I love the old big bores and have messed with a Snider Cadet Carbine, various Swiss Vetterlis, a few Mauser 71 and 71/84's, and a Dutch Beaumont. I also love Swedish stuff, so it's only natural that I'd buy a Swedish Rolling Block and that I'd shoot it as soon as possible.
I bought this M1867-74 from P&S Militaria a couple of weeks ago. As always, it was exactly as advertized and was shipped well-packaged and without delay. Everything matches, and I have a replacement Unit Disk on its way. I took it completely apart and cleaned it, taking particular care to free up the firing pin which has seized somewhat. A seized firing pin in a Rolling Block is a very bad thing as if protruding, it will be forced against the primer when the breechblock is closed - leading to possible unexpected firing with the hammer back and breechblock unsupported. It freed up nicely after some work.
This M1867-74 is chambered in 12.7x44R, but after taking a chamber cast with Cerrosafe, I discovered that I was fortunate to have one with a chamber generous enough that I can use Starline 50/70 Government brass, which required nothing more than trimming down to 1.715" and reducing the rim to 0.625", rather than a few more steps with 348 Win brass which is the usual process. The bore slugged to 0.515" (50 cal) and these guns have very aggressive lands which rise to 0.484" in my gun. Naturally I use cast bullets, and the Lee #90255 is perfect, dropping a 0.515" bullet at 430 grains using my mix of Wheelweight + 2% Tin. I lube with Alox. Lyman 50/70 dies did the rest. Loaded OAL was 2.310"
As for loads, this was originally a Blackpowder round, but as with all my rifles, I use Smokeless. Some BP guys wet themselves over the notion of using Smokeless in such rifles, but it is completely safe if done with care as with any loading procedure. I tried five different powders and had some good results:
Unique - 12.0 grs - 1000 fps - good grouping
H4198 - 28.0 grs - 1150 fps - good grouping
XMP5744 - 28.0 grs - 1200 fps - very consistent MV's, but the poorest grouping
H335 - 40.0 grs - 1050 fps - inconsistent ignition, very large MV variation, poor grouping (too low a charge weight?)
Pulled Swede - 50.0 grs - 1250 fps, consistent MV's, good grouping
No fillers were used. The surprises were the XMP5744 which is supposed to be THE BP substitute, but it put shots all over the target, and the H4198, which I had expected less from. H335 might not be suitable for this cartridge at the load densities required to stay at pressures the action could handle (<20K psi) - I could have gone higher (say to 45 grs) and might some day, but 40 grs did not work. Unique is always a good choice, and the Marstar Pulled Swede (from the 8x63) has been my go-to powder for all the Milshoots, and I have found it to be an excellent BP substitute. Its Burn Rate is close to IMR4064, and a full case of Swede gives velocities similar to what the original full case of BP produced. You get some "clinkers" (burnt powder particles), but they do nothing to affect accuracy. The other surprise is that the gun shoots 12" low (Milsurps most commonly shoot high), so the fix is easy - set the sights for 180 yds (this one goes 120, 180, 240 and 300).
I bought this M1867-74 from P&S Militaria a couple of weeks ago. As always, it was exactly as advertized and was shipped well-packaged and without delay. Everything matches, and I have a replacement Unit Disk on its way. I took it completely apart and cleaned it, taking particular care to free up the firing pin which has seized somewhat. A seized firing pin in a Rolling Block is a very bad thing as if protruding, it will be forced against the primer when the breechblock is closed - leading to possible unexpected firing with the hammer back and breechblock unsupported. It freed up nicely after some work.
This M1867-74 is chambered in 12.7x44R, but after taking a chamber cast with Cerrosafe, I discovered that I was fortunate to have one with a chamber generous enough that I can use Starline 50/70 Government brass, which required nothing more than trimming down to 1.715" and reducing the rim to 0.625", rather than a few more steps with 348 Win brass which is the usual process. The bore slugged to 0.515" (50 cal) and these guns have very aggressive lands which rise to 0.484" in my gun. Naturally I use cast bullets, and the Lee #90255 is perfect, dropping a 0.515" bullet at 430 grains using my mix of Wheelweight + 2% Tin. I lube with Alox. Lyman 50/70 dies did the rest. Loaded OAL was 2.310"
As for loads, this was originally a Blackpowder round, but as with all my rifles, I use Smokeless. Some BP guys wet themselves over the notion of using Smokeless in such rifles, but it is completely safe if done with care as with any loading procedure. I tried five different powders and had some good results:
Unique - 12.0 grs - 1000 fps - good grouping
H4198 - 28.0 grs - 1150 fps - good grouping
XMP5744 - 28.0 grs - 1200 fps - very consistent MV's, but the poorest grouping
H335 - 40.0 grs - 1050 fps - inconsistent ignition, very large MV variation, poor grouping (too low a charge weight?)
Pulled Swede - 50.0 grs - 1250 fps, consistent MV's, good grouping
No fillers were used. The surprises were the XMP5744 which is supposed to be THE BP substitute, but it put shots all over the target, and the H4198, which I had expected less from. H335 might not be suitable for this cartridge at the load densities required to stay at pressures the action could handle (<20K psi) - I could have gone higher (say to 45 grs) and might some day, but 40 grs did not work. Unique is always a good choice, and the Marstar Pulled Swede (from the 8x63) has been my go-to powder for all the Milshoots, and I have found it to be an excellent BP substitute. Its Burn Rate is close to IMR4064, and a full case of Swede gives velocities similar to what the original full case of BP produced. You get some "clinkers" (burnt powder particles), but they do nothing to affect accuracy. The other surprise is that the gun shoots 12" low (Milsurps most commonly shoot high), so the fix is easy - set the sights for 180 yds (this one goes 120, 180, 240 and 300).
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