A different kind of Africa rifle

Well I had more fun today in -35 than a guy’s supposed to. Stretched this little things legs to 600 yards, the .300 Blackout reticle in the Mark 4 is admirably close, the 7.62x39 is a bit flatter but I wouldn’t stand in the way of the 500 or 600 yard holds. To 400 they’re close enough not a big deal, by 500 you’re high (pictured, shooting the cheap Barnaul HPs).

Shot every 7.62x39 I could get my hands on, Russian, two types of Norc (copper wash, and silver box / brown lacquered), Barnaul, S&B, some random green lacquered ones from my old range box, handloads with 174gr MKs in Hornady brass. Everything worked with a single exception though all extracted like greased lightning, probably the smoothest feeding little action I have.

The round that didn’t take was a Norc copper wash, I was rapid firing a mag quick as I could at close range with the red dot lit up and I suspect I didn’t get the bolt handle all the way flush and absorbed some of the strike. The second try it fired as normal. The 174 MKs I have to switch powder, got 1740fps over 25.5grs H4895 and November pressure but out of case volume, the round in the action is one tee’d up.

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I use 30.0 CFE-BLK with 123 grain and 27.5 CFE-BLK with 150 grain... both with PRVI brass and Fed-210 primers... it has very good speed and was the most consistently accurate powder I tested in three Ruger rifles and the CZ carbine.
 
Ardent said:
Missed my shot to get more powder, town’s 3 1/2 hours away, but will put it on the list for next trip. I’m hoping a 60% load of H4895 is subsonic and then at least can check out the subsonic side of the Blackout reticle with what I have.
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I have never had much luck with H4895 @ 60%... I have not gotten consistent results until I get to 70%, so that is where I start now. For your sub-sonic loads shoot the heavy RN's, and/or try TB, I have a TB load in my notes somewhere, I will see if I can find it.
 
It may seems crazy but ive gotten good ressults with tight group makeing subsonic ammo in cases 303r and smaller ( down to 25-20win case size)

Hodgdons lists a loads of 8gr TG in a 308 case and 160gr jacketed bullet giving 1250fps at 25kpsi.

Personally id try around 5gr Standard primer in the x39 case with 123 gr jacketed. And go from there. Ive gown down to 3gr in a 303 case giving me 710fps so no real worry about too little powder.

I also use piles of h4895 in cases from x39 to 460 weatherby. Awesome powder for sure. If you are going to do thr 60% load a heavy bullet helps and a big crimp
 
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Good stuff Hoyt and Evan, I tried the 60% but still supersonic so didn’t even explore groups. I did manage to work up to 28.0grs H4895 in behind the 174gr MK, with no pressure yet, but finally got some velocity 2050fps. That’s actually useful and will be a LEH up on distant cardboard over the light bullets. I have trail boss at home, will move to that for the subs.
 
Here is what I had in my notes from my last work up;

7.62X39 Russian (.311 Bore - Max COL = 2.210”);

- Reduced; 165 RN-HC, 6.0-8.0/Trail Boss, Win/ Fed 210, 2.500” (8.0)
- Full; Hornady 123/125 SP/SST, 31.0/CFE-BLK, PRVI/ Fed 210 2.210” (30.0*)
- Full; Hornady 123/125 SP/SST, 29.0/H4895, PRVI/ Fed 210 2.100”
- Full; Hornady 150 SST/NBT, 27.5/CFE-BLK, PRVI/ Fed 210 2.225” (*)
- Full; Hornady 150 SST/NBT, 28.0C/H4895, PRVI/ Fed 210 2.225”
 
Thanks Greg appreciate it, here’s the H4895 with the 174 MK, there were a bunch of mid points but shot them for groups and pressure didn’t chrono, I don’t have my tripod so have to prone off my elbows through the chrony so just spot checked base, middle, and crammed right damn full.

25.5grs H4895 Fed SR Match primed, Hornady brass, 174gr Sierra Match King 2.300” OAL 1740fps, 1701fps from CZ527 no pressure

28.0grs H4895 Fed SR Match primer, Hornady brass, 174gr Sierra Match King, 2.300” OAL 2053fps, CZ527 no pressure signs, very compressed

30.0grs H4895 Fed SR Match primer, Hornady brass, 174gr Sierra Match King, 2.310” OAL 2148fps, CZ527 no pressure signs, VERY compressed.
 
I dont want to throw a hundred different options at you as there is loads of power that will provide good results and you have a very good idea of what you are doing, but if the TB gives erratic velocities ( known to sometimes happen) try some a2400 or aa5744 they are a perfect burn rate for subsonic rifle loads and have no issues with low load density ( i shoot mostly cast so im always loading in these velocitys)
 
Should be pretty consistent, ammo was loaded in a warm building and then shot out back within 30 secs. Ballistics to 500 will be different though for sure. :d

Here’s it chewing through Norinco copper wash, and caught the light strike on video. Almost certainly operator error shooting fast and not getting the handle right flush. It eats everything I’ve thrown at it silky smooth, neat little carbine. If any of the guys with stuck cases are still here, was it a hot day? This ammo was warm out of the truck, but not smoking hot. Curious what was causing that.

https://imgur.com/YR4iUws
 
Conversely then, wonder how it chronos after sitting in -35 for a while.

The laquered stuff that would stick for me was Czech bxn laquered steel cased silvertipped heavy ball 7.62x54r. It would stick after 2 or 3 quick shots, but not in every rifle.
 
Ardent said:
Missed my shot to get more powder, town’s 3 1/2 hours away, but will put it on the list for next trip. I’m hoping a 60% load of H4895 is subsonic and then at least can check out the subsonic side of the Blackout reticle with what I have.
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Trail Boss will get you subsonic. 60% H4895 won’t. You can go pretty low with Trail Boss, I’ve shot 30-30 cast loads that barely dribbled out of the barrel, but penetrated well


Edit - looks like you’ve already got Trail Boss info
 
MiG25 said:
Conversely then, wonder how it chronos after sitting in -35 for a while.

The laquered stuff that would stick for me was Czech bxn laquered steel cased silvertipped heavy ball 7.62x54r. It would stick after 2 or 3 quick shots, but not in every rifle.
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Well, -33C without wind, cold soaked the 30.0grs H4895 6.5 Grendel load with the 130gr Berger hybrid,

Room temp average - 2661fps
Cold soaked -33C - 2668fps

Not kidding. I only soaked and shot one, but it stayed out there almost an hour and when I picked it up by the bullet it was burning cold to the skin. Hodgdon isn’t kidding about the H4895 temperature stability.
 
I've found some powders to gain velocity in the cold. Temps in my test ranged from -15c to -19c

I tested H4895 in a 308, it was 60 fps faster in -15c than it was in +13c. Average of ten rounds fired in each temp
 
todbartell said:
I've found some powders to gain velocity in the cold. Temps in my test ranged from -15c to -19c

I tested H4895 in a 308, it was 60 fps faster in -15c than it was in +13c. Average of ten rounds fired in each temp
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Your extensive testing of loads in many conditions has provided a wealth of knowledge, often disproving much "common knowledge" about how powders react in different temperatures and conditions.
 
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