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I'll get on to Rog about some boolits...maybe for the SMLE first...?

But in the mean time I've still got to sort out some condom bullets for the Mauser...

I had another try this morning, and the results were better, or at least safer...

The best batch were SMKs - COL 3.050 and 38.0 gn ...there were no ejector marks, but slight sooting down half the case...but at 38.5 one or two showed slight ejector marks...so will stick to 38.0 as a max for that bullet, and try a few very small changes to the seating depth.

The Scenars didn't cause the problems I though they would (not sure why I got that in my head..) - I tried them with 37.0 gn and seated at 3.150 and 3.125 - there were no problems pressure wise, in fact quite the opposite (?) as they sooted all the way down the case...so will work those up slowly and carefully.

Also Alpha's samples arrived today (thank you mate :cheers: ) - The Privi ones are the specific ones I wanted to try, as they're the same as the factory ammo (so could make a good plinking round) - And the Sellier and Bellot ones are very interesting in that they're the same size and shape as the Privi, but look to be of better quality...so I'm looking forward to trying them out next...

Take a magnet to those S&Bs, they had steel jacketed, copper washed bullets around a few years ago.

If the bullet jumps an inch to the magnet, is that bad....doh! :lol:

Thanks for the heads-up sir

Alpha...it's not a problem...there's still plenty of the Privi ones to try...

Finally got the chance to try the Privi bullets on Saturday...

I seated them to the same depth as they are on the factory rounds; which is significantly deeper than any data gives for Scenars or SMKs...

I tried some with neck-sized cases loaded with 38.0 and 38.5 gn of Viht N160 - both shot fine with no sooting beyond the neck, no ejector marks or any other indications of a problem...

...then, with not much confidence, I tried some with full-length sized cases - at 38.0 and 38.5 gn some still sooted down the cases...but at 39.0 gn they all 'sealed' at the shoulder (so no sooting), and had no indications of any problems

They all seemed fairly accurate, but will now get some more bullets and try with the scout scope on...if they prove accurate enough, it'd be a right result as they're half the price of better (balistically speaking) bullets, which I don't think would make that much difference anyway when shooting at 200 yards.


So, thanks again Alpha for sending those...you may well have solved my Mauser loading problem :cheers: