P14 doesn't like igman ammo - why??

H Wally

H Wally

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So I got my P14 a few weeks ago
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154032
It's matching bolt and reciever, and great condition. Unfortunately, it won't accept the only common reloadable .303 ammo that I can get (Igman).

I tried remington, dominion, federal and 1953 british made fmj, they all chamber beautifully. With the igman, it jams right when the bolt touches the opening of the chamber. As I said before, it doesn't do this with any other ammo, just igman. It will extract the igman round the same as any other cartridge, and if I put a round in the barrel and close the bolt it grabs and extracts it fine. I believe it must be something to do with the extractor and the igman ammo, since when the bolt reaches the breech is when the extractor engages the rim of the cartridge. What I want to know is - why igman??? the only difference I can see is that igman has a groove cut just below the rim all the way around the cartridge, but that should aid, not impede the extractor...shouldn't it??? Anyone else had these problems? I'll get a video up tonight to show what happens.
 
A P-'14 is a Mauser with a British accent, built in the States.

It should feed like a Mauser, too, which means that it should be fed through the magazine. It has a true Mauser-type bolt-face and extractor, which means that the cartridge, coming up from the magazine, should slip under the extractor and be held by the ridge at the top of the bolt-face.

Try feeding the rifle through the magazine.

I'm gonna try to find some of that Igman ammo...... maybe I can finally find something that will jam my Ross!
 
I have been feeding through the magazine. I can load 5 rds, all different manufacturer, only the igman will jam. I said I can load it into the chamber and then close the bolt to illustrate that it isn't an issue with the bolt and the reciever, but rather something to do with how the igman ammo interacts with the extractor as it loads. Perhaps the groove in the igman ammo = smaller circumference of bullet, and therefor too much angle for the extractor to easily slide over? I'm grasping at straws now, cus this one has me stumped.
 
Could be the rims are too thick, or the OAL is too long/not long enough. Igman is garbage ammo anyway, probably lucky you can't chamber it.
 
Yes, check the rim, the overall length and also the base of the brass cartridge.
I ran into some cases, in an different round, where the base was actually thicker from about halfway from the rim to the primer! What a pain!
 
CanAm said:
How is that gun accuray wise?
Click to expand...

Fairly decent - I only shot 20 rounds through it because of the ammo problem, but I'm confident it shoots much better than I do.:rolleyes: It's also the first gun I've shot that has peep sights, so I guess the only way to give you an honest answer is to shoot it more and see:D

P.S. - and I'm going to start reloading .303, so hopefully I'll be able to overcome the whole problem that way.
 
Igman factory ammunition is very in-accurate and inconsistent.
Recommend you buy this ammo merely for the brass
Thats all its really good for.
 
The Igman Brass is also very stiff to re-size. But since I bought 500 rounds of it four years ago and saved all the brass it is what I use for 303 re-loading.

Anyhow, I bet Hitzy is correct. The rim is likely thicker than the others. Can you check it with a micrometer.
 
Riflechair said:
Igman factory ammunition is very in-accurate and inconsistent.
Recommend you buy this ammo merely for the brass
Thats all its really good for.
Click to expand...

I find that Igman works OK. This group at 100 yds was with Igman factory.
DSC00261.jpg
 
Riflechair said:
Igman factory ammunition is very in-accurate and inconsistent.
Recommend you buy this ammo merely for the brass
Thats all its really good for.
Click to expand...

So you guys have no problems reloading Igman brass? I have heard from many people that it is just junk and not reloadable, that is why I have not bought any. Right now I am looking for some good 7.62x54r brass to reload, but I don't want to spend a boatload of money for Lupa or Norma brass. This is good news and I might look into getting some. Anyone else have any feeding issues with different Igman calibers?

Thanks,
Logan
 
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Logan.Reese said:
So you guys have no problems reloading Igman brass? I have heard from many people that it is just junk and not reloadable, that is why I have not bought any. Right now I am looking for some good 7.62x54r brass to reload, but I don't want to spend a boatload of money for Lupa or Norma brass. This is good news and I might look into getting some. Anyone else have any feeding issues with different Igman calibers?

Thanks,
Logan
Click to expand...

some day I am going to have a pictorial thread of all of the steps needed to prep Igman brass for reloading. They are a pain to prepare but once prepped they are tough as nails. The prep includes:

1 - drill out the flash hole to a useable size (they are minuscule, the break decappers) use a 5/64 drill bit

2 - decap

3 - de-crimp primer pocket

4 - anneal necks (this brack is thick as hell and will spring back after neck sizing... I found that sometimes the bullet hold was minimal)


once these steps are done, the brass is reloadeable with my level of skill. ;)
 
Proutfoo said:
some day I am going to have a pictorial thread of all of the steps needed to prep Igman brass for reloading. They are a pain to prepare but once prepped they are tough as nails. The prep includes:

1 - drill out the flash hole to a useable size (they are minuscule, the break decappers) use a 5/64 drill bit

2 - decap

3 - de-crimp primer pocket

4 - anneal necks (this brack is thick as hell and will spring back after neck sizing... I found that sometimes the bullet hold was minimal)


once these steps are done, the brass is reloadeable with my level of skill. ;)
Click to expand...

That's interesting, but if Wally is having feed issues with it, maybe the brass is out of spec to the point that it's not worth bothering with?
 
Proutfoo said:
some day I am going to have a pictorial thread of all of the steps needed to prep Igman brass for reloading. They are a pain to prepare but once prepped they are tough as nails. The prep includes:

1 - drill out the flash hole to a useable size (they are minuscule, the break decappers) use a 5/64 drill bit

2 - decap

3 - de-crimp primer pocket

4 - anneal necks (this brack is thick as hell and will spring back after neck sizing... I found that sometimes the bullet hold was minimal)


once these steps are done, the brass is reloadeable with my level of skill. ;)
Click to expand...

If you find yourself with the time, please do! I have a lot of igman, and am getting ito reloading, so I'd be interested in having an editorial on how to reload it.
 
H Wally said:
If you find yourself with the time, please do! I have a lot of igman, and am getting ito reloading, so I'd be interested in having an editorial on how to reload it.
Click to expand...

Did you buy a case of it from Distribucorp?
Have you tried feeding it into other .303 rifles like No 4's? I ask because that is at least a source of some .303 ammo...but if it sucks...

As for drilling out the flash hole, deburring the primer hole, annealing the necks with a propane torch, that's not too bad, just a few minutes a case. Not like you're shooting IPSC like quantities of it off...
 
I reload igman 7.62x54r & have not done anything other than the usual resize & load. Have maybe 10 reloads on the first batch of brass, no failures yet. The first decap is a bit tough sine the primer is crimped but doable.
 
cantom said:
Did you buy a case of it from Distribucorp?
Have you tried feeding it into other .303 rifles like No 4's? I ask because that is at least a source of some .303 ammo...but if it sucks...
Click to expand...

I've just been buying igman packs of 20 as I go, as I mainly shoot my mosin nagant 91/30. The igman shoots fine out of both of my no 1 mk 3 enfields, which is why I was surprised with feeding issues on the P14. I'm supposed to be getting some once fired .303 brass this weekend, so hopefully they won't be igman and I can start reloading. I love the british rifles, but it's just so expensive compared to milsurp russian ammo when you're not reloading!
 
Proutfoo said:
some day I am going to have a pictorial thread of all of the steps needed to prep Igman brass for reloading. They are a pain to prepare but once prepped they are tough as nails. The prep includes:

1 - drill out the flash hole to a useable size (they are minuscule, the break decappers) use a 5/64 drill bit

2 - decap

3 - de-crimp primer pocket

4 - anneal necks (this brack is thick as hell and will spring back after neck sizing... I found that sometimes the bullet hold was minimal)


once these steps are done, the brass is reloadeable with my level of skill. ;)
Click to expand...

Hey that would be great if you could do a tutorial. So if prepared properly, Igman is decent brass eh? One question about the drilling of the flash holes though, does that change the way the powder ignites? When drilling the flash hole out, how do you drill just the case and not the primer right through? If you drilled it right through the primer the decapping pin would not work, correct? I was just thinking I could set up a jig for my drill press with a case holder and make sure to set the press so it does not drill right though. I will definately think about picking some up Igman. Hopefully Districorp has some 7.62x54r in stock now.

Thanks,
Logan
 
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