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=10722In 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
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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 ***