Good News/Bad News

[krinko]

I took out the best '47 FAZ No5 on 4 July and tried out the cork cheater I put in the forestock.

First I fired handloads with some flatbased Brit Mk7 bullets pulled from a box of GB 50 with dead primers.

I only had twelve test rounds of this and used it centering the windage and finding the right rear sight elevation---but there were a couple of likely three shot groups printed.

Then I tried some other handloads with the Hornady 173grain boattail----------and I thought I might as well pack-up and go home. The little guy wouldn't shoot those boattails under six inches @ 100 yards and there were some really erratic flyers.

The only other rounds I had with me were also handloads with boattails---most of the expensive Sierra Matchking type and I am too "thrifty" to shoot those in a 6MOA rifle.

So I tried the other, the stuff made with BTs pulled from FN .303 from 1951.

These bullets are .310" above the cannelure and .313" below, in the same pattern as the French "Balle N" version of 8mmLebel.

If the picture comes through, you can see the results, off sandbags at 100yards with issue sights.

The bad news is I only have 60 of the bullets left.

-----krinko

[Niner]

But.... what do you mean "if the picture comes through?"

[dromia]

When you've used up your FNMs I would persist with the flat base and if possible use ones that have the lead exposed at the base.

These seem to set up better in the leads and cope with throat wear better than boattails or jacket covered flat based bullets.

In saying that each barrel/rifle is a law unto themselves and those MKs might just be the bullet for this particular rifle.

[dhtaxi]

You could try a cast bullet sized to 313/314 and see what sort of results you get.