Reloading for the FN49 (8x57)

[sillymike]

Quick question, does anybody reload for their FN49? If so, how do you keep your brass from been all mangled up?

I took one to the range this weekend to blast off some milsurp ammo... and it looks like the extractor was trying to rip the rim off, not to say about the dents in the brass

 

[Andy]

I had an FN49 in 8x57 that I reloaded for, but traded it (to my regret) four years ago.

Three things to remember:

- choose a medium to fast powder (e.g. H4895 or IMR4064);
- choose a moderate load; and
- CLOSE the gas port and open it little by little until it functions correctly.

That will minimize, but not eliminate the beating the brass takes.

 

[m39a2]

Man you picked a tough one to reload for. As above, load it as if you were loading for a Garand. Same types of powder. Keep the port preasure as low as you can, you will still get a dent but it won't look as much like the extractor is trying to seperate the rim like a can opener!
Scott

 

[granite]

delete

del

 

[b72471]

FN 49 in 8X57

I have one of these and I find it very easy to load for.
Yes as said there is a gas adjustment under the front handguard.
Properly adjusted this rifle should drop the spent brass at your feet not mangled. Bill

 

[sillymike]

Are there any bullet weight that work better then the other? The FNM stuff I was using were 200gr FMJ.

 

[diopter]

They will all work, with the right gas settings.
Tried 8mm Mauser Rem. & Win powder-puff 170gr RN soft point 2400fps commercial hunting ammo, worked.
Then S&B 7.9 JS 196gr capped hollow points at 783 m/s (2568fps) Don't want to be on the receiving end of that one!

The 30-06 FN was the same when we first got it. Ripped the rim half off the first fired case. Opened up the gas so the the gas port was wide open, action stays locked with fired case in chamber, then closed the gas port 2-3 clicks per shot until had gentle , reliable extraction.

 

[Tbolt]

Glad I found this thread!

 

[Kevan]

The best bullet in my '49 is the 180 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip 8mm because it feeds so well and the nylon tip doesn't get mashed up.
As far as chewing up the brass the hotter the load gets there will be more dents and scratches, so after 5 or 6 reloads I would reload and run through my 8x57 Mauser thus blowing out all the dents and the brass is still reuseable.