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Well oomans, those scribblers at "Sporting Rifle" (Oct 2013, pp75-76)have reviewed one of our favourite canned bangs, the 7.62x54R. Interestingly, they share our view that it is better than 7.62x51 NATO and even go so far as to quote Lapua stating it is a more accurate round.

*Wanders off to poke ovenpaa and ask some questions about modifying a P14 to &.62x54R*

meles meles wrote:Well oomans, those scribblers at "Sporting Rifle" (Oct 2013, pp75-76)have reviewed one of our favourite canned bangs, the 7.62x54R. Interestingly, they share our view that it is better than 7.62x51 NATO and even go so far as to quote Lapua stating it is a more accurate round.

*Wanders off to poke ovenpaa and ask some questions about modifying a P14 to &.62x54R*

why would you bother? the Ruskies built a perfectly good rifle to go with the round

Ah yes, almost. We have an excellent Noise Magnet, a 1907 model with a Czarist stamp, then Communist overstamps from 1940 when it was partially converted to sniper standard but not completed. (New barrel, new laminated stock, trigger improvement but no scope mount) We suspect it was rushed back to the front ... We've had it completed so it now mounts a Ukrainian scope. It's very accurate for the first three rounds - a tight cloverleaf group at 100 yards with ironsights or about 3 to 4 inches at 300 yards with the scope, but after that the barrel seems to get warm very quickly and the group opens up to around 6 inches. Our thought is that a P14 with a heavy stainless barrel would make a significant improvement...

A round is no more accurate than the rifle that it is fired in. Therefore 7.62x54r is no more accurate than any other .30cal round. As to converting a P14 to 7.62x54r you will probably find that the P14 bolt face is too small to accept the 54R case head. Good luck in you quest.

The 7.62x54R has a 0.564" diameter rim. We understand P14s have been modified to take bigger than that, eg, efferlump cartridges for use in Afrikky, but ovenpaa will know best.

P14s have been chambered in many calibres for large game and most of them have been rimless. Look at the back of P14 barrel and you will see the cut out for the extractor and small lug. Good luck getting a 'smith to convert a p14 into a larger rimmed calibre.

Hmm, and how much difference is there betwixt the rimmed 303" round and the 7.62x54R, ooman ? Only a smidgeon, we thinks...

I have a lovely new .303 Epps reamer here as an alternative to 54R.

kennyc wrote:

meles meles wrote:Well oomans, those scribblers at "Sporting Rifle" (Oct 2013, pp75-76)have reviewed one of our favourite canned bangs, the 7.62x54R. Interestingly, they share our view that it is better than 7.62x51 NATO and even go so far as to quote Lapua stating it is a more accurate round.

*Wanders off to poke ovenpaa and ask some questions about modifying a P14 to &.62x54R*

why would you bother? the Ruskies built a perfectly good rifle to go with the round

Russians?
The FINNS made a perfectly good 7.62x54r rifle...

More than 3 shots' worth ?