Today at the Bench.....

[Harter]

I did an initial some of these , those , that one , sized to what I had on hand to get close ,40 rounds @5 each just to see where I should be going , I can't even call them work ups really . The 3" 50 yd group with the 266469 sized .265 and patched back up to .274 dry looked pretty good when compared to the first group at 42" with a 280??? sized .277 .

With closer to proper neck dia and correct size dies for the bullets I'm hoping I can get it under 3" at 100 .
Honestly I think my eyes and the issue sights are going to be the killer on this one .
Load data for jackets is basically pick a flavor of 4831 scoop the case full shake enough out to seat a bullet done . Ballard and 5R rifling worked out the Metford and being 1-9.5 may prove more challenging for full house loads .

The sad part is Dad gave $125 for the rifle and 25 more for most of 2 boxes of Norma factory ammo and I have 2 sets of dies at $30 each , 2 universal neck dies , a trim die , Hornady universal 6.5 inline seater (it was paired with the 6.5 neck die) at $12 ea . A custom push through sizer , custom H&I die , and the custom bushing neck die with 3 bushings ...... I gave a box of .375 gas checks aquired in a trade for the bullet sizers and a paltry $20 for the bushing die and bushings . I have as much in getting some loaded ammo with cast bullets as he paid for the rifle going in .

[JeffreyDeGraff]

I did an initial some of these , those , that one , sized to what I had on hand to get close ,40 rounds @5 each just to see where I should be going , I can't even call them work ups really . The 3" 50 yd group with the 266469 sized .265 and patched back up to .274 dry looked pretty good when compared to the first group at 42" with a 280??? sized .277 .

With closer to proper neck dia and correct size dies for the bullets I'm hoping I can get it under 3" at 100 .
Honestly I think my eyes and the issue sights are going to be the killer on this one .
Load data for jackets is basically pick a flavor of 4831 scoop the case full shake enough out to seat a bullet done . Ballard and 5R rifling worked out the Metford and being 1-9.5 may prove more challenging for full house loads .

The sad part is Dad gave $125 for the rifle and 25 more for most of 2 boxes of Norma factory ammo and I have 2 sets of dies at $30 each , 2 universal neck dies , a trim die , Hornady universal 6.5 inline seater (it was paired with the 6.5 neck die) at $12 ea . A custom push through sizer , custom H&I die , and the custom bushing neck die with 3 bushings ...... I gave a box of .375 gas checks aquired in a trade for the bullet sizers and a paltry $20 for the bushing die and bushings . I have as much in getting some loaded ammo with cast bullets as he paid for the rifle going in .

Keep us updated on your progress. I love hearing about getting old war horses up and running.


JTD