anybody got any load data for 5.45x39,how about 7.62x54 picked them up to play with but need some load info cant find much,surplus ammo is cheep but would like to roll some to see how good i can get them,bobby

-- bobby (bobbydickey@hotmail.com), July 27, 2003

Answers

Hodgdon has reloading data on their web site for the 7.62x54R.

-- Tim Tingey (tbrytin@comcast.net), February 20, 2004.

Reloading the 5,45x39 Is ok, But the 223, 5.56 is a lot cheaper and easyer

-- Mike Gilardi (MAG24920@YAHOO.COM), January 31, 2004.

If you're buying "surplus" ammo, pretty much forget about reloading. Military ammo in these calibers is steel-cased with Berdan primers, both of which either complicate or negate reloading. I don't know of any company that makes brass-cased, boxer-primed commercial ammo or brass for the 5.45x39. I think you might be able to find commercial reloadable ammo for the 7.62x54R made by Norma. Be prepared to pay for it! Not cheap! For reloading info, the Lyman manual includes data for the 7.62x54R. A suggested starting load of 50 gr. of IMR 4350 in Norma cases with Remington 9 1/2 primers and a Remington 180 gr pointed SPCL bullet seems reasonable. CAUTION! Make sure your rifle is safe to shoot (good idea to have a gunsmith check headspace, etc. and give it a clean bill of health before shooting any ammo). CAUTION 2! Any substitutions of reloading components may cause unacceptably high pressure, leading to case-head separation or even destroying the rifle (and shooter). I suggest if you want to reload this caliber, get yourself a Lyman manual and stay away from maximum loads! And DO NOT TRY TO RELOAD STEEL-CASED AMMO (if you aren't sure, test the case with a magnet)!

-- Bob Chattin (surbat6@earthlink.net), November 25, 2003.