New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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I thought I was lucky when a week or so ago I was able to snag a 440 round sealed case of 7.62.54r ammo for $65 (strip tease of my opening that case in the Gun Porn thread...), but now I'm seeing it all over for that price of just a bit higher.

I have enough surplus (in case of zombies, you understand), and most of what I shoot are reloads. But, heck. I might just for kicks and giggle snag yet another case. I mean, they grouped fine for me at Chabot, not as good as reloads, but totally within one minute of zombie. These are from 1947 (most likely) and they all went bang.

Anyone taking advantage of this new development?

CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack

Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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No, where'd you get it? Only spam cans I've seen of late were at AIM for $89 (got one too).

I really want to find a couple of spam cans of x39 that I can afford as well. It's too easy to start burning through lots even at 10 rounds a time with an SKS ;)
Live like you will never die, love like you've never been hurt, dance
like no-one is watching.
Alex White

Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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There's some on gunboards' forum right now. I think the one I got came from another guy on surplusrifle forum, but all the milsurp sites have guys who are trying to unload all the zillions of "Obama gonna git yur ammo" stuff they bought during the "crisis." The guy I bought from probably still made bucks. Works for me.

CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack

Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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senorgrand wrote:Both the Mosin and SKS have been pushed down my wish list since I have a reloading setup and there's no CA rifle ban.

However, I still have an itch for a TT33, so if you'll ever come across a spam can of 7.62x25, let me know!

Seems crazy to reload for a bottle-necked pistol round....
Once you start reloading regularly you will find it crazy to buy any ammo. Two weeks ago I stopped by a pit to scrounge for brass, this time of the year is good because people sight in their rifles for deer hunting, I found an empty box for Federal fusion 762x39 ammo, did some svavaging and found all 20 cases. If I can find 5 more boxes I will consider buying a set of dies and a CZ bolt rifle in that caliber.
"Hillary Clinton is the finest, bravest, kindest, the most wonderful person I've ever known in my whole life" Raymond Shaw

Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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PSA has the non-corrosive poly-coated Tula for $4.39/box. I'm waiting for my SKS to arrive before ordering 20 boxes. With shipping, it should still be under $5/box.

Also, is it worth it to pay 3 or 4 times more for brass? I know very little about reloading, but I was under the impression rifle brass is only good for 1 or 2 reloads. How many times are you re-using your brass?
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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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Aztex999 wrote:Also, is it worth it to pay 3 or 4 times more for brass? I know very little about reloading, but I was under the impression rifle brass is only good for 1 or 2 reloads. How many times are you re-using your brass?
I reload for two 91/30 Mosins. I load 160-180 gr projectiles in Privi brass (that I purchased for $.50 each) and push them to ~2200FPS. Most cases have been loaded at least 5 times and still look fine. I seldom have to trim them. I keep the cases separated by firearm ('35 Mosin has its cases, '42 has its cases). Others here may have different views but unless the cases are loaded toward the upper range of hotness they should last longer than 2 reloads.
My challenge in reloading for the Mosin isn't case life, it is casting projectiles that fit the bore.
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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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Aztex999 wrote: Also, is it worth it to pay 3 or 4 times more for brass? I know very little about reloading, but I was under the impression rifle brass is only good for 1 or 2 reloads. How many times are you re-using your brass?
Depends. If your firearm has a somewhat generous chamber, like some British SMLE (Small Magazine Lee Enfield) rifles in .303 British do, and you full-length size, then yes, your case life will be about that short. However, if your chamber is within SAAMI- or CIP-spec tolerances, the cases will typically last longer, and if you neck-size, you can get over 10 loadings out of Prvi brass in a Mosin. This is assuming you use sane loads and don't go too hot. Bear in mind that some loadings of 7.62x54R do in fact meet .30-06 ballistics, and also that Mosin actions are bull-strong. There are also others out there who've claimed 15 loading with 7.62x54R brass using C. Ed Harris's "Universal Load" for standard-size military .30-cal cases, of which the '54R is one.

The other reason to reload for a Mosin is that a good handload will turn a good Mosin into a very precise shooter. One of mine is sub-MOA with modern Prvi Partizan rounds.

That said, if you can find 440-round spam cans for anywhere under $80 these days, that's very good, and I'd highly suggest Mosin owners picking up some.
"SF Liberal With A Gun + Free Software Advocate"
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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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Aztex999 wrote: Also, is it worth it to pay 3 or 4 times more for brass? I know very little about reloading, but I was under the impression rifle brass is only good for 1 or 2 reloads. How many times are you re-using your brass?
I bought a box of 100 Lapua brass, and I load them in batches of 20. There are at least 40 still in the box I've not taken out, as they last quite a while. I'm sure I've gotten five or six shots out of each now, and I've not lost one. I don't push loads to the max, but I get about 2600 fps, so they're up there.

CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack

Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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senorgrand wrote:Why are Garands so tough on brass? Is it limited to 30-06 or the 308 rechambered frankenrifles too?

The ejection process is pretty vigorus, plus the case mouth gets dented & must be reformed each time. This flexes the brass and causes stress cracks. Positive ejection is mandatory for a military rifle!

None of this is a problem with a bolt gun.
Merle from PA


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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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All semi-autos are harder on brass than something that ejects based on your manual power - lever, bolt, etc - because it's powered but the action of the of the firearm. That said, some can be far worse than others. Roller-locked rifles (CETME, G3) require fluted actions to extract properly and that fluting destroys brass. From what I've seen you won't reload any of it.By that standard the M1 & SKS are pussycats to their brass.
Live like you will never die, love like you've never been hurt, dance
like no-one is watching.
Alex White

Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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senorgrand wrote:Do you think it's made to fling brass hard because it's a top eject?

Glad to know about the M1 and brass since cost of ownership is getting factored into future gun purchases.

Nope, my FN-49 ejects even more violently. I'm sure it is a military thing to ensure reliable ejection even when the rifle is dirty, or the ammo defective.

I will add that you are limited in powder types and bullet weights when reloading the M1. There are adjustable gas plugs available that are supposed to allow you to shoot heaver bullets & different powder types, but I have never used one so can't say how well they work.

An M1 is becoming a reloader's proposition, as the supply of surplus MILSPEC ammo is shrinking & it is a bad idea to shoot commercial hunting ammo in it.
Last edited by Merle on Thu Dec 26, 2013 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
Merle from PA


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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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wlewisiii wrote:All semi-autos are harder on brass than something that ejects based on your manual power - lever, bolt, etc - because it's powered but the action of the of the firearm. That said, some can be far worse than others. Roller-locked rifles (CETME, G3) require fluted actions to extract properly and that fluting destroys brass. From what I've seen you won't reload any of it.By that standard the M1 & SKS are pussycats to their brass.

That's not 100% true. I have known several guys that reload for the G3, but I will say the cases don't last very long.
Merle from PA


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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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I have found one of the downsides to the VZ-58, at the range anyway. I have recovered maybe 10% of my brass thanks to the upward/forward brass ejection........ Going to have to figure out how to mount a brass catcher on the damned thing. Or shoot more cheap ammo.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
- Maya Angelou

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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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shinzen wrote:I have found one of the downsides to the VZ-58, at the range anyway. I have recovered maybe 10% of my brass thanks to the upward/forward brass ejection........ Going to have to figure out how to mount a brass catcher on the damned thing. Or shoot more cheap ammo.

Perhaps you could rig up something that sits on the bench (or ground) to catch brass. I have seen some mounted on the gun & they were nothing but clumsy.
Merle from PA


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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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Merle wrote:
shinzen wrote:I have found one of the downsides to the VZ-58, at the range anyway. I have recovered maybe 10% of my brass thanks to the upward/forward brass ejection........ Going to have to figure out how to mount a brass catcher on the damned thing. Or shoot more cheap ammo.

Perhaps you could rig up something that sits on the bench (or ground) to catch brass. I have seen some mounted on the gun & they were nothing but clumsy.
Yeah, I've thought of asking my new range if I could throw out a tarp in front of my booth- can't hurt to ask anyway. I've got a gun mounted brass catcher for my AR, and it is totally clumsy. It works, but it's a pain in the ass.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
- Maya Angelou

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Re: New, easier availability of 7.62 Rooskie

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wlewisiii wrote:All semi-autos are harder on brass than something that ejects based on your manual power - lever, bolt, etc - because it's powered but the action of the of the firearm. That said, some can be far worse than others. Roller-locked rifles (CETME, G3) require fluted actions to extract properly and that fluting destroys brass. From what I've seen you won't reload any of it.By that standard the M1 & SKS are pussycats to their brass.
You can reload for CETME-pattern rifles. What really hurts them the most, though, is that the case mouths don't get dinged, but rather crushed, during ejection. I'm talkin' serious bending-in of the case mouth. The rubber "port buffer" that snaps on the outside makes it more like an M1 or M1A.

Since the original posting was about 7.62x54R, those with SVD's or similar semi-automatic rifles in this chambering will probably see similar brass ding-ups like an M1A. For such rifles, military surplus is a very good way to go, provided that the milsurp ammo remains inexpensive. As I mentioned, for the bolt-action Mosin, it's also a good way to go, but neck-sized brass will certainly last longer in a Mosin vs. full-length resizing for a semi-auto.
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