Slugged the Swede. CB, mold and sizer recommendations etc

[Silverbulletsmith]

Hello all. First post here.

After close to 20 years I hauled the 1907 M96 out of the safe and decided to try my hand at tuning it to a long range plinker.

I've been out of precision shooting for a while now, and I really need some trigger time with this thing. The CB thing looks really intriguing, and I'm looking forward to getting started.

I've cast muzzleloading boolits in the past, so I already have some of the stuff and a little background. I've also done quite a bit of reloading and have the stuff, but no real experience working up precision rifle loads.

I machined up a pretty little mount for a Hi-Lux 2-7X32 LER scope, and have been testing different commercial HV ammo for groups. So far, the 123 grain Lapua Scenar factory loaded is printing groups half the size of the Lapua 139, PMC 144, and the Swedish mil-surp.

This makes me suspect that this barrel prefers a bullet a little lighter than 140gr (at least at HV).

So, I've got the Lyman 450 sizing press and the linotype alloy on the way, but I have yet to order the mold and sizing die.

I just got through slugging the bore and it's measuring .2650 groove and .2553 land.

I'd sure appreciate your opinions on proper sizing die size, boolit design and weight, loads, lube, etc. It looks like between Lyman and RCBS, .264, .265, and .266 sizing dies are available from Midway.

My back yard range is 85 yards, and I'm shooting for groups on paper, no hunting.

I'll be utilizing a Lee neck sizer die.

Molds for CBs less than 140 grns appear to be rather uncommon. I found that CBE (Australia) offers a 130gr (266-130GC) but it's kinda pricey with shipping and all.

Anyhow, I appreciate the help. Thanks in advance!:-P

Silverbulletsmith

[45 2.1]

Typically, this question starts a big argument here due to the HV part as a whole lot of people haven't managed that yet (some of use have though), but here are some things that work. You really need to size a boolit to throat size. For a typical Swedes that I've measured, that is about 0.268"..... you might try that size to confirm it chambers in your brass with minimal chamber neck to loaded dimension slop. The 140gr'ish boolit is a good shooter....an example would be the 266469 or the group buy 6.5 Kurtz. NOE has an offering also. If you can find one that casts to the throat size mentioned above, you should have a shooter.

This thread: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?70923-Milk-Jug-300-Yard-6-5-Swede
contains instructions, that is if you can get thru all the distractions in it. It is worth the read though.

[Silverbulletsmith]

Typically, this question starts a big argument here due to the HV part as a whole lot of people haven't managed that yet (some of use have though), but here are some things that work. You really need to size a boolit to throat size. For a typical Swedes that I've measured, that is about 0.268"..... you might try that size to confirm it chambers in your brass with minimal chamber neck to loaded dimension slop. The 140gr'ish boolit is a good shooter....an example would be the 266469 or the group buy 6.5 Kurtz. NOE has an offering also. If you can find one that casts to the throat size mentioned above, you should have a shooter.

This thread: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?70923-Milk-Jug-300-Yard-6-5-Swede
contains instructions, that is if you can get thru all the distractions in it. It is worth the read though.

45 2.1,

Sorry I wasn't clear. I'm not pursuing a HV solution at this point. I understand 1600-1800 fps is the sweet spot for rifle CBs, and that's where I'm going, at least to start.

With that said, is .268 boolit dia still appropriate with a .265 groove diameter? .003 interference??

[45 2.1]

45 2.1,

Sorry I wasn't clear. I'm not pursuing a HV solution at this point. I understand 1600-1800 fps is the sweet spot for rifle CBs, and that's where I'm going, at least to start.

With that said, is .268 boolit dia still appropriate with a .265 groove diameter? .003 interference??

At 1,600 to 1,800 fps (and that really isn't a sweet spot either, just what most can get accuracy at), you can get by with a whole lot of misfitted things, including undersize boolits. If you choose to go up in velocity later, a small 0.266" boolit will not let you, but a 0.268" boolit will..... your choice, but check the fit in the rifle before you decide. The rifle will not cause any problems with the bigger boolit unless it doesn't fit/chamber correctly. Most causes of poor accuracy are from undersize misaligned boolits the higher you go in velocity, but at the velocity range you mention most any size will do fine.

[Dutchman]

Lyman 266673 153 grs drops from mold at .266". I put them through a 4500 lube/sider to seat gas check and lube with White Lable BAC (beeswax-allox-carnuba). 13.5 grs 2400 no filler, Lee factory crimp, yields 1,500 fps and 5 shot one hole groups at 50 yds. Alloy is wheel weights + some linotype. I let the boolits sit and ~season~ usually for a couple months at the least.


http://images58.fotki.com/v696/photos/2/28344/157842/020x2-vi.jpg

I use this m/38 Carl Gustaf to test handloads.

http://images60.fotki.com/v120/photos/4/28344/9895637/DSCF1959p-vi.jpg


http://images59.fotki.com/v111/photos/4/28344/9430776/photo-vi.jpg

[aspangler]

For a typical Swedes that I've measured, that is about 0.268"..... you might try that size to confirm it chambers in your brass with minimal chamber neck to loaded dimension slop.


I would never be able to put that in a case fired from my Gustav M96. Inside diam. of a neck from a fired case in THIS rifle is .258. Just enough to give a good fit for a .264-.265. boolit.
YMMV.

[1johnlb]

Go as large as you can make chamber, most Swedes have very long throat. In my Swedes I've found the larger I can get them the harder I can push them.

[Silverbulletsmith]

Thanks for the good advice All. I appreciate your help.

[RustyMusket]

I also use the Lyman 266673 sized at .267" 13.5 g 2400 gives me about 1580 fps. Bullet hardness is 12BHN. In 200 yd Mil Competition, this will hold the 10 ring on the SRC target but it will not quite hold the "X" ring. (Scoped rifle used for load development.). Hope this helps.

[Yodogsandman]

Last year, looking for accuracy in my 6.5x55, I bought the 266469, 266673 and the new style, Lee 6.5mm "Cruise Missile". With an alloy of COWW + 1%-2% Sn, the 266469 cast at about .2655", the 266673 cast at about .2655" and the "Cruise Missile cast at about .2715". The "Cruise Missile" actually shot the best for 1 7/8" (10 shots) at 100 yds. This was with a low velocity load of 8gr Unique. I sized all of these to .266".

I finally slugged my chamber per the sticky and found that the chamber was .2690". I'm awaiting a custom .269" sizer die and .270"x.266" "M" type expander... expecting much better results using a bigger boolit.

[Hang Fire]

Go as large as you can make chamber, most Swedes have very long throat. In my Swedes I've found the larger I can get them the harder I can push them.

My M38 Husky has a very short throat.

[grouch]

I use the CBE mold you mentioned with 23 gr of H414 in my 1915 '96 sized .267, it's the best of the 4 molds I have, good for 1" to 1 1/2" for 5 shots at 100yds. my bore dimensions are very close to yours.
Grouch

[Silverbulletsmith]

Yet more great info!

Went ahead and ordered the NOE 134gr because it gives me the option to load .268 dia, along with .266 sizing die in case .288 is a little large.

Grouch; when the funds recover a bit, I'll probly join you in trying the CBE mold as well.

I need to slug the throat. Try to get to that this weekend.

Thanks to all for your input.

[grouch]

Silverbulletsmith - If we're talking price, just be aware that CBE prices are Australian dollars, roughly 80 cents US.
Grouch