The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I've only got 2 more opportunities to shoot at 200 yrd before the Trafalgar - they're on consecutive days in three weeks time (like bloody buses :P ) - fortunately the Saturday is local...so I'll use the once-fired PPU cases, neck sized, and start the tests from the lower powder measures; as you suggest - I'll then have to load again (concentrating on the better results), for the next day...should be a good weekend...I'll let you know how it goes

I've decided to just use the Mauser for the precision courses of fire this year; and stick to the SMLE for the rapid and snaps (the action is better for that anyway) - so just about have enough 140 SMKs left to complete the testing and the Trafalgar...

...after that though I'll try the smaller bullets (good idea!) - with the Mauser having no windage adjustment (have just ordered a taller (+2) front post to sort the elevation), it will be zeroed for no wind...the faster lighter bullets could mean less aiming off on a windy day (?)....

Were did you order the front post from.

Alpha1 wrote:Were did you order the front post from.

From an American seller on that well known auction site...at a ridiculous price for a little piece of metal!

At the moment, with the elevation at 300 (the minimum), I'm having to shoot about 18" low! - Ideally, I need to shoot a couple of inches below the black on a 'tin-hat' target...hopefully the taller front sight with give me the adjustment to get this spot on....

Libertytree collectors stock Swedish mauser and German mauser front blades and they ship to the UK .

I stock Swedish mauser spares inc. front sight blades...

idge wrote:Libertytree collectors stock Swedish mauser and German mauser front blades and they ship to the UK .

That's them

I got to do some more testing this afternoon - but as it was my last opportunity to practice before the Trafalgar, I shot with open sights (200 yards) some from a bag and some from a sling...so the results in terms of accuracy are inconclusive....

I used the once fired PPU factory cases, neck sized only - even on the lowest load, there wasn't any sooting past the shoulder...so that's solved that issue...but shame about not being able to use new brass...

All were seated to 3.050 - deeper than the 3.110 in the Vhit manual, but not as deep as the PPU factory.

I tried 5 with 36.5 gn of Vhit 150 - the recoil still felt more than the factory, and there were ejector marks on 1.

Then 10 with 36.0 - they shot nicely, and no ejector marks.

Then 10 with 35.5 - as above.

Finally 10 with 35.0 - These were the first to feel 'mild' in comparison to the factory, and seemed accurate...so those will have to do for the Trafalgar


It's been very much guess work without a chrono, and when I get the opportunity I'll stick the scout scope back on it and try some more rounds around the 35.0 gr mark for proper accuracy.

I've put at least a hundred rounds down the Mauser now, and have only just sorted the sooting and ejector mark problems, with still proper accuracy to be sorted....so is it a difficult rifle to load for...or am I just crap at loading? :P


Cheers again for your help Adam, I do have more questions, but they can wait a few weeks :cheers:

And Hans - Thanks for you comments (sorry I missed your post before...)

Hello Dougan,
Have you checked the boldface for burrs at the slot where the ejector
passes?
I have lapped my boldface with verry fine lapping compound just enough
to remove some high spots/burrs.
This solved my issues with galling the cases at the base.

In the Dutch national championship last week i used reloaded ammunition.
36 grain Vithavuori N150.
PPU 139 grain molycoated bullet.
PPU fully prepared case,once fired and necksized.
Federal 210M primer.
This load was good enough for me to keep me in the target.

Good luck.
With friendly regards.
Hans.

hans wrote:Hello Dougan,
Have you checked the boldface for burrs at the slot where the ejector
passes?
I have lapped my boldface with verry fine lapping compound just enough
to remove some high spots/burrs.
This solved my issues with galling the cases at the base.

In the Dutch national championship last week i used reloaded ammunition.
36 grain Vithavuori N150.
PPU 139 grain molycoated bullet.
PPU fully prepared case,once fired and necksized.
Federal 210M primer.
This load was good enough for me to keep me in the target.

Good luck.
With friendly regards.
Hans.

Hi Hans,

Good thinking about the ejector marks, but they are raised, showing the brass molding into the slot.

Thanks for the load info, I don't know the primer, but it appears you are at the lower powder end too...

'The Dutch national championship'! - how did you do?....there'd be quite a few folk on here interested in a 'range report' on that

I shoulda gone to specsavers.

I read the title and it said Sewdish masseur