7.62X54R Expander

[rexherring]

Does anyone know why Lee sends a .308 neck expander/decapper with their 7.62X54R dies. Any Mosin rifles need a .311-.312 sized bullet to shoot well. A .308 bullet just rattles down the barrel. I did go to Lee and ordered a .312 expander and got it quickly for about $8.00

the reloading info with the die set is also for .308 size bullets not .310-.312 size so pressures are quite a bit less than for properly sized bullets. I know that most people with old military Mosin rifles probably shoot cheap surplus ammo but I'm an avid reloader and also shoot a lot of cast for fun. I size my cast to .313 to fit properly.

[RBHarter]

I can't vouch for the 54s but there are several makers of x39s that use 308 bbls instead of 311. I don't imagine that there is a lot of demand for x54 rebbl much less in 308 dia. The other side is that die sets default to neck tension for jacketed bullets and will have necks sized sometimes a lot small for.a given cartridge and more so if a cartridge has a likelyhood for tighter or looser bores like the 303 Enfield and Springfield ,the 1917 has a 300/308 bbl while the Enfield is 303/311 sometimes if you happen on an untouched piece. My best reasoning .