The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Why would surpluss ammo be less accurate? Just from what Ive read on here seems like surplus is less accurate at the range.

Because it was made in vast quantities in cheap ass communist countries where quality control was probably not the best. It is "good enough" ammo. Fun to shoot, but not the same quality as handloaded or commercial ammo.

What type of handloader do you guys use.

i have a lee anniversary kit. I think it was around $90 shipped. You will need a few other things but that is a good start.

I have been using RCBS reloading equipment since the 80's. It is tough, precise and easy to use.

The best surplus ammo I have found is from the Russian 188 factory (Novosibirsk), mid-1970's manufacture. It is consistent and accurate. I get no misfires. They make current production, non-corrosive ammo from the same factory today. It is also very good.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx? ... groupid=40

http://www.lveplant.ru/pages_en.php?id=07

Yugo brass case, or Czech silver tip was the best for me, Hungarian light ball not far behind.

I realize I'm the new guy around here but i'm going to weigh in on this one. I reload for 7 different calibers and can't reload a rifle caliber for 20 cents per round, which is what you could get this stuff for if you search hard enough. I love reloading, it is a passion, but I'm not going to reload this caliber.

Just buy a tin can of the surplus stuff and clean your gun after every outing.

Cranky CJ wrote:I realize I'm the new guy around here but i'm going to weigh in on this one. I reload for 7 different calibers and can't reload a rifle caliber for 20 cents per round, which is what you could get this stuff for if you search hard enough. I love reloading, it is a passion, but I'm not going to reload this caliber.

Just buy a tin can of the surplus stuff and clean your gun after every outing.

Not a bad choice. You can certainly get surplus cheaper. I bought a set of 7.62x54r dies (RCBS) on a whim at a gun show and I'm having fun with it. I am tailoring some light loads for my M38 carbine. I also shoot a lot of surplus, but I like my "carbine" ammo for plinking. I also use the same diameter bullet (.3105) for my Enfield rifles in .303. I can't find any cheap ammo anywhere for that caliber. It is nice sometimes to shoot non-corrosive where I can wait for a day to clean without the risk of my rifle becoming a rust bucket.

Welcome to the forum CJ , I reload as well, right now I do 8mm Lebel, and several black powder cartridges, I aquired the die set, and it sits waiting for the day when surplus ammo goes away. I will go in time as we shoot it up, and the Red's aren't making any more that they will sell us cheap.
Now, as for this- " clean your gun after every outing."

Junk Yard Dog wrote:Yugo brass case, or Czech silver tip was the best for me, Hungarian light ball not far behind.

The Hungarian light ball is what I prefer... Maybe because I have a lot of it.

I still have a spam can of it left, I found it to be dirty shooting ammo, but accurate, and surefire, I had four cases of it I think, maybe five.

One of the reasons that some surplus is inaccurate is it is cheap machine gun fodder. Bullet sizes range from .307-.314...not the best for great accuracy out of an M/N.