Yesterday's Weapons Forums

yockey5
(2/29/04 1:31 pm)


8x56R

2.20" case lenght
3.02" OAL w/208 gr. spitzer BT
Some load data is courtesy of Lee Precision Inc. and other contributions from members. * indicates Lee precision.
Thanks to all.

125 gr. bullet, 37.7 gr. H4198 max 42.0 gr. 3054 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 49.4 gr. H380 max 55.0 gr. 2909 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 52.1 gr. H414 max 58.0 gr. 2893 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 45.8 gr. H335 max 51.0 gr. 2891 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 42.2 gr. H322 max 47.0 gr. 2840 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 45.8 gr. 4895 max 51.0 gr. 2796 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 44.9 gr. BL-C(2) max 50.0 gr. 2789 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 41.9 gr. Reloder15 max 46.8 gr. 2760 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 40.9 gr. Reloder12 max 45.0 gr. 2720 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 50.3 gr. H450 max 56.0 gr. 2509 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 48.5 gr. H4350 max 54.0 gr. 2480 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 53.0 gr. Accur4350 max 53.0 gr. 2418 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 53.0 gr. Accur3100 max 53.0 gr. 2185 fps*
125 gr. bullet, 54.5 gr. Accur8700 max 54.5 gr. 1788 fps*

150 gr. bullet, 36.8 gr. H4198 max 41.0 gr. 2848 fps*
150 gr. bullet, 48.5 gr. H380 max 54.0 gr. 2778 fps*
150 gr. bullet, 50.3 gr. H414 max 56.0 gr. 2773 fps*

170 gr. bullet, 44.0 gr. H4895
170 gr. bullet, 41.3 gr. H4895 max 46.0 gr. 2501 fps*
170 gr. bullet, 47.6 gr. H414 max 53.0 gr. 2586 fps*
170 gr. bullet, 39.5 gr. H322 max 44.0 gr. 2555 fps*
170 gr, bullet, 44.0 gr. H380 max 49.0 gr. 2509 fps*
170 gr. bullet, 48.5 gr. H4350 max 54.0 gr. 2507 fps*

185 gr. bullet, 26.0 gr, XMP-5744

198 gr. bullet, 46.0 gr. 3031--2310 fps

200 gr. bullet, 40.7 gr. Accur 4350 max 44.0 gr. 2039 fps*
200 gr. bullet, 49.0 gr. Accur 3100 max 49.0 gr. 1980 fps*
200 gr. bullet, 54.5 gr. Accur 8700 max 54.5 gr. 1692 fps*

205 gr. bullet, 13.5 gr. Red Dot

206 gr. bullet, 45.0 gr. 3031--2300 fps

215 gr. bullet, 13.0 gr. Unigue 1400 fps

220 gr. bullet, 46.0 gr. Accur 3100 max 49.2 gr. 1946 fps*
220 gr. bullet, 39.4 gr. Accur 4350 max 42.0 gr. 1906 fps*
220 gr. bullet, 51.5 gr. Accur 8700 max 51.5 gr. 1512 fps*

225 gr. bullet, 51.2 gr. H4831 max 57.0 gr. 2346 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 44.9 gr. H414 max 50.0 gr. 2342 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 41.3 gr. H380 max 46.0 gr. 2285 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 41.3 gr. H4350 max 46.0 gr. 2221 fps*
225 gr. bullet, 44.0 gr. H450 max 49.0 gr. 2145 fps*



While at the rifle range today, I popped off quite a few 8x56R rounds in a newly-acquired M95.

One thing I will have to keep my eye on is the performance of ammo using jacketed bullets that have been re-sized from .338 down to .330. There has been some talk of bullet jacket/lead core deformation that can take place during the re-sizing operation. I get enough weird, random velocity anomalies of 100 to 200 fps when using such bullets to make me think that some of this is due to bullet performance that has been affected by re-sizing. These anomalies do not show up when using Hornady 205 gr. .330 bullets made to original size.

