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

Saturday went OK, but was it was tricky as my usual point of aim (for my usual jacketed load) was completely off - I only made an extra 5 of the starting loads for each caliber; so with open sights and a fresh to strong wind it was difficult to get into the center of the target - After the first five (not recorded) I'd just about got the elevation, and just had to stick with the same point of aim and attempt some sight adjustment after each 5...which is why they're all over the face of the target.
Shots 1-5 were with 20 gn of Viht N120 (I was still struggling to get the forsight in the right place under the target, which could explain the vertical spread?)
6-10 were 21 gns (shot 10 may have been me)
11-15 were 22 grns (all within 1 min of elevation)
16-20 were 23 grns (no real group at all?)

So 22 grns looks promising...I was thinking of sticking with that for now and continue testing with different seating depths...?

The Mauser loads went well, but I lost my discipline (wanted some bulls-eyes) and shot all 20 just trying to find the right aiming point (no windage adjustment on the M96) - the 15 gn loads didn't seem to shoot particularly well, but the 5 each of the 16s and 17 gn loads all held the 4 ring...

...they seemed to shoot very nicely, so I'll go back to the Tunnel range with my scout scope on and test loads between 16 to 18 again properly.

25gr Accurate 5744.
Will you never learn, Grasshopper?

I'd like to stick with Viht - It's worked well for all my other loads, and I've got a reliable supplier only 15 mins away...

I'm also happy with the boolits - I batch weighed the .303s and they were pretty consistant...there were a couple of light/heavy ones, but the vast majority were within 2 grn; which I've batched into 2 x 1 gn groups...

...I haven't got many of the 6.5s left...so I'll be PMing you shortly...

Looks like you have potential there. well done.

The actual powder doesn't really matter it the burning rate that is important, I'm quiet relaxed about powder choice so long as it is in the right speed area for my application.

I was testing some loads for my 30-40 Krag yesterday, powder used was Ramshot Enforcer, why choose that powder becuase that was all I had with me in the burning rate I was wanting to use and it gave me the results I was looking for as would VV N110, IMR4227, Alliant 2400 etc etc.

Chasing the bull is never a good idea, I always shoot for group as that gives me the score ring potential of the load it also gives me the main point of impact which then tells me what I need to do to get the rifle shooting to the centre.

For military rifles that used in competition I used to make adjustable height foresights by grinding the blade of a spare base, having it drilled and tapped to accept a 1/4" or so grub screw that could be turned up or down and sealed with locktight or if you want to be sophisticated a horizontal locking screw can be drilled, tapped and fited to hold the vertical foresight screw in place.

Nowadays I just cut a strip of tin can, probably steel or aluminium in reality, epoxy onto the back of the blade and reduce 'till I get on for the load.

The SMLE is OK as I've got gradual height adjustment and reasonable windage adjustment on the rear sight - It's the Mauser that's the problem, which as you know has just very basic elevation adjustment - I bought a spare front blade and spent considerable time filing it down until it was perfect for a 'tin hat' target at 200 yards; and zero'd the windage using a sprocket puller (which works well for Mauser front sights)...

...but then a some folks have got me into cast boolits, and I'm having to start again! razz

That's a good idea making an adjustable front sight, but I'm not sure my skills are up to it - Also, they're getting really strict now at the Trafalgar about the 'spirit of the original'...I put a bit of red paint on the for-sight for shooting snaps and rapid last year, and the RCO commented on it...I pointed out that they did have red paint during WW1, but he still wasn't keen on it...

Sticking a bit of tin can on could work though; and once it's at the right height I could then use the measurement to file down a spare blade... for the tip

I've already come to the conclusion that neither my loads nor POA will be perfect by this years Trafalgar...but I'll have it all bang on for next year...

What velocities were you getting in the Swede.

Also I'd try for a fatter boolit, what does the freebore on the rifle measure at?

The load we were shooting on Sunday was 18 gns of N120, which averaged 1778 fps and a 19 spread - to be fair we were shooting at 300 yards (optimum is going to be 200), but even with the scout scope on we could only hold the 3 ring, and with no obvious group...in similar conditions we have easily held the 4 with plenty of bulls previously...

I got the Lyman cast manual; and it does suggest we are at the lower end of the load (even accounting for an M38 being used) for the burning rate, and both myself and my old man thought they were a bit 'limp' (bit smoky too) - I was thinking of testing 19 and 20 gns, but from reading about loading for the M96, there's evidence to say that you can't push casts much past 1800 fps in the Swedish due to the twist rate...?

It might just be the boolit. As Adam said previously its all about boolit fit. I take it you did slug the bore. Sight adjustment when using cast boolits with milsurp rifles is all ways a bug bear for me.

I would get a good fitting boolit and aim for 1500 -1600 fps and work up from that.

On the Swede here is another post I made on another forum recently responding to someone starting out on the Swede journey.

"The problem with the Swedes and cast boolits is the fast twist and long skinny bullets easily deformed before they get fully into the rifling and supported.

So long as you keep your velocities to under 1800 fps you should be allright, you will just need to see what velocity works in your gun before accuracy dissapears.

Also getting good boolit fit to the freebore is a sound approach and an impact cast will help you there.

Getting a mould that drops a good sized boolit used to be a challenge although in my Swedes the Lyman 266455, 266469 and 266673 moulds all shoot well in my Swedes dropping at .266 which is undersize for my rifles but then I'm only driving them at 1600 fps.

NOE have some good 269 designs that work well for me as do my now discontinued BRP 6.5 moulds.

NOE have a GB discussion on their forum for a version of the 266469 which should be going live in the not too distant future. So plenty of good moulds to choose from there.

For these velocities I use VV N10, VV N120, Ramshot Enforcer or any other powder with a similar burning rate, as always use published data and work up you loads for your guns."