range results with Austro-Hungarian 8x56r Steyr rifle (tips? tricks?)

[TomBulls]

Okay- So here's what I've got: A 1930 Steyr M95 in 8x56r. The bore slugs at .335", I use Lee's 200 grain mould for the .338 Win., size it at .338" and then seat just off of the lands with a *light* crimp. The lead I'm using for this is air-cooled "scrap yard special" alloy. There isn't really any "official" load data for it which makes the whole process sort of "exciting" in a way that shooting shouldn't be.

Here's how I got my load data: I compared starting-load and max-load data for a variety of military cartridges firing 190+ grain bullets, and started there. I used 5744 (only because 2400 is sort of "indefinitely unavailable" right now) and started at 22 grains and worked up to 26 grains using Winchester Large Rifle primers. (I shouldn't have to say it, but I assume no liability if you use this load data in your own rifle.)

All groups consisted of ten rounds fired at 50 yards. The groups with 22gr were sort of a 6"x6" shot pattern. Not so great, but the 23 grain groups were better fitting into a 5"x5" group. 24 grains of 5744 seemed to be the "right" amount, fitting eight shots into a 3"x3" group. The groups that used 25gr and 26gr of 5744 opened up dramatically and were worse than any of the other groupings, fitting into a 12"x12" scattered grouping. I need to go back and look at my load data book to see how my notes compare to theirs. But, this has been encouraging enough to do up some more loads and try to get it out to 100 yards at the DNR range.

If anyone else out there is testing out loads for the M95 Steyr, what's working for you?

I also keep trying my luck at trying to find the *magic* bullet and powder combination that will make my M48 (Yugoslavian 8mm Mauser) shoot like a champ. I picked up Lee's 8x56r bullet mould that casts .329" diam. bullets, and then sized them to .325". My results were not so great with that mould, but I did find out that Lee's 8mm bullet mould works really well when sized at .323" and seated just off the rifle's lands. I'm going the long route (and the the expensive one...) to confirm things that I should have already known about shooting the 8mm Mauser cartridge, but, hey, any day of shooting is better than work.

[ukrifleman]

I have had good results with the 8x56R Lee bullet, gas checked to .329 in front of 23.5gn of Lovex DO60 (5744) with my M95 stutzen.

I achieved POA/POI at 200 yards knocking down fig 11's (E silhouettes).

ukrifleman.

[TomBulls]

Nice work. What's the Fig. 11 E silhouette target look like again? If I recall correctly, isn't that the "little green man" pop-up target on moving ranges?

[jrap]

I've only shot mine with ppu loads but it shoots quite well. It just shoots really high

[wild bill wildbill59]

I shoot 21 grains4759 Lee 329 bullet unsized but I seat 8 mm gas checks base up until check is crimped on base. Have been getting 1.5 in at 75 yds very consistent

[1johnlb]

13 grs reddot with good fitting boolits has worked well with 3 out of 4 m95s for me.

[ukrifleman]

Nice work. What's the Fig. 11 E silhouette target look like again? If I recall correctly, isn't that the "little green man" pop-up target on moving ranges?

The Fig 11, is 44"x18" and is the target found on the military ranges here in the UK.

ukrifleman.

[Brett Ross]

The Lee C338-220-1R , 45/45/10 , 2 coats over the unobtainium 2400 at 18 gr, Water quenched COWW. This combination get's me 3 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yds and also 1 white tail at 75 yds.
Tony

[TomBulls]

The Lee C338-220-1R , 45/45/10 , 2 coats over the unobtainium 2400 at 18 gr, Water quenched COWW. This combination get's me 3 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yds and also 1 white tail at 75 yds.
Tony

Right on, man. I'm doing up some more reloads and then going out to the range again when I get a nice day.

[Tedly]

Lee .329 boolit with 8mm gc crimped on , ACWW , alox tumble lube...16.0 gr AA5744 , about 1 1/2 " at 50 yds....YMMV

[sd61]

I have a couple of loads for my M95/34, both of them 1.5" or less (5 shots) @ 50 yds:
1. Steel 21gr
2. Duplex load: A5744 11gr + WC867 27gr + PSB to fill the case
My alloy is WW with some extra Sn added and WQ (BHN about 18). Boolit is Lee205 + Hornady GC + PC coating sized at .334", COL 2.980". Both loads fly at around 1800 fps and are nice and easy on the shoulder.

[Nowherefound]

I am bran new to this forum but did just recently have some success at fifty yards paper patching LEE C324-175 up to .3315 over 13 grains of red dot. I am going to work on tuning this loading for plinking but also develop a full powerish loading using 4064 or 5744 (what I have). I will be watching the loading ideas in this thread with interest.