Here is some data:

205 gr. Hornady spire point .330 bullet
48.0 gr. IMR 4350
Fed 210 primer
Graf case
Average muzzle velocity 1896
Standard deviation 22.72
Accurate and pleasant to shoot

205 gr. Hornady spire point .330 bullet
35.0 gr. milsurp IMR 4895
Fed 210 primer
Graf case
Avg. muzzle velocity 1529
Standard deviation 11.26
Very accurate light load for jacketed bullet

225 gr. Hornady spire point .338 bullet re-sized to .330
46.5 gr. Norma N205
Fed 210 primer
Modified .45-70 case reformed to 8x56R
Avg. muzzle velocity 1865
Standard deviation 8.88
Acceptable accuracy and not unpleasant to shoot

200 gr. Hornady spire point .338 bullet re-sized to .330
48.0 gr. Norma N205
Fed 210 primer
Graf case
Avg. muzzle velocity 1944
Standard deviation 28.50
Acceptable accuracy and not unpleasant to shoot

Same data as above, except substitute Speer 200 gr. spitzer .338 bullet re-sized to .330.
Avg. muzzle velocity 2008
Standard deviation 26.38
Acceptable accuracy and not unpleaseant to shoot.
I include this data to illustrate the difference that substitution of a bullet brand can make.

A note on Norma N-205 powder. It is no longer made, but I have some still on hand. It has been replaced in the Norma product line with Norma MRP powder. N-205 is between N-204 and MRP in speed. If you look at the powder charts, you will see that N-205 is right in there in the thick of the 4831 powders as to speed. I don't think you can get enough of one of these slow powders packed into the case of an 8x56R to blow it up. At around 2000 fps, you are still under the original factory muzzle velocity by 200 fps or more.

I did some work with 8x56R and two of the Alliant "Re-loder" powders, but I wasn't satisfied with the results. However, with both powders I used re-sized bullets so that introduces an extra area of wonder to the mix.

Hornady 200 gr. .338 spire point bullet resized to .330
32.0 gr. RL-15
Fed 210 primer
Graf case
Avg. muzzle velocity 1638
Standard deviation 19.42
Accuracy acceptable; light jacketed bullet load, perhaps too light. Occasional random extremes in deviation from spread.

Hornady 225 gr. spire point .338 bullet resized to .330
46.0 gr. RL-22
CCI 250 primer
Graf case
Avg. muzzle velocity in the 1925 fps range.
Accuracy so-so; no standard deviation given because of random extremes in spread.

When using jacketed bullets, I have started to concentrate on slower burning propellants for a couple of reasons. For one thing, they tend to work better with heavier bullets such as the 8x56R was designed to work with. For another, even in full charges they tend to have reduced recoil over the faster powders. For lighter loads with heavy jacketed bullets, I have used IMR 4895 because of its known flexibility. Sometime soon, I will work up a jacketed bullet reduced load using SR-4759.

The usual caveats of caution apply. Be sure your rifle is safe to shoot, use safe reloading practices and common sense, your rifle is different from my rifle, etc. etc.


"Sehr schwer, mein Herr"

__________________________
__________________________

8x50r

125 gr. bullet, 46 gr. 3031> 2900 fps - maximum ld
125 gr. bullet, 48 gr. 4895> 2820 fps - " " " "
125 gr. bullet, 50 gr. 4064> 2910 fps - " " " "
125 gr. bullet, 52 gr. 4320> 3010 fps - " " " "
125 gr. bullet, 53 gr. 4350> 2610 fps - " " " "
125 gr. bullet, 56 gr. H380> 2910 fps - " " " "
125 gr. bullet, 54 gr. 4831> 2380 fps - maximum ld

150 gr. bullet, 36 gr. HV#2>
150 gr. bullet, 44 gr. 3031> 2710 fps - maximum ld
150 gr. bullet, 46 gr. 4895> 2690 fps - maximum ld
150 gr. bullet, 47 gr. 4064> 2720 fps - " " " "
150 gr. bullet, 49 gr. 4320> 2780 fps - " " " "
150 gr. bullet, 53 gr. 4350> 2630 fps - " " " "
150 gr. bullet, 55 gr. H380> 2810 fps - " " " "
150 gr. bullet, 54 gr. 4831> 2390 fps - maximim ld

