So, after loading j-words for my type-46-(8x52R conversion), I decided to mess around with paper patching. Brass was re-formed from Starline .45-70 as per the directions in "The Siamese Mauser" (Banzai Press). The brass was flared in a Lyman 8x57 M-die to accept the bullet. Loaded with 45 gr IMR 4350, Winchester LR primers. The boolit on the left right is the Lee TL-312-160-2R and the boolit on the left is the Lee-C312-185-1R. I started with the 160s as its what I had lying around, its my go-to for the AK.
Turns out the throat on this Mauser is pretty long (big surprise there) and the 160 could not be seated anywhere near the rifling. The 185s were slightly better, but still not quite there, I'll need to explore some other boolit options. Paper is Great Papers Vellum Letterhead, 45 deg. angle on the patches. Both boolits are water-dropped wheel weights and dropped at .314 then subsequently patched up to .327. The paper-patched boolit was sized down to .325, which just ironed the patch on, upon disassembly it was found that the size of the boolit was unaffected by the final sizing. Rifles bore is .323, and the patch seems to fit the throat pretty well, we'll see how they shoot tomorrow, I'll give you an update....