Milsurp After Hours

Heres my first entries.

This is a crap score that I wouldn't have bothered with normally but I am rather pleased with the group.

Carl Gustav 1899 M96 Swedish Mauser.

139 gn cheapy PP FMJBT bullet in 6 times fired FNM cases over 45gns N160 Rem LR primers.

Score 78

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sComp2.jpg[/pic]

This one is a little better, the trick with all these comps is getting the rifle to shoot to point of aim with these targets. Aiming off doesn't lead to good scores.

BSA 1912 No1 MK3

RG 174 gn FMJFB in 2 times fired HXP 69 cases over 40.5 gns N140, Rem LR primers

Score 89.1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sComp1.jpg[/pic]

Both shot unsupported from the trench

Wife went shopping so I slipped out an spent some time with Sophia. Sophia is the name I bestowed upon my Italian Vetterli 1870/88/15. I named her after Sophia Loren. Like the original, she may be a bit long in the tooth, but she still has some sexy lines.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... tterli.jpg[/pic]

Ammo: Definitely handloads because I am not about to shoot a full powered load in this old girl. No death wish here.

Hornady 6.5 Carcano (.268) 160 gr RN over 25.0 grains of IMR-3031. Frontier brass and Winchester LR primers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... rli_83.jpg[/pic]

Score: 83.0

I am amazed at this score with this rifle, especially as this is the one and only target I shot with this rifle. I only had 20 light rounds loaded.

These rifles started out as BP single-shots. In 1888, the Vetterli box magazine was added. During WW I, the barrels were sleeved and the rifles were rechambered for 6.5x52mm. These were handed out to the rear area troops who hopefully had a snowball's chance in hell of seeing combat (Reari Escheloni Momma Fuchari or REMFs for short).

Jethro

Since I was out doing my Italian thing, I also gave the Italian M1891/41 Carcano 6.5x52mm a whirl.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... arcano.jpg[/pic]

Ammo: Handloads called for because the OTC stuff tends to have .264" bullets which barely touch the lands. Hornady 6.5 Carcano (.268) 160gr RN bullets sitting atop 30.7gr IMR-3031. Frontier brass and Winchester LR primers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... ano_88.jpg[/pic]

Score: 88.0

One interesting thing about the Carcano is its use of gain-twist rifling. The rifling starts out slow and gets faster as it goes down the barrel. These rifles have a bad rep in the accuracy department, but there are a few secrets that you have to be aware of. First, you do not use .264 diameter bullets. Second, the sight picture is definitely different. You just want the top of the front sight to be visible in the "V" of the rear sight.

I am content with this score, although I have done better with this rifle. My best score was a 96.1 with it and this same load in last autumn's match.

Jethro

Just to tease the old maligning mauserphobe himself, I thought I would give a go with one of the Mausers from the Southern Hemisphere a go. First up was my 1895 Chilean, made by Lowe in Berlin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... Mauser.jpg[/pic]

Ammo: 7x57 Mauser handloads. 139 gr Hornady SP over 41.0 grains of IMR-4820. Winchester brass and LR primers. This formulation suchs and I will never use it again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... ser_79.jpg[/pic]

Score: 79.0

Jethro

For a final try with my 7mm rifles and to burn up the rest of a crappy bunch of handloads, here is the results for my 1908 Brazilian Mauser, built in Germany by DWM.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... Mauser.jpg[/pic]

Ammo: 7x57mm Mauser. 139 gr Hornady SPs over 41.0 grains of IMR-4820. Wincheters brass and LR primers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... _83_1x.jpg[/pic]

Score: 83.1

Better fodder should yield betters results. The particular loading that I used today sucks.

Jethro

Adam, you old Celtic polecat, did you perchance pull out the old trusty bayonet and attack those targets?

.. the trick with all these comps is getting the rifle to shoot to point of aim with these targets. Aiming off doesn't lead to good scores.

That is rather difficult with fixed sights zeroed for outrageous ranges like 300 and 400 meters. But then, having lived in Kentucky, my grandpappy taught me a simple, sure fire cure for the problem. It works on paper as well as critters.

Scores generally improve if you are not playing grab ass in the trench, duck blind, bunker or whatever the hell you call that Scottish bordello you were using.

Keeping poor Joe out to face the elements alone was a bit toady, regardless of what he ate for lunch.

Jethro

SgtJethro wrote: " Scores generally improve if you are not playing grab ass in the trench, duck blind, bunker or whatever the hell you call that Scottish bordello you were using. "

Keeping poor Joe out to face the elements alone was a bit toady, regardless of what he ate for lunch.

Jethro

Joe

Hopefully, yesterday is the last day that I will have to shoot through Snain, otherwise known as a wintry mix of snow and rain.

Rifle: Dutch M1871/88 Beaumont Vitali

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... Vitali.jpg[/pic]

Ammo: Handloads. 26.5 gr H-777 Bertram brass Winchester LRM primers. .458" cast bullets.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... ont_53.jpg[/pic]

Score: 53

These rounds were loaded last last summer and they sucked. Eight scoreable hits. One more on the paper. Two more went low and left and one went high and to the right. H-777 is really corrosive and four cases had to be tossed after shooting. At nearly $3 a pop, that is a bit expensive.

Is there a prize for lowest score?

Jethro

Rifle: German Infantrie Gewehr Model 1871, caliber 11 x 60Rmm, made at in Amberg in 1880.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... r_1871.jpg[/pic]

Ammo: Handloaded. 340 gr PBFN from Lyman die, sized .446. Reformed Winchester .384 brass, Winchester LR primers. 30 gr AA-5744.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... 871_71.jpg[/pic]

Score: 71

This rifle may have done better had I not sized the bullets. Still, not too bad for the old girl.

Jethro

Rifle: German Kommission 1888 7.92x57mm, 1890 Danzig

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... n_1888.jpg[/pic]

Ammo: 170 gr PBRNGC cast bullets sized .324. Winchester brass, Winchester LR primers, 27.5 gr Reloder 7.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/ ... 888_77.jpg[/pic]

Score: 77

Neither this or the other three rifles I shot today were a bit threat to push the scoring level, but it was great to get them out of the safe and on the range.

Jethro