159 gr. bullet, 48 gr. 3031>

170 gr. bullet, 40 gr. 3031>
170 gr. bullet, 42 gr. 3031> 2770 fps - maximum ld
170 gr. bullet, 44 gr. 4895> 2360 fps - " " " "
170 gr. bullet, 46 gr. 4064> 2520 fps - " " " "
170 gr. bullet, 48 gr. 4320> 2585 fps - " " " "
170 gr. bullet, 53 gr. H380> 2510 fps - " " " "
170 gr. bullet, 54 gr. 4831> 2345 fps - " " " "
170 gr. bullet, 53 gr. 4350> 2530 fps - maximum ld

215 gr. bullet, 13 gr. Unigue

225 gr. bullet, 37 gr. 3031> 1945 fps - maximum ld
225 gr. bullet, 39 gr. 4895> 1970 fps - " " " "
225 gr. bullet, 42 gr. 4064> 2050 fps - " " " "
225 gr. bullet, 43 gr. 4320> 2130 fps - " " " "
225 gr. bullet, 48 gr. 4350> 2131 fps - " " " "
225 gr. bullet, 53 gr. 4831> 2050 fps - maximim ld

227 gr. bullet, 45 gr. 3031>

244 gr. bullet, 45 gr. 3031>

This is one of those cartridges that makes me learn more about it every time I load it.

In a previous post, I discussed how my dies (CH/4-D) were designed to be used with .323 bullets, as the original long heavy bullet was in this diameter. The bore is .329/.330, so the original bullet rides the rifling and has an obturating base to seal off the gases. Since we can't get bullets of this design to reload with, it is my view that some gas escapes around the kind of .323 bullets that we are able to get with conventional bases. I come to this view by getting a 1700 fps velocity out of a propellant charge that should give me over 2000 fps.

I have had success in using .330 lead bullets in 8x50R loads. After my last experiments with .323 jacketed bullets, I resolved that my next experiments would be with .329 jacketed bullets.

In preparing to do this, I prepped my cases by sizing them using a .323 sizing ball. I do this because the Graf 7.62x54R cases that I have cut down and resized to 8x50R have case walls that are too thin to hold the jacketed bullets tightly for which they are nominally sized. In sizing them to .323, they will hold the jacketed .329 tightly.

I started to use Hornady .338 bullets resized down to .329/.330. These are the 200 grainers, and when re-sized, the shank of the bullet (bore diameter) is forward of the cannelure. Normally, I like to crimp into the cannelure on 8x50R and 8x56R because both of these cartridges have fairly short bearing surfaces to grip the bullet in the case mouth.

I cannot say for other die sets, but when using the CH/4-D outfit that I have, you cannot crimp into the cannelure of a .329/.330 bullet that has any of the shank forward of the cannelure. This is because the opening in the die above the crimping shoulder is just a hair larger than .323 (the bullet size they were designed to use with), and a .329/.330 bullet will not pass through this hole.

Next, I turned to the Hornady 205 gr. spitzer bullets that are made in .329 (available from Grafs). With this bullet, the shank starts just after the cannelure and I was able to seat and crimp these bullets as I wanted to.

A person could go ahead and use the re-sized bullets, but without a crimp.
-------------------------------------

Another trip to the range today taught me more about this cartridge and the rifle it is chambered for.

In a previous post, I mentioned that next I was going to try some .329/.330 jacketed bullets so as to get the proper gas sealing that we are unable to obtain with the bore-riding .323 bullets currently available. See previous post for details on why this is.

Most of my test cartridges were loaded using cut-back and reformed 7.62x54R Graf cases, which I have previously described as having thin brass compared to original factory-loaded 8x56R cases which I have modified to use in 8x50R.

A small number were loaded using milsurp converted 8x56R cases.

I fired off the test rounds with the modified 7.62x54R cases using the following load data:

205 gr. Hornady .330 spire point
40.0 gr. IMR 4350
WW LR primer

This combination clocked an average muzzle velocity of 1431 fps with a standard deviation of 15.57; it was reasonably accurate with a front sight re-regulated to shoot to point of aim.

