What is your favourite load for your Swede M96?

samsplacci71

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I have 2 loads that are MOA. I am using the Hornady soft point 140 flat based projectile over 40 - 42 gr of IMR4350. I am also trying out the same projectile over 40gr of Hybrid 100v by Hodgdon. COAL is about 2.950. I am thinking of ordering some hornady HPBT match 140 gr projectiles as the BC looks better and it is a longer bullet.
 
I have only loaded one round for my M96 and it was extremely accurate at 100 and 200 yards and a pleasure to shoot. It may be on the soft side but it was my first outing with the gun. I used 34.5 grains of IMR4895 pushing a Hornady 140 grain Interlock with a COL of 3.03 ". I also ran this load in my AG42B and it shot perfectly with very nice action operation.
 
You might find that the flat base works better than the boat-tailed match bullet.

I have found that mediocre barrels shoot the flat based round nosed bullets best. If you are getting MOA, then that is about as good as it gets for a milsurp.

By all means keep trying to do better - but don't be surprised if the match bullet does worse.
 
45gr of H4831 under a Hornady 140gr SP. Shoots 1" at 100yds on a good day, 1-1/2" on a bad day.
45gr of H4831 under a Hornady 140gr HPBT Match bullet. Have shot 5/8" at 100yds but normally closer to 7/8".
Both with CCI regular LRP's and Remington brass.

Been meaning to try them both out at 200 and 300yds (the other two ranges at my club) but have had too many other toys to play with.
Complete coincidence that they take the exact same load. I tried the full range of load data from start to max with no significant pressure signs and 45gr proved most accurate for both.

My rifle is totally sporterized and free floated and I don't think it's the original barrel (thicker than any other Swede I've seen, perfect bore but receiver is stamped 1900, and looks like it's never had iron sights) so take these groups with a grain of salt.
 
Many thanks for the replies gentlemen. Looks like most of us find the 140gr Hornady Interlocks availalbe and have had good success with them. I had a friend run data on his Quickloads program for me....Using a COAL of 3.050 and 140gr Hornady Interlock SP's,

1) IMR 4350 with 39.3gr, velocity 2594fps, and chamber pressure estimated at 41861 psi.
2) Hhybrid100v, 39.99gr, velocity 2576 fps, and 38299 psi.
 
45g IMR 4350 and 120 grain ballistic tips have always shot well for me. I have yet to try the 130g Accubonds but as soon as I find some locally I'll be trying them as well. Over the years I have always had great luck with both reloader 19 and 22 with 140g flat base bullets as well. Usually near the higher end of max loads but of course only after working up very carefully in my rifles and everyone else should do the same in these actions. IMR 4350 has given me the best combination of velocity and accuracy over the years but 46g of Re 22 and 140g Hornady's have always been a good go to load as well. In my swedes the loads listed in the Nosler manuals as being most accurate have been good for me as well.

I absolutely love this caliber. I have two sporterized M 96's and one commercial CZ and they all shoot well. I'm not convinced I'm done either.
 
So far my best has been neck sized prvi brass, win magnum primer, 139 gr prvi sp, and 40.2 gr rl-22. I just make sure there's .264 of the bullet seated in the case.
 
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