Correct 7.62x54 Bullet Weight

bombsaway

April 24, 2003 07:00

There is a lot of surplus 7.62x54 ammo out there, and almost all of it has mild steel core projectiles weighing 160 gr. or less.

I get the impression from literature that most of the military Russian and Finnish arms were intended to use heavy 200 gr. bullets for maximum accuracy. I am referring specifically to 1891, 91/30, M39, and M44 Moisens, and the VCT 40 Tokerev.

My range is 400 meters. Any opinions as to what is going to give the best performance?

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  rordog

  April 24, 2003 19:21

  I can't quote you any sources, but I believe that ammunition with 154gr. bullets was standard in Mosin-Nagant rifles during WWII. When the cartridge was first developed it had a round nose bullet somewhere around 215gr. Sometime after the German inspired spitzer revolution, bullet weight was decreased.

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  ammo guy

  April 25, 2003 18:32

  The 7.62X54R round in the military loading has generally two bullet weights in the ball configuration, the "light ball" is 150 grs, most of this ammo will have a mild steel core, there is also a "heavy ball" that is 180 grs, this round is ofter ID'd with a yellow color code.( Note a yellow and silver color code indicates heavy ball with a steel core).Some of the 150 gr will have a silver color code to designate it, most will have no color code in ths 150 gr weight. Several companies load 180 and 200 gr in the soft point version.

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  bombsaway

  May 05, 2003 08:15

  Thanks Ammo Guy, that is also my take on it. What drew my attention was that the Finish authorities seemed to have adopted a 200 gr. projectile for the M39 rifle, but I have never seen any military surplus around in that weight.

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