The approximate muzzle velocity of original factory loaded ammo for this round with a 244 gr. bullet is 2030 fps, so my load with 40.0 gr. of IMR 4350 isn't a barn-burner. It is pleasant to shoot, and remember, slower powders in larger calibers often yield slower velocities unless you have a large case that will hold lots more powder.

Next in line for testing was the small lot loaded to the same specs only using the modified European factory 8x56R cases with the thicker brass.

These would not chamber completely so I was unable to test these. I have never Cerro-safed the chambers of these rifles, but when I got home I looked into the chambers with a strong flashlight. With the smoking of recent firing, it was plain to see what the problem was. That section of the chamber where the mouth of the case (with bullet seated in it) is positioned are different sizes between the 8x50R and the 8x56R. The 8x50R chamber mouth is nearly the same diameter as the bore which is approx. .330 (remember that the 8x50R bullet is a bore-rider and doesn't fill in the grooves of the rifling). On the other hand, the 8x56R chamber is stepped at that exact point where the case mouth ends and the rifle bore begins. This is to allow a little more room for the case neck material while holding a bullet that is sized to the actual bore (such as is more common).

The differences really are not all that great; the original outside diameter of the case neck with bullet seated on an 8x50R cartridge is .356; the 8x56R is .358. My cut-back and re-sized 8x56R cartridges with .330 bullet seated measure .361, so a few thousanths are enough to make the difference. The modified 7.72x54R cases with .330 bullet seated measure only .351.

When I shoved the cases with thicker brass and a .330 bullet into the chamber, they would not go all the way. When I pulled a stuck cartridge out, you could see the burnishing marks on the case neck area where it had contacted the chamber walls 100%. This same load using the thinner Russian brass worked fine, as there must have been just enough room.

One other difference that I noticed between the 8x50R rifle and my others chambered in 8x56R. Alongside each side of the magazine follower are guides machined into the receiver. These guide the cartridge into the chamber as it is stripped out of the charger clip. I notice that when I use pointed, shorter (than original) bullets, the cartridge tends to tip up more on the bullet end and doesn't want to chamber properly. When I have loaded 8x50R with long, round-nose bullets, this problem goes away.

Tonight when I was looking over the problem with the chamber design vis-a-vis bullets used, I decided to compare the cartridge guides in the receiver of the 8x50R rifle to those in the 8x56R rifles. I only have only rifle in 8x50R to use in this comparison, but it looks to me like the rifles converted to shoot 8x56R have had a slight modification on the these guides. The guides seem to have had the upper edges trimmed down a bit and are not as sharp-edged as those in the 8x50R. Changing the shape of these guides would change how the cartridge was directed into the chamber and this must have been necessary due to the change in the bullet design.

The experiments with this caliber continue.

185 gr. Remington spire point (bulk bullet) .323
42.0 gr. IMR 4350
CCI 250 mag primer
Cut-down & reformed military 8x56R case (boxer primer conversion)
Avg. muz. velocity 1398
Standard deviation 16.97

205 gr. Hornady spire point .330
42.0 gr. IMR 4350
CCI 250 mag primer
Cut-down and reformed Graf 7.62x54R case
Avg. muz. vel. 1423
Std. dev. 25.62

Compare the data above to that of "Old Western Scrounger" brand of custom-made 8x50R ammo with a 220 grain bullet, below:

Avg. muz. velocity 1854
Standard deviation 12.54

The Old Western Scrounger ammo has respectible velocity (for this caliber and bullet weight) and a good spread. This ammo is no longer being sold. The comparison shows me that I have a way to go to duplicate the OWS performance because I have been conservative. On the other hand, this is never a bad idea when you are experimenting with loads. I will disassemble one of the OWS loads to "see what I can see."

When using the pointed bullets in loading 8x50R, they often do not feed well. The rifles re-worked to shoot 8x56R have modifications made to the ramping in the receiver to take care of this. Long, round-nose lead bullets feed fine in the 8x50R, but heavy, round nose jacketed bullets are difficult to find in 8mm (.323). Some time soon, I will try 170 gr. RN jacketed bullets for feed. See my previous notes on reloading this caliber as to why you can use .323 or .329/.330 bullets in this rifle.

