RE: 7.62x54
 

check out www.milsurpshooter.net I believe they have a hunting with military surplus rifle forum that will have some information about hunting loads. I have a few Mosin-Nagants myself, but that akward safety scares me away from hunting with them.

RE: 7.62x54
 

At first the bore looked horribly pitted, but I noticed that the bayonet on the side that the muzzle would be on looked the same. I took a brillo pad to the bayonet and found the pitted looking area was just some hard sooty crud. The bore seems to give up more black gunk the more I scrub it, but is no where near shiny and smooth yet. The rifling looks almost rounded, but it might just be gummed up with crud.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms... who's bringing the chips?