Newbe with a question

[notalwaysmoden]

Hi Folks, new to this forum and to the MN but not to shooting. Recently picked up a 91/30 to use as something different and to have as a loan gun that could take up the slack in a users hunting /shooting skills. I do know that the price of the surplass ammo is not all that high but I enjoy reloading and currently do so for my .303B, .270WIN and .223REM. Was thinking of doing so for the MN as well at some time, yes I know that some of the shells available are Berdan primed but so are some of my .303B cases and I have a tin (1000, less a few) primers and a little jig that works well on the Brit so do not expect a problem with the Russian. Question, do the 7.62 x 54R behave like a .303B, I suspect that the same chamber tolerance thinking was used and if so is it better to just neck size the cases rather than full length resize.

Next question if I might pose two in the same posting; Current case stock is steel, how long might one expect the coating to last and what do you do to replace it if needed. I do realise that Boxer brass would be easier but I am one of those who like a challenge, as well as been to stingy to just throw something away. Looking for some interesting replies.

[john_the_plinker]

I reload for the x54 round but all I've used is boxer brass. As far as the neck sizing question vs. full length, I set up my dies to use the case shoulder instead of the case rim for headspacing, sort of a partial full length resize. Works good, I've used it for years on rimmed cartridges, including a 30 Krag with known headspace issues. Brass lasts much longer than full length and the rounds will chamber in most rifles. I think that all the steel cases use a .217" primer, but there is some that uses a smaller size. There is also some brass cased surplus, Yugo in particular that uses the same size primer.
For your last question, I have heard of people reloading the steel cases. Case life was very short, about 2 loadings, and usually the necks split. All the coating is for is to prevent rust, so even if it was gone it wouldn't be a problem unless the ammo was exposed to moisture.

[musketjon]

Resizing the steel cases will drastically shorten the life of your loading dies. It really isn't worth the effort and/or wear factor to reload steel cases.
Jon

[Ironnewt]

Go to Graf's and son's and buy a bag of new 7.62.54R unloaded unprimed brass. You will get so much more use out of the brass and never tear up your dies as you will with the once fired steel cases.

[RickW]

Most of your steel cased rounds are berdan primed. These aren't the same kind of primer as boxer and from what I understand some people have torn their dies up trying to pop these primers out and replace them with boxer primers. It also requires a special die to get these out as they have two holes on the inside of the primer to get them out instead of just the one hole like boxers. It would be a whole lot easier to buy some boxer brass and reload with it. I was lucky and found some Lapua 7.62x53R on sale. The 53R is a little shorter but it all works good.