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6.5x53 Dutch

160 gr. bullet, 30.0 grs. IMR 3031
160 gr. bullet, 30.0 grs. IMR 4895
160 gr. bullet, 37.0 grs. IMR 4350

Brass lenght>>>>>>>>>>> 2.110 inches.
OAL reloaded cartridge>>> 3.020 inches

This cartridge can be fireformed using the .303 as a parent cartridge, and trimmed to lenght.






.

_________________
"You cannot invade mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass." - Admiral Yamamoto - Japan, 1941

Has anyone tried any other powders in the 8x56 with the 205 Hornady. I have tested the the IMR3031 for function and I got complete burn (some other calibers with IMR 3031 have left large amount of yellow straw like powder granules in the action- tested with several different lots)
I have tried one other powder but still need more work.
I have 2 different set of load data for IMR3031 for this bullet One is 36- 39 grs But after shooting 39gr, 42 gr and 45 gr of IMR 30301 the 36-39gr seems too low.
Has anyone tried either lot of the wc852? I got some that I would love to get through. I bought the first type and loved it bought the second type and it is hotter!! (the benefits of buying bulk military surplus powder where each lot is mixed to it own formula but the price was right )
Is the red dot load for 205gr for cast? Is that for the lee 205 gr cast?
Unfortunately the Lee info included with the dies is a little short on this info.
Does any on have a duplicate load for the original military round ?
If the Good Lord is willing I hope to get up to my place this week and put some more on paper.
Thanks
Joe

_________________
"If it killed them 150 years ago it will still kill them today. " (Response to a question about black powder fire arms)

Also does anybody know the trim length of the shell? I'm getting to my 3-4 reloads and need to start measuring.

56mm = 2.204
50mm = 1.968 SW

_________________
Slava Ukraini!!

I get best accuracy with the Hornady jacketed bullet and 48.0/IMR 4064. A hot load but accurate - work up to it carefully. SW

_________________
Slava Ukraini!!

I was looking with interest at you 8X56R load using a 205 grain pill and 35 grains of IMR 4895. But I did not get a good chamber seal on mine until I got to about 48 grains. (Very sooty cases until then)

Of course, it kicks like a mule.

Got some reloading data for the Dutch M95.
This data performed real well in my rifle.
That doesn't mean it does the same in yours.
Be careful when you copy this data.

Brass: Reformed .303 British (Winchester)
Primer: Federal 210 LR
Powder: 34 gn of VihtaVuori N140
Bullet: Lapua 140 gn SP
OAL: 79.75mm / 3.14 inches
Case length: 53.5mm / 2.11 inches


......Winchester reformed brass / Lapua 140 gn SP / OAL 3.14 inches

Brass: Reformed .303 British (Winchester)
Primer: Federal 210 LR
Powder: Still testing, but working down from 17gn of VihtaVuori N110 to a minimum of 12gn (reduced loads).
Currently at 14.2gn of N110.
14.8gn of N110 worked best until now.
I'll keep you posted.
Bullet: Cast boolit cal .264, 160 gn
OAL: 75.00mm / 2.95 inches
Case length: 53.5mm / 2.11 inches



Cast boolit cal .264 / 160gn.
Not perfectly casted, but they fly great.


FROM BRITISH TO DUTCH





From left to right:
1) .303 British
2) .303 reformed to 6.5mm
3) ...trimmed to 53.5mm / 2.11 inches
4) original case manufactured in 1926


Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

In the first set of data, I don't see what powder you used with the 206 grain bullet. I'm wondering because I just got some 206 gr. Prvi Partizan bullets.

i have loaded cast bullets of 215 gr. gas check and 205 plain base. the one thing to watch is if loads are on the light side the powder gas wants to not only blacken the case but gas can and will come back into the shooters face. another reminder to always wear glasses when shooting. saw a remington rolling block blow up glasses saved the shooters vision. he had a piece of the extractor sitcking out of his nose. this was an experience reloader and any of us could make a mistake. joe gifford aka argie1891

Hey all, checking for a pulse on this post.

Has anyone come up with new reloading data?

