new 7.62 x 54r load from Hornady!

bamaranger

New member
If you haven't seen it, Hornady is offering a "steel vintage Match" load in the x54r caliber. I was much anticipating same, but was disappointed to learn that the slug was going to be the heavy 174 gr variety.

My hope was that they'd offer a steel case load using the 150 gr/.311 SST bullet, much like thy've done with the 123/x39 rd. The Romak3/SSG-97/PSL rifles (like mine) are set up for the 150 gr bullet weight and heavier slugs are not recommended. Sigh!!!!!!!!

But you Mosin shooters have a new option. Maybe we will see a tipped .311 slug as a hunting round yet!!!!!!!!
 
The best option still for Mosin shooters is to handload...
$30/box for STEEL cased ammo?
Are you kidding me?
 
My hope was that they'd offer a steel case load using the 150 gr/.311 SST bullet, much like thy've done with the 123/x39 rd. The Romak3/SSG-97/PSL rifles (like mine) are set up for the 150 gr bullet weight and heavier slugs are not recommended. Sigh!!!!!!!!
Appartently 150grain SST vintage match does exist, just not sure if past or present. It's definitly not on their website, and I've only seen brass cased 150grain SST rounds for sale.
From a recent AR15.com post:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_4_54/141232_Hornady_7_62x54r.html&page=1&anc=top#top
Brass cased 150grain SST:
http://www.sgammo.com/product/hornady/20-rd-box-762x54r-hornady-150-grain-sst-ammo-80497
 
Maybe would be worth the money if they made it with brass casings instead of steel. Handloading is the only way to go for cheap precision Mosin shooting
 
expensive.....but i WANT! It seems like it'd be a pretty formidable hunting round and something i can finally test the long range capabilities of my 91/30.
 
.311

I've not measured any, but Hornady shows the SST bullet as .311 in diameter.

Don't know abouit the 174 "match" bullet. But......given the wide range of Nagant bore dia's, passing a .308 dia slug as .311 is pretty foolhardy, especially if its a 'match" round.

I want to trust Hornady that its .311 or at least larger than .308.

KLRANGEL... I saw the brass cased SST ammo on line for the first time last night while searching the whole business, thanks.

tobnpr, if your're loading for x54r, where are you getting affordable cases?
Lapua and Norma don't count, my PSL/ssg eats brass and the quality stuff is not a bargain, destroyed after 1-2 uses.
 
I bought some s&b 174gr match ammo a couple years back and its very good ammo. I killed a doe at 200yrds + and she dropped where she stood. I think I paid $25 or so per box. I use brass cased bulgarian for plinking and the s&b if I decide to hunt with one of my mosin's.
 
Not sure of recent offerings from Hornady, but their fifth ed. (2000) manual lists only .308 diameter bullet data ....... The only .311 component bullets Cabela's stocks are Sierra 150gr GK's .... that's what I plan on stuffing back into the Prvi PPU cases I have emptied thus far .... anybody have any experience/data with/for this?
 
We discussed this at length recently on the Mosin Nagant forum...
The Hornady 80158 steel "match" ammo uses the #3131, 174 grain .3105 FMJBT bullet.
http://www.hornady.com/store/303-Cal-.3105-174-gr-FMJ-BT/

That bullet is designed for .303 caliber rifles, so I don't know about the cannelure being correct as far as seating depth for the Mosin...

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/mosin-nagant/133203-well-weird.html

Price is ridiculous even for brass ammo- it's downright insane for steel case.

Anyone that's truly serious about accuracy from their Mosin- as in CMP matches as Hornady touts in their advertising for this- would be handloading anyway. I think it's going to be a poor seller...

I can make more accurate (specific to my rifle) ammo with Sierra MatchKings for .50 round- about 1/3 of the cost of the Hornady ammo.
 
I've not measured any, but Hornady shows the SST bullet as .311 in diameter.
The 150 grain? I was going off of their reloadable bullets on their catalog. Only 150 grain SST I saw was under .308. Hornady has been known to use bullets in their complete cartridges that are not available as reloading components.

Agreed it won't be a hot seller. Probably a nitch market for the people who don't reload, but want to shoot something a bit better out of their rifles then surplus or Prvi.
 
Agreed it won't be a hot seller. Probably a nitch market for the people who don't reload, but want to shoot something a bit better out of their rifles then surplus or Prvi.
That's a pretty big niche, what with brass cases hard to find and expensive.....

I am saving my Prvi cases ...... Norma's are outrageous.
 
Buying factory Prvi isn't very expensive, and 7.62x54r seems to last a a while when neck sized.

Hornady isn't stupid though. If they are making it, it will probably sell.
 
I've bought loaded Prvi ammo just for the brass. Kind of a waste as the ammo shoots like crap outta my rifles...

Been looking for their brass for three or four months now, and NADA...

Their loaded ammo is the cheapest option for "brass"...S&B is more $$, and I can't stand their brass because of the overly tight primer pockets.

I've been told that Hornady uses S&B brass for this ammo, as they don't make their own.
 
I've found the heavier loads don't shoot very true compared to the Soviet rounds and the lighter rounds. The heavier loads tend to make you sore too after a while. Anyone who's ever shot the 200gr loads out of a stock mosin can attest to that
 
Mosin Nagant Will Do The Job

If you have a good Mosin, and I mean, one that is in and of its self an accurate true shooter then shoot anything you want you will kill it! I am a WV hunter and I had taken deer with a 30-30 and a 30-06 from 10 years old until I was 18. When I turned 18 I purchased a Mosin 91/30 at a gun show in the summer. That doe season I took it out (I had the extra doe stamp). Dropped the first doe FLAT she never moved after the trigger was pulled. That was roughly a 80 yard shot in dense trees, vines and brush. So, thinking I got luckey went out for the second doe. Shot at her on the other side of a valley at least at 110 yard shot. She was facing up hill eating. I hit her square behind the shoulder. That is usualy a kill shot that involves some tracking. She fell, got up literally fought to go 10 to 20 yards and dropped! Both of these shots through and through with Russian Surplus Ammo! The gun is chambered for one of the most powerfull rounds ever concieved it never fails to drop a deer. I hunt with that same mosin, iron sights and all every deer season and have for the last 20 years. Iv even taken a black bear with it a few years ago. He wandered on to my neighbors farm and was going for a calf all I had close and ready to shoot was the mosin. Shot the bear in the neck he never made it back to the treeline. If you want to kill it a Mosin will get-er-dun!
 
The gun is chambered for one of the most powerfull rounds ever concieved it never fails to drop a deer.

Not quite sure about that part but it is more than adequate, especially if you are used to using a 30/30...
 
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