using a military caliber in their country. Stupid isn't it!

 

[dedogs]

Re: 7.62x54r improved fire forming problems.

TR&Z Trading 2499 Main St., Stratford, Ct. 203-375-8544 E-Mail: info@ppu-usa.com

 

[mr45man]

Re: 7.62x54r improved fire forming problems.

You could have a reamer made to match the brass.
John H.

 

[Grimstod]

The speed results are in. They are amazing. Done with IMR 4350 and 150gr Boat tail Hornady bullets. The crony was tested against other ammo with know MV.

 

[jonbearman]

There was an article just a short time ago showing a cartridge being developed with almost no neck, basically just enough to hold the bullet and accuracy was good with no neck to speak of. It was in the daily bulletin as I recall. If you had a reamer made with the short neck what would the down side really be. I know that most of us like longer necks for obvious reasons. However some of the finest cartridges got started as a wildcat that you are experimenting with. It should be called the 7.62 x 54r grimreaper with that muzzle velocity you could hunt anything you wanted to in north America. Stay with it grimstod as you and the others may be on to something very interesting indeed.

 

[Grimstod]

The necks really could be longer. And the chamber design can support a longer one. Existing brass though when fire formed becomes a little shorter. Only after a few more firings will it get long enough. I would like to get lapua to sell me custom 54r brass that is longer but they said they cant. Have tried some of the PPU blank brass that is cut longer but it is to hard and cracks every time.

 

[ERGJ]

Try annealing the PPU as a first step, then do any prep work to get them ready to load, then anneal again before loading and fire forming. Perhaps this will stop the splitting of the necks.

 

[Joe R]

I would anneal any brass before fire forming.

Could 30-06 brass be adapted? But then the question is how would it be better than a 30.06?

 

[Grimstod]

With a 06 base of the brass is much smaller. Plus you have to build off a long an room rifle.

 

[Just1Spark]

I gave it a go with the blanks. And it worked perfectly. Emptied the powder out of them. Deprimed them.
Then annealed and fired in the 54r Improved chamber. And now full length brass.
My first time anealing, so you can see the far right one def got to hot. I wont be using these for live ammo, without further practice and measuring the brass thickness throughout.

 

[Zero333]

I gave it a go with the blanks. And it worked perfectly. Emptied the powder out of them. Deprimed them.
Then annealed and fired in the 54r Improved chamber. And now full length brass.
My first time anealing, so you can see the far right one def got to hot. I wont be using these for live ammo, without further practice and measuring the brass thickness throughout.

With the Lapua brass... When forming in the wildcat chamber, are you jamming the bullets hard into the rifling to help steady the brass while it's being blown out ?

I would stay away from the blank's brass. It's unknown quality, and who even knows if it's safe with full power loads. Stick with Lapua for safety sake's.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

What about 303 British brass?