8x56r cast boolit loads

[fmp#1]

Hi to all
Looking for some cast boolit loads for my Bulgarian M95 . Using a Lee .329 205gr mould . Going to start with some Imr 3031 or Imr 4350 . Anyone have any good results with these powders or have something else that works for you ?

All the best

[twotoescharlie]

bullet will probably be too small, I have 11 M95 steyrs and they all slug over .329.
slug your bore first to keep from getting frustrated.

TTC

[Ricochet]

Others have had success with the Lee .338 bullet sized down a bit, or even as cast!

[testhop]

RICOCHET
that cheerful heartis good medicine
makes sence coming from a doc but its true

[fmp#1]

Already done that . Slugs out at .329.5 . was going to try a few first to see how they work and if need be hone out my sizer a whisker .

All the best

[Bret4207]

The Lee 338 mould works. Far better is the NEI 330-245GC mould. 13.0 Red Dot or 16.0 2400 makes nice plinking loads. Never got too far above that, so far.

[newfoundlander]

I thought I was the only Townie casting for these! I like 13.5 Grs of Red Dot over the Lee in both my 8x50 and 56R chambered rifles. The load shoots just as well in my M95s as my 88/90 and 1890. I haven't found the load to be position sensitive in either 8x50R or 56R.

For those interested in these guns here's a few piece of my M90 carbine. This unit marked cavalry carbine is all original and features the autograph of Austro Hungarian Lt. O. Kreumpel in period fraktur lettering.

http://www.imagehost.ca/pf.php?fid=1296

Hi to all
Looking for some cast boolit loads for my Bulgarian M95 . Using a Lee .329 205gr mould . Going to start with some Imr 3031 or Imr 4350 . Anyone have any good results with these powders or have something else that works for you ?

All the best

[Larry Gibson]

Now bear with me here as I've never owned a M95, fired a couple but never owned one. If I did and the bore was good as were a couple I saw I would think this caliber would be perfect for a PP'd bullet. I understand that the throats are long so I would try Lyman's 323470. That's a 165 gr Lovern design with a short nose. Might have to run it through a .321 sizer but I'd bet as cast (my mould drops them at .325) might work well in the larger M95 bores. My 323471HP might well be a better candidate, especially for hunting. Any one tried it?


Larry Gibson

[Buckshot]

................fmp#1, first of all a hearty welcome to the board! And before I forget, newfoundlander what a nice old straightpull, and autographed to boot.

fmp#1 if yours slugs a tad over .329" then you are in an elite group, as I have a M95 and 3x M95/31's and they all slug .316"x.332". I've read of a couple going .330" but that has been rare indeed. Ole twotoescharlie must be a glutton for these critters, and as he mentions, his hoard all slug over .330". Please don't think I doubt yours does slug as you say fmb#1. Just that it is so uncommon!

You didn't happen to upset a slug in the throat/caseneck region did ya? Reason I ask is that these also tend to the generous size. My like new, all matching M95, below:

http://www.fototime.com/00C73BAA827D746/standard.jpg http://www.fototime.com/69C7E42565020C7/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/6FF4D290178743E/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/749F5ACFFD11D67/standard.jpg

....................has a .340" throat and a chamber neck that will allow a cartridge with a .338" slug to chamber easily. I have gotten some decent accuracy (once I solved the issue with the rear sight/handguard/action bedding) but with lighter loads. I have the Lee .329" mould but have never used it as it would seem usless in my case. I also have the RCBS 205gr, Lee 220gr 338 mould and a Saeco tapered FNPB that casts .336".

I've never been able to get any satisfactory (useable) accuracy at any 'normal' cast boolit velocities. I haven't made a real concerted effort to do so yet. I HAVE done all the normal regular things a person would do. I have also tried slugs sized .332", and .335" with no appreciable difference. Since the throat WILL accept one at .338" I should try it I suppose :-)

My suspicion is that so much lead is being moved around when the boolti engraves that the base is being deformed (it has to go somewhere :-) and that accounts fo rthe problems. I had a M95/31 with a trashed barrel that I had converted to 30-40 Krag:

http://www.fototime.com/3F99F55C9811736/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/EF48A81FED28FD0/standard.jpg

And it's a tack driver. So it's not the action or anything. Only difference so far as shooting goes is the barrel.

...................Buckshot

[newfoundlander]

I forgot to mention the manner in which I load these rifles. I essentially use the Mannlicher charger like a SLED on a Garand i.e. One round up the pipe at a time. Bullets are almost always seated very far out and the bolt is closed with care to ensure the round is as close to centerline as possible. I can get the rifling to engrave on my 88/90. M90 and one of my M95 rifles chambered in 8x50 that has a pristine bore. I've had less success with seating CBs in 8x50 chambered rifles with visibly worn bores and almost all in 56R. The only 56R I've had some success with in this regard was a Stutzen with a 1930's replacement barrel which is a relative tack driver. I should note that a 1930's date over the chamber does not necessarily mean the rifle in question is wearing a new barrel. Many 1930's "vintage"rifles and carbines simply had the original date obliterated when re-chambered to 56R.

90% of the time I shoot with the standard Lee bullet and Grafs brass. I have one of 8mm Karabiner special order molds from Midsouth that was made WAY out of spec.when first introduced My Midsouth mold drops a lino CB that has a 331 bore riding section and measures a whopping 333-335 across the bands. I use this bullet in 56R chambered rifles with worn throats but otherwise serviceable barrels. Accuracy is only mildly better than with the standard Lee 329. If you plan to roll your own brass form 54R you're likely to run into trouble chambering anything with a diameter beyond 329 especially with 50R chambered guns.

[deadguy]

My M95/34 has a .328" bore and shoots the Lee .329" bullet on top of 19 grains of 2400 very accurately!

[jonk]

I've had 3. I currently only have one. It has a bore of .330; which does just fine with the lee bullet. The other 2 were .333 and .332 respectively.

[fmp#1]

Thanks guys. Nice to be on board .
Checked bores on my Bulgarian rifle and my Hungarian carbine and they slug out at 329.5 for the rifle and 331 for the carbine . Nice carbines Buckshot and newfoundlander ! Will let you guys know how I do at the range .

All the best