I've been working with H4350, H380 and recently Reloader15.

I found PPU 8x56R ammo flying at about 2,150 fps out of my M95/34.

The only reloads I've shot over a Chrony are the ones using H380. I only made 20 rounds, in increments of 0.5gr, starting at 40.5gr and ending at 50.0gr.

There is a post out there at Maryland Shooters:
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=10722

In this post "Half-cocked" provided some info from his experience with H4350, so this is where I got my start with H4350. Unfortunately, I did not have a Chrony at the time that I fired these reloads. But this is what I noticed,

Tools & Consumables:
Hornady (PPU) 0.330" Spire Point Bullets
Federal Ammunition No. 210 Large Rifle Primers
Hodgedon H4350 Smokeless Powder
PPU 8x56R Once Fired Brass
Lee 8x56R Hungarian Full Length Sizing Die & Bullet Seater

H4350 (OAL set to 3.000" +/-0.008", cannelure exposed ~ 85%, un-crimped)
Grains / Notes
----------------------------------
40.5 / definitely underpowered, primer backed out some but nowhere near flat.
41.0 / primer backed out some but nowhere near flat.
41.5 / noticeable increase in recoil compared to last shot, primer backed out still.
42.0 / primer backed out still.
42.5 / same.
43.0 / same.
43.5 / same.
44.0 / noticeable increase in recoil compared to last shot, primer backed out still.
44.5 / primer not backed out as much, still nowhere near flat.
45.0 / same.
45.5 / noticeable increase in recoil compared to last shot, primer same as prior.
46.0 / primer not backed out as much, still nowhere near flat.
46.5 / same.
47.0 / same.
47.5 / same.
48.0 / noticeable increase in recoil compared to last shot, primer same as prior.
48.5 / primer not backed out as much, still nowhere near flat.
49.0 / same.
49.5 / same.
50.0 / primer flush with bottom of case, noticeable increase in recoil compared to last.
50.5 / primer backed out a little again, primer cup still round.
51.0 / same.
51.5 / same.
52.0 / primer nearly flush.
52.5 / same.
53.0 / Recoil kicks like PPU ammo (PPU ammo shot before & after), primer flush.
53.5 / noticeable increase in recoil compared to last.
54.0 / no issues at this powder load, but it kicks good.
------end of info------

I dared not go beyond 54.0gr without knowing my fps. But it did feel like it could go a little more. The case necks all showed some soot, even at 54.0gr.

THIS IS COMING FROM MY RIFLE, please be safe and work your loads carefully as they may produce different results in your M95. By the way, my barrel slugged at 0.3145" and 0.3315".

The contributor (Half-cocked), at Maryland Shooters mentioned that there was definite blowby when he used H4350 at 40.0gr so I decided to start at 40.5gr. He did not mention primers backing out at the lower charges, though, and called them perfect. He used CCI #200 Large Rifle Primers and his brass was New PPU 8x56R.

Looking at my info, if the primers did not back out, I would like to use 44.0gr for plinking, if not 50.0gr. Even though PPU ammo has less recoil than the milsurp nazi ammo (so I have read), I would like to use the 53.0gr charge (H4350) to stay true to the PPU recoil. I will eventually run a similar batch through a Chrony that I just bought last month.

++++++++++++

Speaking of Chrony, I had some H380 that I wanted to test out on 8x56R (same gun) and this is what I got:

Tools & Consumables:
Hornady (PPU) 0.330" Spire Point Bullets
Federal Ammunition No. 210 Large Rifle Primers
Hodgedon H380 Smokeless Powder
PPU 8x56R Twice Fired Brass
Lee 8x56R Hungarian Full Length Sizing Die & Bullet Seater

