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7.62x54r 123gr FMJ reduced load?.
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:19 am
by snayperskaya
Since I moved my AKM on I have a quite a few 123gr PPU FMJ bullets and Viht N120 powder and wondered if the two could be combined to produce a relatively mild low recoil round
Following Dromia's excellent advice I have a very nicely performing 54r reduced load using N120 and a 200gr cast bullet but has anyone got any first-hand experience of a 54r load using a 123gr FMJ/N120 combination?.
It would be for short range (100m) plinking more than anything to use up the 123gr bullets I have left.
Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated

Re: 7.62x54r 123gr FMJ reduced load?.
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:25 am
by dromia
As always I would refer you to Mr Harris's article in the library.
4-6gns N320 should work but if abusing your rifle with condom bullets I would just check on start pressures first.
Re: 7.62x54r 123gr FMJ reduced load?.
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:27 am
by Alpha1
I have only ever used reduced loads with cast bullets. Adam is your best bet.
Re: 7.62x54r 123gr FMJ reduced load?.
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:45 am
by snayperskaya
dromia wrote:As always I would refer you to Mr Harris's article in the library.
4-6gns N320 should work but if abusing your rifle with condom bullets I would just check on start pressures first.
Thanks Dromia, I did read back through it to see if I could glean anything
I don't really want to buy another powder, if the N120 won't work for this purpose I'll just use it for my cast load.I have a load for 123gr FMJ using N140 so I'll use the bullets I have left for that rather than try anything potentially risky.....better to be safe than sorry

Re: 7.62x54r 123gr FMJ reduced load?.
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:54 am
by dromia
You could just use the N120 load with the condoms.
Just thought from your post that you were looking for a lower velocity load.
The N320 load isn't dangerous just condom bullets being of a more abrasive nature than cast they generate more friction in the bore so need a higher start pressure, the worst that will happen is that they won't clear the muzzle and need to be knocked out, Quickload for example will give you the start pressure needed for a particular bullet/load.
Re: 7.62x54r 123gr FMJ reduced load?.
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 1:18 pm
by mag41uk
I have used 123gn fmj and N120 in 303 for use on ETR ranges.
Very pleasant to shoot out to 300 yds