Comparing loading data for the Swedish Mauser

[Dougan]

I did actually measure the jump on my Swede, and was impressed that it was half of that of my SMLE...but like you say, the bullet would have already left the case...

Thanks for posting the data - I'm not sure about double base powder for the rifle, but do definitely want to try some lighter bullets.

[dromia]

Try away but from my experience you will get no benefit even at 200yrds, the beauty about the the 6.5 bullet at 140 grns is its length, less weight = less length = poorer BC = bigger jump = etc.

Also lighter bullets don't help towards good powder combustion.

You need to try it anyway to know, why listen to me.

[Pudding]

Dromia - I agree. As I mentioned, I only bought the 123gr because that was only what Krankies had in stock at the time. Not my first choice by any means. Seem to have found a more reliable supplier for 139gr now...

Cheers

Harry

[Dougan]

why listen to me.

I don't know why you say that; as I take your advice very seriously and appreciate it.

I am, as you all endorse the Scenars, going to try a few this Saturday - I'm wary though, and won't be trusting the Viht Ed.8 data...I'm going to try the starting load from the Lapua site that Alpha1 posted.

Alpha is also sending me some other 139/140 bullets to try - And while I fully take on board and agree with what you guys are saying, I'd still like to try some 120s out of curiosity...though I'm prepared to persist in finding an 'accuracy load' with either 140 SMKs or 139 Scenars.

There's another factor that complicates it, in that I share the rifle with my father (he also thinks you talk a lot of sense...but then he is getting on a bit razz ) - Now apart from the fact that he's even less experienced at loading than I am, he is also a Yorkshire-man...so if I'm not here there's no way he'll use 40p bullets for plinking...

...which still leaves me needing to sort out a nice cheap and safe load that he can do for himself...

[dromia]

If you want a cheap plinking load at plinking distances, say out to 2 perhaps 300 yards then cast boolitsre the way to go if you can get then cheaply enough. Lyman 266469 cast at at least 0.269" and sized to 0.268", gas checked, with an alloy of 12-14 BHN should do well up to 1500fps velocities in the military twist Swedes. Look at the Harris article in the library for a tried and tested base reference starting point.

Out to 600yrds cast boolits will give target accuracy without anything special other than boolit fit and a good QC regime for the cast boolits in the military Swede.

Personally with a good rifle bore and aperture sights and selected boolits I'd be dissapointed with a 2" group at 100 yrds and expect something at the 1 1/4" group with good load development, vertical stringing will be the problem for the magic 1" consistently repeatable goup due to consistent powder placement in the cartridge. Kapok/dacron and such like fillers can help with this problem but would rather not go there. I am still experimenting with Pufflon and such like fillers and whilst getting good esults on the targets I don't feel my limited sample is evidence enough to its safety over the long term use.

Lloyd E Brownells work on pressure factors on reduced loads has always informed me, as printed in Wolfe Publishng's Firearms Pressure Factors book. A worthwhile read for all students of internal ballistics and a seminal collection of work based on a series of articles in tha Handloader publication in relation to SecondaryExplosion Effect (SEE) from reduced loads.

[Dougan]

I read the Harris article when it was first posted and do find the idea of cast boolits interesting...and me and my dad have talked about it for the Mauser and the SMLE...but we've by no means mastered basic reloading yet; and it would be another whole different ball game...

...we'll be seeing you at the Phoenix - Perhaps it's time to have a serious chat about it...it'd be cool if you could show us some of the filler (that Kaplon and Pufflok stuff) and explain the powder/filler loading process...

...and yes, I know...I need to slug my bore! razz

[dromia]

I can tell you now what my answer would be about fillers, don't even go there.

If you get a good boolit at a good diameter for your rifle, I would say a 140gn+ say a 266469 design, sized, lubed and gaschecked to a 0.268" diameter seated with a 2 thou neck tension over 19 Gns of VV N120 would be a good starting point for medal winning 200 yrd shooting at the Trafalgar if you do your bit.

Remember accuracy shooting with jacketed bullets is counter intuitive, you make rifle to fit the bullets.

Whereas with cast you make boolit to fit the rifle.

Cheaper, easier and more fun, Should be a no brainer, but then that is the nature of the species, always take the difficult route.

[Dougan]

As I'm only looking for 200 yard accuracy, it does make sense - If I make an attempt at measuring the bores of my SOWRs, could I get some samples off of you or Rog at the Phoenix to try?

[Alpha1]

Measuring your bore is not difficult we can explain how to do that. Loading for cast boolits is different you need to read up. Your pills will be in the post tomorrow.

[dromia]

Dodgy casts the commercial boolits.

I only cast for myself, that way I get total quality control.

For the vast majority of cast boolit shooters the commercial mass produced products gives them what they need.

Arcane shooters like me need even more control of my components than the factories can deliver so I have moulds made to my specifications along with alloys to fit my rifles and applications. I can have many rifles and make boolts to fit them rather than the current thinking of making rifles to fit the bullets.