Beagling for 8x56R Steyr

[Black Wolf]

Been fiddling with this Steyr rifle for a while now.

I've had decent 3.5" groups at 80 yards by paper patching (3 times wrapped) the .329 Lee 205 gr bullet (having sized it down to .325 then PP up to .333). But, man a lot work and some frustration keeping the paper sticking on my bullet (I'm using a gas check on it - a must for any sort of accuracy). Basically, I'm just fattening up the bullet with paper and using a .32 cal gas check.

Anyhow, I wanna' try a different method of bumping my bullet up to fit my Steyr's .333" grooved bore. So, my plan is this: I've beagled the .329 bullet up to .338" and managed to pound on a 32 cal gas check (both factory and homemade [plug for FreeChex]).

Now I need to get this bullet down to about .334~.335. I've tried it as cast w/ .338" bullets and the group sucked royally - but I didn't crimp the gas check on (just pounded it) and didn't size the beagled bullet - so I suspect it wobbled en route to the target and created dismal accuracy or maybe the gas check came off. But it would seem to me that, the bullet would size itself going down the .333" bore and crimp the gas check at the same time...so, I'm not sure what the deal is there.

Anyhow, I was wondering, has anyone beagled a .329 bullet up in size for the 8x56R and then sized it to .334/.335 using a custom sizing die? I'm thinking about having Lee Precision make me a custom sizing die of .335".

Note: I'm trying to stay away from purchasing the .338 Lee mold and having to buy .338 gas checks.

[johnly]

My Lee 338 mold might drop bullets at .338", but not much larger than that. If you shoot bullets .002" over bore, that would be .335". I think sizing from .338 to .335" is a task that most lube-sizers can handle.

John

[Black Wolf]

I apologize for lack of clarity of my question. I was inquiring as to the accuracy results of beagling a .329 bullet for the 8x56 cartridge rather than the capability of a lube-sizer handling the sizing.

[Bret4207]

Can't help on the Beagling, but- I opened a Lee .329 sizer to .332+ with 220 grit paper on a cleaning rod rolled on my thigh. I think it took 200 cycles. I use an NEI 331-245 boolit that drops about .334 and shoots great with the stand by 13.0 Red Dot. I've also used the Lee 338 sized in the same die from .340 with fairly good results, didn;t put a lot of time into it once I got the NEI.

Beagling with other boolits has resulted in pretty good results. If you can get them to drop at .332-.334 you can still use the 8mm GC and the deep (canyon like) grooves of the Steyr seem to be very forgiving of differing diameters. I'd stick with a somewhat fast powder and WW or softer alloy and, though I don't usually like it, hope for a bit of obturation to "round out" the boolit in the barrel. Anytime you try something like this you ahve to play around a bit to see what happens. So, "Open you mind Glasshopper...."

[beagle]

I have taken a 338 Lyman with a .338 check on it down to .333 and it shot pretty well. Nose first sized it./beagle

[Black Wolf]

After months of experimenting I finally got a decent load for this Steyr Rifle.

Using the Lee C329-205-1R, tumble lubed w/ Alox and topped off with a GasCheck I beagled the mold to .336+" then sized down to .334" using a Buckshot custom die. Loaded up 18 grains of 2400, seated to 2.97" - and bam...1.5" at 50 yards using the 300 meter sight. Shot 6 inches low, but the group was more than satisfactory.

[StarMetal]

Instead of beagling you mine do better at bugling....that is bugling up yourself one of the new Oldfeller Frankenstein bullet from a set of BaBore's moulds. No fussing, just cast, size/lube, and shoot.

Joe