Old Milsurp Accuracy

Bittermansbro

Bittermansbro

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
31   0   0
Location
Calgary, AB
As a milsurp collector/shooter, I think we all live with some inaccurate dogs because of their place in history and our collections. I know lots of us enjoy the challenge of turning an old dog into a good shooter withough resorting to 'bubba'. In some cases that may be upgrading to better specimens over time, for others its working the right loads.

Does anyone have one of those milsurps you bought that when you shot it, it performed beyond expectation?

I have a 1898 US Krag rifle I got a couple years ago and never shot :redface:. It was well looked after and a top specimen, even came with is bayo and picket pin scabbard, little brass muzzle cap and great bluing. Finally remembered I hadn't shot it yet and took it out with some 70's Super X 30-40 Krag ammo. With iron battle sights I ended up plugging most rounds into 2 in at 100. I have never been so impressed at an old rifles accuracy.

I got my target and will post a pic of it when I get home.

98R99C.jpg
 
Well that little tray is what makes the Krag interesting for sure. Although trying to imagine using it in the face of stripper fed Mausers, I would have been questioning my governments decision.....

However if you are not charging up a hill getting shot at, the Krag is wunderbar.
 
Yep - I've got a mosin and a ross that surprised me. The mosin because I wasn't expecting much at all, and the ross because it seems to be able to make shots that I can't :p
 
I have found that any milsurps I own will shoot better than I can hold them.

They were designed to put round holes in square heads. they are not match rifles but rather made to kill people. History has proven that they are quite capable of doing just that.
 
Hey;
I used a Krag 1899 carbine in action shooting a several years ago...it was a blast to shoot and fairly quick compared to other bolt actions. The stripper clip concept is sound though loading procedure of the Krag is also very logical.
I was using a 180 grain round nose in the Krags with lower mid range load according to the manuals. They all shot quite well considering they had open sights.
You have some nice looking 1898 Krags there...I have the 1896 and a late 1898.
Cheers
 
Last year I attended a 600 & 800 meter, full bore,target rifle match (the Irish match) at Bull Meadow Range in Nova Scotia.
At the time the only rifle I had that could use for that far, was my Danish VAR barrelled M1 Garand, made by Springfield, in 1944.
In the last 800 meter relay, I scored 31 and one V, out of a possible, 50 and ten V.
I think that's pretty good with an old M1 rifle, and my eyes.

PS: Fat Tony just slightly edged me out with a Polytech M14S. His aggregate was higher overall.
What's really amazing is that after this match, Fat Tony confessed to me the last time he shot high power rifle anything, he was still in the Army. ( in 1988 !?!?!)
 
Ryan j said:
Here are four of my favorites; they never cease to amaze me with how good they shoot and always seem to put a grin on my face whenever I take them out.:D

Milsurp056.jpg
Click to expand...

These are way too clean! :)

Nice rifles Ryan. Mind you you should put a No1Mk3 and a M91/30 in there, for good measure ;)

Re. accuracy: The nicest I've seen was from a No1Mk3 I refurbed for a friend. First time he shot with it, winter time with factory load, bench with front support (duffel bag...) he'd grouped 5 rounds in 2 inches or less. Either he's a really good shot or I really worked well on that rifle!

Lou
 
I've got a pretty well used Finn M/39 that always surprises me how VERY accurate it is. I also have a No.4 Mk.I(T) that's freakishly accurate, but that's less of a surprise. My 1942 Lithgow Mk.III is also a hell of a shooter.
 
Hey Lou, no No1Mk3 but here's my M91 Finn VKT B barrel; haven't had a chance to try it on the bench but it will shoot Sub Minute of Windshield Washer Fluid Jug @ 100 offhand.:D

M91024.jpg
 
Bittermansbro said:
Well that little tray is what makes the Krag interesting for sure. Although trying to imagine using it in the face of stripper fed Mausers, I would have been questioning my governments decision.....

However if you are not charging up a hill getting shot at, the Krag is wunderbar.
Click to expand...

kragcharger.gif



Very clever...about 100 or so years too late.
 
It's not my invention...I originally saw this on Gunboards dot com a number of years ago. The guy had a website and was selling them but he didn't have any plans to mass produce them and at the time encouraged others to improve upon what he did. It's basically shim stock wrapped around a wooden block.
 
My P14's and M1917's are the oldest, most accurate milsurps I own. K31 is the newest most accurate milsurp I own ;)
 
I have two 1891 argentine mausers in 7.65x53ARG. One's an argentine long gun and the other is a Peruvian carbine. They both shoot very well, but they both have mirror bores, so I think that helps. The carbine does NOT like .311 cast bullets. They were all over the target, but it likes 150gr. Norma factory stuff and my jacketed handloads.
 
One milsurp I own that really surprised me is my Ljungman AG-42B. At a hundred yards, It can put 5 rounds of cheap factory load (Ingman) in less than 2 inches. Not bad for a semi-auto !
 
Good MILSURP ammo will only deliver 2-2.5 MOA at at best,altho random bullet dispersion will sometimes result in a smaller group. Handloads really bring out the best in a rifle.

After a lot of shooting over the years with a variety of MILSURPS I have found the M1903 Springfield to be the undisputed accuracy champ. Find one with a sound barrel, make sure the bedding is correct,and then experiment with a variety of bullets and propellants to find what works best. I find that IMR4064/4895/4320/Varget with 150,165,and 168gr bullets will produce the best accuracy in the .30-06. Necksizing after initial firing is also a boost to better accuracy.

I have also gotten very good results with a Finnish M27MN, a HRA M14,a P14,and several M1 Garands-but the M1903 Springfield rules the roost.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom