ShootnMathews wrote:Grindl wrote:I've noticed ; from reading a lot of your posts , that you tend to load on the "soft" side on many loads . Is it based on your preference for FPS/muzzle velocity in relation to barrel length ?
Or have you found that "magic" number that works in that particular rifle ? Inquiring minds want to know .

I shoot the charge weight that groups the best out of my gun. Regardless of the speed. I have found that a large number of Mosins seem to have an accuracy node Around 2400 fps. Some a little faster, but around that. Which IS on the slow/low side of the charge bracket for a Mosin. Some of my other guns are loaded to the high side, my Marlin 243 is loaded above book maximum. That's where it groups best.
I agree with Jared - I've hand loaded for over 40 years for rifles I shoot a lot. The best performance is gained through experimentation. Pick a good quality bullet that you can afford to buy. I would suggest the 174gr SMK in boxes of 500 [closer lot numbers]-- figure out what powder you want to run and buy 8 lbs. The reason for buying large amounts is less variation in batches, powder or bullets. I use old school IMR4350. It has some limitations as to not liking the cold. I don't like the cold either so it doesn't matter.
Run "Latter Tests" and load 5 rounds 1 gr different to start with. I started at 48gr and stopped at 56gr IMR4350. As you shoot them you should see the grouping close up and then open up again. Where it closes up is the "SWEET SPOT" for that particular barrel. Then after you find the Sweet Spot you can fine tune it by .01gr at a time to perfect it further. You can see in the picture that my Sweet Spot is at 50gr and my fine tuned load is 50.3gr. I achieve a velocity of 2350 FPS.
You can buy a one cartridge load manual off EBay called Loadbooks for 762x54r.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-62-x-54-7-62x ... 43bdc97a2b -- Its less confusing then a complete manual and the information copied from standard reloaders books from Lyman - Lee - Hornady - Sierra so it can save you some money over buying all the complete books.
Be careful using someone elses load data -- vet it before you shoot it.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
I walk in the foot steps of Carlos Hathcock -- to my end.