Passing on the goods on the oversized 8's

[lebl468]

I have ran some loads for the 8mm Steyr, and the 8mm Lebel, and here is the results:

8x56R Steyr, fired out of a full size Steyr straight pull.

Lee sized to .329 GC'd Alox lubed 30.5gr of IMR3031 Dacron filled, winchester LR primers, Graff brass. Shot 2" groups POA at 100 yards (sight ladder flipped up)

8mm Lebel shot out of a Turkish forestry carbine

Lee sized to .329 GC'd Alox lubed 28.5gr of IMR3031 Dacron filled, Winchester LR primers Graff brass. Shot 4" high at 100 yards but 1.5" group, centered verticaly.

[Bret4207]

I'm surprised you got a decent group with the boolit sized so small. I lapped my die out to .332+ and it could be larger still!

[DanM]

I will have to agree with Bret on the sizing for the M95 Steyr. What was your velocity?

[lebl468]

Not sure about velocity, I just loaded in .5gr increments and watched for the point where they grouped the best, repeated over 3 weekends and came up with 30.5gr 3031. That being said, I do shoot 5 rounds and if I have a flyer, I consider it a Mulligan and throw it out of the group. For a $150 rifle that my wife bought me for Christmas I don't expect miracles from it. I have thought about getting a custom .332 sizer made, but unfortunately Lee sends a bottle of lube with it and that means it has to be couriered instead of mailed.........pricey when it is heading for Canada.

[dromia]

I have thought about getting a custom .332 sizer made, but unfortunately Lee sends a bottle of lube with it and that means it has to be couriered instead of mailed.........pricey when it is heading for Canada.


Get Buckshot to make you one.

[DanM]

Yep, Buckshot makes a high quality sizer. My experience is that you can get fair accuracy with .329-.330" boolits in the M95 if you keep the velocity down. For good accuracy at velocities over about 1700fps, you will need fatter boolits. Some have had success Beagling the .329" Lee mold up enough to size in a .333-4" sizer and still using .32cal checks. You might try that if you want more speed....

[Bret4207]

I lapped my Lee .329 sizer out using abrasive cloth on a rod rolled on my leg. 400 back and forth cycles with 320 grit got me .332+. Simple.

[swheeler]

I lapped my .329 sizer out with a split 5/16 dowel and emery cloth in the drill press, .333 for a while, but lapped again to .335 which is what I use now. I shoot a PB 270 grain and the 220 gr Lee 338 GC, both get lubed and sized in the Lyman 4500 338, then ran through the .335" sizer. I used the same dowel in the drill press to lap the seater die out for the larger dia bullets, just takes a minute.

[jonk]

I got a regular lube-sizer die from buckshot in .332 awhile back. Works great in my 95 carbine. I beagled the mold from Lee to get it to drop a bit fatter.

Doesn't work so well in my 95 long rifle but that gun has a bit rougher bore. I have plenty of surplus (for now) that shoots pretty well out of it but when that's gone am thinking of paper patching a .325" bullet.

The Lee bullet shoots very well in my 2 Lebels sized at .329. My carbine has a .326 bore and my long rifle a .325. Yeah 4/1000 over sized gets a bit snug but it chambers fine at that diameter and that's the main thing of course.