Gonna test/compare some lots of 762x54 this wknd...

[SteelCore]

I'm going to my buddy's range this weekend, and after reading about Henry's Mosin M-39, and how some ammos work better in some mosins than others, I'm gonna compare 3 or so milsurp 762x54Rs. The test rifles wil be:

M-91/30, 1938 Tula
M-91/30, 1939 Izhvesk
M-44, 1944 Izhvesk

The ammos to be evaluated will be:
Czech Heavy ball steelcore, 172gr
Czech Light ball steelcore, 147gr.
Hungarian light ball leadcore, 147gr.
Bulgarian light ball, 147gr (If I have any left...I'll have to 'czech';))
--ETA___: I'm gonna hit the local store and see if I can pick up some Wolf and some S&B or something to test as well

I'm hoping to get some digi-cam pix of the results.

Targets will be at 50yds, we'll shoot off the bench. If I can talk him into it, we may move back and do some 100yd shots as well (the berm's slumping, so that's really based on his comfort level with shooting at 100yds, or his plowing the berm up a bit higher).

I'll post results.

I'm curious to see what the differences are, both in grouping, and in elevation diffs, and to see if one kind works better in one rifle than another. the 2 91/30s will reveal it this is truly the case. Hopefully, 50yds is enuf dist for the ammo and rifles to start showing variances, if any.

[The last ammo compare we needed 100yds to tell the diff..in that test, the Kimber bolt gun shot SAfrigan and Cavim...they grouped similarly, but the CAVIM seemed a bit underpowered, hitting 2-3inches lower than the POA...SAfrican was right on)]

[tomoshenko]

I have 2 m-44s a 38 and 3 91s.
The Czech 147 grain silver tip is the most accurate in all of them.
Two of the 91s have Huber concepts adjustable triggers set ever so light.
Too light for anything but bench shooting

The Albanian 147 gives nice big fireballs out of the shorties though :-)

[SteelCore]

but shot from the 91/30 only, from the bench.

50 yds, 85 deg, light tailwind (under 3mph), 80% humidity.

Ammo--shot 5 rounds of each, from a sun-warmed bbl...rifle warmed up in the sun for a few hrs.

Czech Light ball steelcore, 147gr.
Czech Heavy ball steelcore, 172gr
Hungarian light ball leadcore, 147gr
Brown Bear heavy ball leadcore FMJ, 180gr.

First off, I got inch or less groups out of each kind, if you count the 3-4tightest shots of a 5-rnd course.

The clear winner was the Czech Heavy ball steelcore, 172gr. with all 5 fitting under a quarter, and two holes touching. (Too bad I can;t find this stuff anymore) It is also the hardest kicking of the rounds tested, with a crisp jab to the shoulder. It is hot!

More on this later. I have to get a pic of the target and analyze the rest of the grouping data.

Sufice to say, I didn't think the other ammo types differed much in the way they shot thru the 91/30...I think the Hungarian came in second, and the others were a tie. I therefore did not think the Brown Bear was worth 8 bux fer 20, when I paid 10-15 cents a round for the other stuff. This may dispel the 'ammo type matters in the Mosin' myth for me.

I'll duplicate the ammo test with the M-44 next week. I shot it recreationally that day to get it warmed up, and I seem to shoot it better offhand standing than off the bench...(I hit a small can of silly string at 50 meters with it that I just could not nail with 5 rounds off the bench thru the 91/30!)

More testing to follow. There are also a few other 91/30s to which I have access. I'll take a trip to a big sports store to see if I can find a US maker of the 762x54 to add to the mix.

Also, I'm thinking the groups might spread out a bit more at 100yds, so future testing may includs shooting @ 100yds.

[SteelCore]

OK, I got my digi cam going now, and I'm gonna post a pic of the target I shot with these rounds for group testing. The target is marked up wit my notes and everything.

[Player]

i just saw this post. i'm looking forward to the results

too bad ammo prices and variety aren't like theway they were a year ago

[SteelCore]

I need to get a higher rez pic of it...the groups were shot at the bottom baddie target.

The groups each had a diff aim point so they would not overlap too much.

Hi-rez pic with legend of markings tomorrow (sorry to keep ya waiting, Henry)

[nevada]

Interesting. Whose front door were those nailed onto?

[SteelCore]

Ammo tested was:
Czech Light ball FMJ steelcore, 147gr.
Czech Heavy ball FMJ steelcore, 172gr
Hungarian light ball FMJ leadcore, 147gr
Silver Bear Heavy Ball leadcore FMJ, 180gr

OK...the Silver Bear are the holes marked with a black slash (\) and a black circle.
czech light ball is marked with a black / only.
The czech heavy steelcore is marked with red and black circles.
The Hungarian is marked with green circles.

The aim point for each group was different, to keep overlap down.

You can read the data and make up your own mind on what group is nicer...me, I like the 172ge czech, steelcore, but it jammed my M-44 so bad with the laquer case that I broke the extractor getting it out. I don;t use it anymore.