The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Hey guys.Thought of a real good question for a newbie to this forum.What's the best 7.62x 54r ammo to shoot in a 91/30?I'll be anxiously awaiting everybodies answers!Thanks

Commie surplus. Relatively cheap still, and it's what these rifles were made to shoot.

millman wrote:Commie surplus. Relatively cheap still, and it's what these rifles were made to shoot.

+1. The best stuff as far as cost is concerned. Just be sure to clean your rifle right after shooting!

As much as I get to the range I don't shoot surplus any longer. It's not worth the hassle to me to have to worry about cleaning right after and the price difference gap is narrowing to the point it's just not worth it.

Learn to roll your own. Cheaper and waaaaay more accurate. It isn't rocket science.
Jon

Ok,thanks for the into guys!

This is 2016, in 2005 I would have gone on about the merits of this type of surplus ammo over that type, probably mentioned arsenals in five or six commie countries. Now I say the best ammo is whatever you can find and afford to pay for, the surplus is rapidly drying up and you would be lucky to find dealers stocking one kind rather than the selection we once had. You want the perfect round for that rifle then you will have to work up your own handloads until you hit the bullet, case, primer, and powder combination that shoots best in your rifle. The surplus ammo that remains will all shoot pretty much the same, adequate but don't expect Olympic champion performance.

The best is the cheapest surplus you can find.

Haven't seen any "cheap" surplus. Been buying Brown Bear from Academy and Tulammo from Walmart as well as S&B for brass to reload later on if needed.

I love the red army standard if you can find it. Could be just me but I feel the groups I get with that are the best. Tried brown bear Tula etc. I used to shoot surplus (whatever was available) but agree with the above posts that for the price point I'd rather shoot non corrosive.

musketjon wrote:Learn to roll your own. Cheaper and waaaaay more accurate. It isn't rocket science.
Jon

I agree with this whole heartedly. 7.62x54r is one of the easiest to reload on my press. Doesn't take that much time or effort and you can put together a really good quality round for not a lot of $$$

My preference - as far as accuracy is concerned (both are loaded with 200 gr bullets): For plinking either Sellier & Bellot or Prvi Partizan 180-182 gr FMJ factory loads (both are good ammo at a very reasonable price), if not in the mood for the necessary cleaning required when shooting corrosive surplus.
148 gr LPS surplus from USSR (factories 60 and 188), Czechoslovakia (bxn), Bulgaria (factory 10), Hungary (factory 21) and PR of China (factories 61 and 71) are more or less all the same and well-suited for having fun. Hungarian 182 gr silver-yellow tip mild steel core heavy ball or yellow tip lead core HB are also great stuff for plinking - especially when shooting them from an M44 carbine

So, I think the consensus is that "it doesn't matter". Shoot what you are comfortable with and what falls within your budget. Just know what you are buying and follow the appropriate cleaning regiment. Corrosive ammo requires a rather immediate rise with water to wash away corrosive salts in the bore and chamber from the primers, prior to a more detailed cleaning at home. This is no big deal if you are accustomed to shooting black powder guns. Many of us experiment with different ammo. Bottom line... enjoy your rifle and keep her clean.

Thanks everyone for your inputs!

qz2026 wrote:So, I think the consensus is that "it doesn't matter". Shoot what you are comfortable with and what falls within your budget. Just know what you are buying and follow the appropriate cleaning regiment. Corrosive ammo requires a rather immediate rise with water to wash away corrosive salts in the bore and chamber from the primers, prior to a more detailed cleaning at home. This is no big deal if you are accustomed to shooting black powder guns. Many of us experiment with different ammo. Bottom line... enjoy your rifle and keep her clean.

Correct....any "best" question is always subjective.

Lotema wrote:

musketjon wrote:Learn to roll your own. Cheaper and waaaaay more accurate. It isn't rocket science.
Jon

I agree with this whole heartedly. 7.62x54r is one of the easiest to reload on my press. Doesn't take that much time or effort and you can put together a really good quality round for not a lot of $$$

And Lotema always seems to be spending about half the time I am cleaning after each trip to the range. He shoots his reloads & I shoot Russian surplus. His groups are almost always better than mine too so +1 on rolling your own. Cheaper, burns cleaner, and is more accurate than surplus once you dial in a load that your 91/30 likes.

Like yellow tip in m444 or D166 in m39. If you bought it cheap and stacked it deep, thats the best ammo.

My 91/30 shoot best (around 2" or better @ 100yds) with 180 grains commercial rounds from S&B or PRVI. It does not like the 150 gns offered by PRVI (my M44 shoot best though with this bullet with same group size at same distance) or my stock of 148 gns surplus light ball. The surplus light ball prints around 4" at best at 100yds. Shots are from bench with optics (scout set up and completely reversible) to compensate for my 60 year old eyes! Saving the brass from the commercial loads for future reloads.

Unless you can find Surplus Cheap I would go with the PRVI. Isn't worth the hassle of cleaning for a couple dollars. Hold onto your brass in case you start reloading. If you are never going to reload pass it on to a forum member who does. For the record I don't reload, at least not yet.

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What hassle? It takes me two minutes to heat a cup or two of water in my electric tea pot, pour it down the pipe, and then clean as I would any rifle with Hoppes 9. Corrosive smokeless cartridges aren't black powder, black powder takes time to clean, scrubbing is involved, corrosive surplus is just a little salt in the bore, washes right out and the heat transfer to the metal makes it easier to lift the regular fouling.