Tale of 2 rifles, leading and accuracy achieved

[texassako]

I loaded 50 rounds each of 9mm Bergmann loads for my 2 Destroyer rifles to see if they will shoot cast now that I have solved the case length issue. They both slugged at .357", the older style Onena model is pitted for the first 3" after the chamber but very shiny, and the slightly newer typical Destroyer is just slightly dark in the grooves. The converted brass will take a .358" bullet and still chamber; so that is what I went with and lubed with randyrats TAC1. I had opposite results of what I would expect. The Onena did not lead except maybe a little in the pits and the other leaded badly starting at the chamber end. The other strange thing was the old Onena shot two very different loads well and nothing else was even pie plate accurate. A 158gr Lyman 358156 loaded without a gas check over 6.5gr Blue Dot and a Saeco 377 mystery mold that is a .5" long 105gr TCBB over 4.9gr Bullseye were oddball loads . They both shot 2" @ 50 yards with the awful fixed notch rear sight on that rifle. I started out thinking the newer, unpitted model would shoot better and lead less, and that typical 120gr bullets would be the sweet spot for accuracy. I guess you just never know what some guns are going to like.

[303Guy]

Pictures, we need pictures! :bigsmyl2: Of the rifles I mean. And loaded rounds. Any chance?

[texassako]

Pictures, we need pictures! :bigsmyl2: Of the rifles I mean. And loaded rounds. Any chance?

Here you go, 2 destroyer rifles and some of the ammo I had loaded. All I have left are the ones that had issues such as a couple of cases trimmed to short for the Onena and one was to fat to chamber. Thanks for asking for the pictures, it showed me why the 358156 and the Saeco 377 shot the best with very different weights. Anybody else see that they fill up a lot more of a worn throat?

The rifles, a 1946 mini mauser style on the top with early flush double stack magazine and, my favorite, the even earlier 1397 Onena in all her glorious dents and patina:

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The rounds I had left over from left to right, 358156 in converted .223 brass, 358250 in .223 brass, Saeco 377 in .223 brass, 36072 in 9mm Win Mag brass, and a surplus 9mm Largo round for comparison:

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[Sgt Petro]

I'm working up some loads for my destroyer carbine as well.
I slugged the bore at .360!
I sure hope i can chamber the rounds.

[texassako]

I'm working up some loads for my destroyer carbine as well.
I slugged the bore at .360!
I sure hope i can chamber the rounds.

I just saw your reply. I bet it might fit a .360 bullet unless you do something like use cut down .223 brass like I did. .358 bullets would slip right in my fired Largo cases, the few actually long enough to go bang.

[43PU]

Did you measure the web thickness of the trimmed 223 brass? It could be seating your bullets down enough to cause leading...
43pu