H380 (OAL set to 3.000" +/-0.008", cannelure exposed ~ 85%, un-crimped)
Grains / fps / Notes
----------------------------------
40.5 / 1802 /
41.0 / 1817 /
41.5 / 1898 / some light blowby around shoulder area
42.0 / 1831 /
42.5 / 1869 /
43.0 / 1929 / primer good, some light blowby around shoulder area.
43.5 / 1894 /
44.0 / 1945 /
44.5 / 1910 /
45.0 / 1983 /
45.5 / 1966 /
46.0 / 2015 / recoil increases significantly, primer still good.
46.5 / 2043 /
47.0 / 2031 /
47.5 / 2093 / primer starting to flatten.
48.0 / 2114 / recoil increases significantly.
48.5 / 2134 / primer still looks good.
49.0 / 2170 /
49.5 / 2162 /
50.0 / 2210 / primer still looks ok, case looks ok.
-----end of info-----

This H380 was ok for me (for 8x56R). I would use it in a pinch. The recoil was not as sharp as the PPU ammo, it was more of a quick strong push as opposed to an abrupt snap. It all takes palce in milliseconds, I know, but that's the best way I can describe it.

The H380 had light specks inside the case (unburnt powder). This was decreasing in evidence from 40.5gr through to 50.0gr, but at 50.0gr it was just a trace of a trace. Just as with the H4350, this H380 still produced some soot at the case necks, even at 50.0gr.

++++++++++++

I tried some Reloader15 but I don't want to post this until I run it through the Chrony. I was pleased with RL15. The Federal Ammunition primers that I used above were perfect after being fired. I may have found my powder for the 8x56R with this RL15. I will post hopefully before April is over with.


Again, PLEASE BE SAFE. You can see that I started low and if along the way up I had found a case showing stress or other evidence of overpressure I would have stopped there. My high charges are not to be considered NE loads, again because my gun is different than yours.

*** edited 06APR13 to include OAL ***

The hot IMR 4064 load listed above works so well for me I haven't tried anything else in 8x56R.

For cast loads in 8x50R I used the dedicated Lee 205 grain mold. 20.0 grains of AA5744 works well and I believe it's mild enough to use in the M.88/90 I just scored at auction. I use Privi 7.62x54R brass. trim to 50mm & FL size.

And! Welcome to the madness!! SW

_________________
Slava Ukraini!!

I use the Lee .329 Steyr bullet and expand 7.62x54R case necks with a .328" diameter expander ball.

Then neck size/bullet seat in 8x56R die set.

I fired my M95/30 short rifle Mar 8, 2014. The background on this rifle, It’s a Steyr, I think it’s a converted long rifle since it has the higher rear sight. The stock and metal are in very good shape, I spent a lot of time running patches (December and January) to clean the copper fouling out of the barrel. Now that the barrel is as clean as I can make it, it’s time for some shooting.

Some common elements of the four loads I shot this weekend are:
1) Bullet-cast Lee .329 8x56 mold, that measured .330” as cast, I did not size the bullets, they were lubed with Lee Liquid Alox, tumble lubed twice. Hornady 8mm gas checks were installed with a Lyman sizer. Hardness of the bullet was measured with a Lee tester that gave me a BHN of 14. My bullet alloy started as wheel weights and I added some lino type to it, I did this 10 years ago and I don’t remember what the proportions were, sorry. Bullets were weight sorted to within .1 grn for each of the 5 round groups.
2) Powder was AA 5744, individually weighed with an electronic scale.
3) Primer was CCI 200
4) Brass was PPU (Privi Partisan)
5) Overall length 2.934”
6) Fired on a 50 yard range, off a benchrest with sand bag rests fore end and butt stock. Weather was 40 degrees, no wind, overcast. I used an F1 Shooting Chrony chronograph.

Individual loads and their results:
1) 25.0 grns of powder, group size 1 3/4”, muzzle velocity 1597 fps.
2) 26.0 grns of powder, group size 2.0”, muzzle velocity 1676 fps.
3) 27.0 grns of powder, group size 1 5/8”, muzzle velocity 1743 fps.
4) 28.0 grns of powder, group size 1 5/8”, muzzle velocity 1806 fps.

I took a 6:00 hold on a 3" stick on bullseye and all the groups were close to the bottom of the bullseye. I tried to attach a pic of the four tgts but they're not showing up. I'll see what I'm doing wrong and try to get them up.

I want to add my thanks to all the other posters for their reloading notes, I'm looking forward to some good weather to get out with this rifle and try out a lot of different loads.

Jim