First shot at 7.62x54R

[Livefast]

After waiting like an eager beaver today, the parcel finally arrived from Kranks with all the reloading supplies needed to feed my Mosin M44. I wasted no time in getting the package open and perusing the machined dies and shiny brass. The Mrs was out, so it would have been rude not to take the opportunity to reload.

Decided to go for a PPU 174gr .311 FMJBT bullet from Kranks over a charge of 27.3gr Hodgdons H4895 and a CCI 200 primer. This powder load is from the Hodgdons youth selection, as I have range limits to comply with. After setting up the dies the Lee handpress and other equipment worked as planned and in a few minutes I had a trial batch of ammo to try out my new rifle tomorrow.

I really am glad I 'upgraded' to the handpress, autoprime and powder measure, it is a revelation!

Can't wait to shoot them now

[saddler]

Black tips! Que....?

Added to the reference library yesterday.The Labbatt book on Russian/Communist 7.63-54 ammo; quite interesting as it mentioned a load I want to replicate, using 70-gr .32 FMJ bullets.

Need to get more brass first!!

[Livefast]

Nothing more exotic than to tell me that it's a youth load rather than a fireball rusky boom........Sharpies are amazing

Now that is an interesting idea, there's a .308 load for a 57gr FMJ at almost 4000 fps in the Lee book. Yes, after pistol cases the brass is eye wateringly expensive, need to find a mate who shoots PPU and throws it in the bin!

[Alpha1]

I really am glad I 'upgraded' to the handpress, autoprime and powder measure, it is a revelation!

You upgraded to a HAND PRESS what were you using before. You don't mention a scale.I hope you checked your charges on a scale.

[saddler]

I really am glad I 'upgraded' to the handpress, autoprime and powder measure, it is a revelation!

You upgraded to a HAND PRESS what were you using before. You don't mention a scale.I hope you checked your charges on a scale.

Scales?
Used to reload for years without scales....just used the Lee dippers & stuck to the powder/bullet weight data on the sheet that came in the Lee die sets. Made nice ammo

[Livefast]

I used to hammer those live rounds with a wonderful bit of kit called the Lee Loader and charged the cases with a box of dippers.........i'm almost up to this century now, i've even got a beam scale to weigh!

[ovenpaa]

Well done that man, now you need to get it down the range and enjoy some recoil

[saddler]

I used to hammer those live rounds with a wonderful bit of kit called the Lee Loader and charged the cases with a box of dippers.........i'm almost up to this century now, i've even got a beam scale to weigh!

Exactly what I started with prior to the Wamadet hand-held press.

[snayperskaya]

My first thought when I saw those black tips was AP!!!.

Glad to see the the Mosin bug has struck and the reloading is under way.

One question I do have is are you reloading for it as an extension to the hobby so to speak or to get more accuracy from it?.

[Rockhopper]

I started reloading simply because when I got my .303's there was no ready made ammunition available to buy anywhere. When i got my 7.62 it seemed obvious just to invest an extra £35 in a set of dies and reload for that as well.