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Posted: 3/3/2013 8:43:37 AM EDT
| I've been loading cast bullets for a few different rifle calibers and trying out Unique. I'm getting a lot of vertical stringing, but the horizontal measurements are nice and tight. Powder charges are weighed so it's not a problem with inconsistent charges. I'm wondering if maybe I need some filler in the cases but I've heard horror stories of ringed barrels with filler. I'm shooting both straight wall (38-55) and bottleneck cartridges. |
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Lower velocity rounds can be sensitive to this. Maybe inconsistant hold on gun. Try to grip and hold gun same way everytime.
I have one gun that will not shoot using bipod. I removed bipod and used hunter hold resting on sand bags and problem went away. Hunter hold is when you grip forearm of rifle when shooting....that is what I call it anyway. Pistols can be very sensitve to the way you grip and hold. ... |
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These are fairly light loads, in a couple of different guns. One is a Marlin 336 in 38-55 and the other is a Finn Mosin. I only recently acquired the Marlin so I can't speak to its accuracy, but I've used the Finn to win a local vintage military rifle match a few times so I know it's a shooter with full power jacketed loads. I was thinking about it today and I realized I didn't really pay attention to cartridge position as I was loading the rifles, so I'm guessing on some the powder may have been at the front of the case and vice versa. With such light loads I bet that makes a difference. I'm thinking I'll try some Dacron filler to keep the powder position consistent.
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Quoted:
Might be better to go to a bulkier powder such as Trail Boss. It should be a better match for the case size. I don't know anybody who has gotten good results with Trail Boss in the 7.62x54R including myself. OP. What weight bullet are you using in the M39 and what is your velocity goal? I have 2 pet loads for my Mosin Nagants both use the Lee 160gr TL bullet. I shoot them as cast which is normally around .3135" The ones I gas check for SS loads are ran through a .314" die to attach the check. I use Unique for my SS (1850f/s) load and Bullseye for my sub-sonic (1075f/s) load. I don't use any type of filler with either and both work great. |
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Quoted: I'm using the Lee 160gr gas check bullet, sized .314. I'm looking for maybe 1600-1800fps, this is mainly going to be a plinking round so as long as it has decent accuracy I'm not too hung up on velocity. What do you consider decent accuracy @100 yards? I think anything over 1 MOA with rifle is unacceptable. |
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I was dabbling at a friend's place the other day shooting my K31 with 200gr RCBS Silhouette bullets. Had a nice 1" group going at 50 but at 100y was getting 2" wide and 5" tall. I'm not sure if it was that I also completely forgot to lift the muzzle after loading or my eye fits messed me up on the irons. I want to retest to be sure, IIRC I was up to 24 rgr of SR4759.
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If you really want to know what a rifle is capable of shooting, use a 30 power target scope. This can get groups down from 2 to 1 inch depending on shooter. Lead bullets in a rifle is new to me, but it sounds like your getting different velocities of course. If it were leading of barrel your shots should be more spread out i would think. Using a cronagraph would help lots to get you deviations down. Go to www.castboolits.com for more answers. |
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Here is one of my load test targets with the 160 TL. The "16" is 16gr Unique. As you can see the group started to open up at 17gr.
The rifle is a M39 with .311+ groove dia. and .302" bore. Yes it is slightly worn. The groups were fired at 50 yds using a 7x scout mount and LER scope. I got 1850f/s with this 16gr load. Caution: The case will hold a double charge of this load (16gr) although it nearly fills it to the case mouth so a visual inspection should keep you safe. Data provided for reference only. Use at your own risk. BTW: This rifle will shoot jacketed .312's 1 MOA. 
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