Two years ago I bought one of those repro Mosin Nagant sniper rifles, based on a 1942 refurb. I have a lot of fun with it. The scope has been zeroed and a small piece of plastic under the trigger reduced the creep. Other than that, it is stock.
Milsurp ammo groups around 5.0” at 100 yards, shooting off sandbags.
Last year I bought a box of 500 174gr. Sierra Match Kings from Mystic, and last week I loaded up a test batch, using BLC2 powder. I tested 37.0 to 41.0 grains in ½ gr increments.
Milsurp – 5.00”
Handloads with BLC2 and Sierra 174 match King
37 – 3.15”
38 – 2.03”
39 – 1.66”
39.5 – 1.75”
40 – 1.77”
I dug out my #4T with the good barrel, and ran a similar test, using the same powder and bullets.
37 – 3.83”
38 – 2.96”
39 – 2.40”
40 – 2.40”
41 – 2.05”
It looks promising. Next time I will use Winchester primers instead of Federal. Vertical stringing in a #4 means velocity variations.
I enjoy shooting and did not want to shoot out an old and valuable collector like the #4T. I took a #4 with a buggered barrel and replaced the barrel with a heavy stainless steel match barrel. It has been machined with bayonet lugs, so still looks right. It got a #4T cheek piece and a low mounted scope.
The chamber is a 303Brit type chamber, except the case neck and throat is a bit smaller to match the 308 bullets I load in it. I call it a 308 Brit.
This test was loaded with the same BLC2 powder and Sierra 168 Match Kings. The better quality heavy barrel seems to work well. I have had some good groups out of it, but have yet to confirm that the load result is repeatable.
37 – 3.40”
38 – 0.76”
39 – 3.76”
40 – 2.63”
41 – 4.50”
Milsurp ammo groups around 5.0” at 100 yards, shooting off sandbags.
Last year I bought a box of 500 174gr. Sierra Match Kings from Mystic, and last week I loaded up a test batch, using BLC2 powder. I tested 37.0 to 41.0 grains in ½ gr increments.
Milsurp – 5.00”
Handloads with BLC2 and Sierra 174 match King
37 – 3.15”
38 – 2.03”
39 – 1.66”
39.5 – 1.75”
40 – 1.77”
I dug out my #4T with the good barrel, and ran a similar test, using the same powder and bullets.
37 – 3.83”
38 – 2.96”
39 – 2.40”
40 – 2.40”
41 – 2.05”
It looks promising. Next time I will use Winchester primers instead of Federal. Vertical stringing in a #4 means velocity variations.
I enjoy shooting and did not want to shoot out an old and valuable collector like the #4T. I took a #4 with a buggered barrel and replaced the barrel with a heavy stainless steel match barrel. It has been machined with bayonet lugs, so still looks right. It got a #4T cheek piece and a low mounted scope.
The chamber is a 303Brit type chamber, except the case neck and throat is a bit smaller to match the 308 bullets I load in it. I call it a 308 Brit.
This test was loaded with the same BLC2 powder and Sierra 168 Match Kings. The better quality heavy barrel seems to work well. I have had some good groups out of it, but have yet to confirm that the load result is repeatable.
37 – 3.40”
38 – 0.76”
39 – 3.76”
40 – 2.63”
41 – 4.50”
... Did you consider that maybe it's just breathing?
