STEYR 8x56R

[muzzle flash]

Have started casting and loading for the Steyr 8x56R. Ordered Hornady dies, Accurate bullet mold wich drops a 235 gr. .335 dia. Gas check flat nose bullet. Mold takes .338 gas checks. I lube and seat gas check with a lube/sizer die.
So far have run into a couple of issues. First was the dies will not let me crimp the the belled cases with the .335 dia. Bullets but they still chamber freely. (Wish Lee made a factory crimp die)
Second was that these flat point bullets will not feed out of the Steyr clips. The flat point dives into the feed ramp which I should of thought of beforehand.
First load to be tried will be with the .335 bullets and 18 hrs. 4759 powder.

 

[Andy]

You mean 0.335", not 0.355" I assume?

I just use the GC 220 gr Lee 338 bullet (90372) sized down to 0.332". It's cheap and "ok".

I'm in a GB on Castboolits for the "Old Feller" mold and will report back once I've tried it.

I have never had, seen or heard of an accurate M95, but I'm stubborn......

 

[muzzle flash]

Yes .335 is correct. Am kind of cranky with myself not thinking of the flat point not feeding from the clip. Can see another mold coming.

 

[sawzall]

If you absolutely must crimp your loads, and have no crimp die you can carefully run the seated round back into the full length sizing die and it will remove the bell. Do it carefully in small steps though until you get the right amount of resizing you want because if you go too far it will resize the boolit as well. The newer Lee seating dies no longer have the crimp function built into them. They are all the "dead length" seating dies. The seating dies with 2 wrench flats on them are the old style with (usually) a crimp of some type and the ones that are round and knurled all the way around have no crimp feature.

 

[muzzle flash]

If you absolutely must crimp your loads, and have no crimp die you can carefully run the seated round back into the full length sizing die and it will remove the bell. Do it carefully in small steps though until you get the right amount of resizing you want because if you go too far it will resize the boolit as well. The newer Lee seating dies no longer have the crimp function built into them. They are all the "dead length" seating dies. The seating dies with 2 wrench flats on them are the old style with (usually) a crimp of some type and the ones that are round and knurled all the way around have no crimp feature.

I do not HAVE to crimp. the rounds will chamber freely with the belled case mouths. Tells you something about the chambering. I will try to run them into sizer as mentioned.

 

[sawzall]

I do not HAVE to crimp. the rounds will chamber freely with the belled case mouths. Tells you something about the chambering. I will try to run them into sizer as mentioned.

If you can chamber them with the belled mouth, you may find it more accurate that way. It can help center the round in a loose or worn chamber.

 

[zuke]

Yes .335 is correct. Am kind of cranky with myself not thinking of the flat point not feeding from the clip. Can see another mold coming.

Have you tried seating them deeper, not as deep? Slight OAL change might help. BUT make sure you don't load those round's straight into the chamber then close the bolt, in time you will break the extractor!

 

[Lionel]

If you need some of those Lee 220 gr roundnose bullets, I have a bunch of air cooled wheel weight I could send your way.
Pm me and I'll put together a care package if you want.

 

[muzzle flash]

Have you tried seating them deeper, not as deep? Slight OAL change might help. BUT make sure you don't load those round's straight into the chamber then close the bolt, in time you will break the extractor!

Seating the bullets shorter would defeat the purpose of the mold design and you are correct on loading the rounds straight into chamber. I manually slip the cartridge rim under the extractor first.

 

[muzzle flash]

Was able to try out the Steyrs. Used 225 gr., .335 dia. Gas check flat point Mold from Accurate molds as well as some of the 220 gr. Lee .338 gas checked bullet. Both loads consisted of 18 gr. of 4759 (just found out this powder has been discontinued)Shot the flat points in the carbine and the Lee .338's in the long rifle. Targets shot with front and rear rest's at 100 meters. Had to flip up the sight on the long rifle and aim 2" below bull. The carbine needed to have the sight completely covering the bull. Neither one of these scenarios is ideal for precise shooting but was happy with the groups.
My thanks to Lionel for donating the Lee bullets to try.

10 rounds with the Lee bullets.

10 rounds with the Accurate flat points

 

[zuke]

Looking great!