Milsurp After Hours

I bought my first Berthier about two weeks ago. I saw it at a gunshow in August and passed it by. A friend of mine bought it and immediately regreted it. It was a rustmaster special but cleaned up quite well. It is an 07/15 built at Chattelerault (sp) in 1916. I loaded a batch of ammo but haven't had it to the range yet.

Dave

Where are the pics Dave?! Will be interested to see the range report.

Let me 1. get on my computer at home and 2. figure out how to download.

Dave

I shot the Berthier the weekend before last. I think it has a headspace issue. More later.

Dave

On a couple of other forums, i'm told that i don't have a headspace issue. I've heard that the 8mm Lebel brass that Grafs has is formed from another round and is a little out of spec. Also it is supposed to be a little on the brittle side.

Dave

Graf Brass is not reformed out of another calibre but it seems that if you have a N maked rifle the brass does not last as long as the throat is a bit larger and the brass swells and when you re-size it it goes back to .323 diameter and when you fire it again it just swells back up and this causes the brass to become brittle in the neck.

I have found that if you anneal the brass every four to fifth reloading the brass last much longer and you have to anneal it before the first firing as alot split the first time.

Headspace on a rimmed cartridge is not a big deal as it headspaces on the rim and nothing else so unless the rim diameter is way off you will not have a problem

Patrick

Thanks. I didn't see an "N" marked on the receiver anywhere. You are, however, describing what my rifle did. I loaded another batch of ammo with a lighter load but haven't shot it yet.

Dave