Surplus 7. While you can squeeze out reloads for about that same price, you can't actually reload for much less than that. So if you can't save money, and if reloading takes extra effort and time, why would you want to? Several reasons:. Surplus ammo is usually old, and wasn't usually held to particularly high standards of consistency to start with. Bottom line, if you want to get the best accuracy for the money, reloading is your best option.
Surplus ammo is highly corrosive. Don't even think about leaning your prized rifle in the corner for later cleaning when you get home tuckered out from a day of vintage shooting fun — you should have scrubbed the bore before leaving the range. I've poured plenty of Windex and sudsy water down Mauser and Mosin Nagant bores, and frankly, I'd just as soon leave that to less obsessive shooters. My conscience always challenges me in the middle of the night: Did I really get that Finnish M39 or pristine Mauser free of corrosive residue?
Shooting handloads built with clean-burning, non-corrosive primers and propellant leaves morals out of it — go ahead and neglect your rifle's bore; it couldn't care less as long as nothing is insidiously eating it from inside.
Open up a whole new world with your vintage rifle: Most surplus stuff is full metal jacketed FMJ and isn't really suitable for use on big game. Meanwhile, most match-grade ammo is loaded with thinly-jacketed, hollow-point match bullets; so if you decide to add to your winter larder with your 7.
It can be found, yes, but it's not common and can be pricy. On the other hand, handloading quality hunting ammo with projectiles well suited for big game is easy. Plus, you can load down with light bullets such as those designed for the 7. When reloading, the shooting world is your footstool. Other than your time come on — reloading is therapeutic!
So, how does one get started producing these accurate, clean-burning, authoritative, versatile reloads? Oddly, finding component bullets and reloadable cases is often the biggest challenge. Thanks to the plentiful surplus ammo available, bullet companies put low emphasis on building bullets for the 7. The cartridge is spec'd for a bore diameter of 0.
Most bullet-makers usually offer at least one or two appropriate projectiles, but on today's scene wherein said companies are struggling to keep up with demand on more common bullets, few take time to regularly re-tool for obscure projectiles. As a result,. Not impossible to find, but scarce. If you find some you like, buy a bunch. I've been hoarding a few Sierra grain Pro Hunter bullets that shoot well through my Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant — with five-shot yard iron-sight groups averaging 1.
Plus, Sierra's Pro Hunter is an outstanding hunting bullet. However, let's say you've scrounged up a quantity of good. Now you need reloadable cases in which to assemble all those goodies. Surplus ammo, in addition to being corrosive, is generally non-reloadable unless you get really creative, and I don't want to get into that. The primers are Berdan type, meaning that you can't easily replace them.
To do it right, you've got to gulp your medicine and fork over some cash for good brass cases designed for Boxer-type primers. The good news is that they'll last almost forever — the low pressures that the 7.
Conservatively, you should get 10 or more reloads per case. You can purchase cases in quantity on GunBroker , or sometimes get lucky and find them at your local gunshop. Once you've got all the ingredients stacked on your reloading bench, proceed as you would when loading any other bottle-necked rifle cartridge — with one caveat: don't push pressure boundaries.
There's no use harming your prized vintage rifle in an endeavor to milk an extra 75 fps out of your handloads. Reference good reloading manuals for data, and stick with it. In my experience, most 7. Decent reloads function through them pretty reliably.
Also, you don't have to full-length resize aggressively — often you can leave the sizing die out a half turn or even more and still size your cases down enough to chamber easily without working your brass quite as hard, which helps longevity.
The sides of this cartridge taper a lot, and a little less sizing can make a big difference. Above I touched on the recipe for my favorite 7. Here it is again, with some additional info:. I've had excellent luck with Sierra grain,. The gr SMK is usually excellent, of course, as well as the Hornady. They're expensive but are a world beater Always slug your bore to try to find the best match for an individual rifle. Loads tested from my '34 Tula PE sniper:.
Sep 2, 59 1. DV Sergeant Full Member. Apr 6, 0. Where is the loading data I see people using for. Full Member. Mar 29, 2, 83 Northern Colorado. I dont think it exists, all of my and loads are extrapolated. Sep 28, 5 6 N. I've done a few mods to the rifle but these bullets perform well so far.. Wannashootit Gunny Sergeant Full Member. Sep 3, 1, FL. Same, but my sweet spot is Nothing has shot better than the SMK's for me.
Feb 8, 0 71 Right Coast. I was going to load ammo for a friend with an SKS for a specific reason that I won't discuss chuckle. Great noise makers, but they're just not made for accuracy. Jan 23, 1, east central indiana. Slug your bore to find out what it really is. I've seen them go from. For most of them the. I know a number of guys shooting 54R in mosin nagants and also others shooting enfields in.
You'll find the selection of bullet weight, style and manufacturers will be much better here in the US for. The small difference in diameter doesn't seem to hurt anything and for most guys I know shooting them its been very very good. DirtyDave Sergeant Full Member. Jul 8, 3 Texas. I load. If yours will shoot.
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