Steyr M95 C329-205-1R 18gr Hercules 2400

[VintageRifle]

Well, my first cast bullet loads did not group well at all at 50 yards. Looked more like a shotgun pattern. Found out a bit later that my action screws were loose. 4 full turns on the rear screw and about 2 on the front. Was not at all happy with the groups and not at all happy that failed to check the screws before I shot the rifle this year.

Anyway, was able to get out last weekend with the M95. Below is a 5 shot group. Not horrible, but not what this rifle can do with surplus ammo. However, very light recoil and actually shoots about 4 inches high at 50 yards with sights set at 600.

Prvi Brass.
18gr Hercules 2400 (old powder with Alliant sticker placed on Hercules Container)
OAL: 2.997"
Bullet: Lee C329-205-1R Sized to .329"
CCI 200 LR primer.
Lee Liquid Alox
Velocity: Average 1500fps

First 3 loadings did not do well due to the loose action screws. I did get blowback with this loading. The blowback has been reduced now that the cases have been formed closer to the chamber after several reloads. I am only partially neck sizing to help reduce this problem as well. Planning on getting a Lee Sizing Die in .332 or .333 to size my bullets. Grooves are .330 on this rifle. Bore is .3145.

http://vintagerifle.net/images/SteyrM95/SteyrM95_50yardsCast.jpg

[MtGun44]

With .330 grooves, I'd expect best accy to start at .331 or bigger.
Of course, where do you get a boolit that size?

Thanks for the info and please continue to report on your progress.
I will be paying attention as I have a M95 downstairs and managed to
get some bullets of the alleged correct diam (have not slugged my bore)
and some new brass. That one is waiting on some "round tuits" to appear.
I was wondering where you get a .332" mold. Does any other caliber
actually use this diameter? I guess that .338 Win Mag is the nearest, but
I don't actually know what the bullet diameter is - actually .338" ???

Don't fail to test 10 gr Unique.

Bill

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/E5F797678DB6438/standard.jpg

...............MtGun44, these center 2 boolits are what you can use in the M95. B is the Lee and C is the RCBS .338 boolits. They drop from the mould at about .340". Lube-sized in a Lyman .338" die and then run up through a ho-made .332" Lee type push through. My M95 and M95/31 will both easily chamber a round with a lube-sized slug at .338" too :-)

Boolit A is a Saeco special order schuetzen design. It's 205grs, and is tapered. Base band runs .336". Boolit D was one concocted by a member here who had Dan at Mountain Moulds make up a mould for it, when he still did full custom stuff.

The accuracy problems with these rifles (either cast or jacketed) is all in the barrel dimensions. My conversion to 30-40 Krag is a superb shooter and it's all Steyr except the barrel.

When Hemingway was in Spain during the Spanish Civil war he was with a unit that was getting some new equipment. I don't recall exactly the conversaion he reported but apparently someone had gotten or was going to get a 1895 Steyr rifle. One of the other troops said, "Why in the hell would you want one of those, you can't hit a damned thing with it!"

One of these days I'll get back to chasing accuracy with mine, ha!

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

[Bret4207]

My 329 Lee drops around .329, not good for my barrel. Try Lee's 338 mould and size to at least .331-.332. Just get some 220 grit aluminum oxide paper, a .250 rod and roll the Lee sizer on your thigh. Switch the die end for end every 50 rolls or so. It took exactly 200 rolls to open my .329 sizer to .332+ IIRC. Not hard to do at all. Size that 338 boolit down and try it. My barrels groves are about 100 yards deep so there's lots of room for dispalcement, but also lot's of room for gas to escape by. The 338 mould will fill that area better IMO.

FWIW- Using the NEI 331-245 and 13.0 Red Dot in Graf brass with Federal LR primers I can easily hold under 2" at 70 yards, often under that. Better sights would help, but I've yet to get "aroundtuit".

[VintageRifle]

I forgot to mention that with my current alloy, my bullets drop from the mold at about .334. It is an unknown alloy. I bought it at a gunshop for $0.50 a pound last year. Most likely a Tin/Lead Alloy. He was selling it for pistol bullets. Said it came from a hospital. It is not pure lead as I cannot scratch it with my fingernail.

[junkbug]

Haven't .338" gas checks become hard to find. I havent seen any for sale at Midway, or Midsouth, for a while.

For some reason I am getting the Steyr carbine itch again. I am going to look at one this weekend. I had a few, but traded them all away. I know they can't compete with the accuracy of a clean 1903 Springfield, but they sure are a lot handier.

If .338" gas checks are unabailable, I may just get the LEE .329" mold, and beagle it. And enlarge a Lee sizing die, like Bret mentioned, to just over groove diameter.

The ones I formerly had were just like Buckshot mentioned. They would chamber an unsized .338" jacketed bullet with room to spare. Don't know how big you have to go to fill that throat. Probably over .340".

Sean

[Bret4207]

Yes, 338 checks are discontinued. I'm hoping Hornady starts doing a once a year group of 6mm, 270 and 338 checks like Win and Rem do on odd brass. Gator checks are an option, but I never seem to catch the buys.

[Ricochet]

If you beagle the Lee .329" mould, you're also beagling the gas check shank so the 8mm checks will get harder to seat.

[Tiger]

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,1333.html

From one of places talked about on cast boolit forum.

Ralf

[junkbug]

Thanks for the link Tiger.

Ricochet, thanks for the tip. I plan to scrounge up an old taper punch, and cut it so that it can be used to flair the 8mm GCs.

Its good to know .338" boolits are still a viable option.

Sean