Milsurp After Hours

Started reloading for my Dutch Steyr Mannlicher M95 rifle again.
I usually use .303 British Boxer cases and reform them to 6.5x53.5R.
This time however I decided to try the Dutch .303 British cases.
These were manufactured by AI (Artillerie Inrichtingen) in 1959.
The quality of the brass is great.
Problem is that these are Berdan cases and don’t use the 5.5mm (0.220”) Berdan primer, but the larger 6.34mm (0.250”)Berdan primer.


Uncleaned Berdan primer pockets of the Dutch .303Br brass

Not only the 6.34mm, but also the slightly larger 6.45mm (0.254”) Berdan primer fit in this primer pocket.
You not only have to check the diameter, but the height of the primer is important too.
Both Berdan primers have a different height, but both fit the primer pocket of the Dutch AI case.
I already reformed the cases and trimmed them back to 53.45mm (2.104”).
The Dutch AI cases didn’t fit the chamber so I had to adapt the diameter just above the rim by 0.06mm.


6.45mm Berdan.


6.34mm Berdan.
The guy who sold these to me used the primers for his Lee Enfield.

After that it’s priming the cases.
Because of the size of the primers I have to use an adapted shell holder and an handmade primer device .
A good friend from the US made these for me a couple of years ago for which I’m still grateful.


Adapted shell holder and handmade primer device.


Left: Dutch .303Br parent case.
Right: Reformed to 6.5x53.5R Dutch (notice the adjusted diameter above the rim)


Time to prime the cases.

From here it’s just business as usual.
Fill up the case, place the bullet and off to the range.


Ready to go to the range.

Here’s the loading data:
Brass: Dutch Berdan .303British reformed to 6.5x53.5R
Primer: 6.34mm and 6.45mm Berdan primers by Dynamit Nobel
Powder: 13.8 grains of VihtaVuori N110 (reduced load)
Bullet: 160 grains cast bullet in cal .266

Got some range time coming up tomorrow.
I’ll keep you all posted.
Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

A excellent post Martin, which mold did you use for the boolits, or are they shop bought?

Joe

Neither...I buy these from a member of our gun club.
I can barely find the time to cast the bullets for my Swiss Vetterli and my Dutch Beaumont, so I'm very happy that he casts the bullets for my Dutch Hembrug, Mosin Nangant M91/30 and M39.
He's happy....I'm happy.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Well, I'm back from the range and I must say that I'm really happy with the result.
Fire Forming went well and even the target looks better than I expected.

Take a look at this picture.
From left to right you see a Dutch .303 case, a .303 reformed to 6.5x53.5R and a fire formed 6.5x53.5R.
Check the shoulder of the fire formed case.
It fits the chamber of my Dutch Steyr Mannlicher perfectly now.



Here's today's target.
My goal for today was fire forming the cases, but IMHO this target doesn't look bad at all.
First shot was way too low(not on target), second one still too low, third shot was too high but the rest looks OK to me.
I have to adjust the front sight a bit, but the ammo performs great.



Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Thats not too bad a group for just fireforming your cases ,look forward to seeing as to how it can really perform when sighted in .
BTW how does your homemade primer seater work ???.

Robert

Did you fireform with the 13.8 g of Viht N110 load?

Joe

@ Robert
Home made primer seater works like the one that comes with the press.
The only thing that is different is that the shell holder and primer cup are made for the larger 6.45mm Berdan primer.

@Joe
Joe....you "sound" surprised, but yes......I did.
I know.....13.8 grains of N110 isn't much, but it was enough to let this case fill up the chamber of my Dutch M95.
I have to add that the Dutch AI case is much "softer" when compared to the Winchester .303.
I noticed this while pulling this case through the 6.5x53.5R die set while reforming.
I could use much less force compared to the Winchester case.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Martin, not surprised just curious as i tried fireforming some 7.62 russian to 8X56R after running them through the 8X56 sizing die. I used 18g of 2400 over the Lee 205g CB. I got a lot of blowback and the cases weren't fully formed. My next attempt will be with FMJ's and a stiffer rifle powder load.

Nice work with your loads btw.

Joe

Thanks Joe, I appreciate your reply.
I’ve had no blow back when fireforming the Dutch AI brass, but I did experience some when fireforming the Winchester brass.
Maybe it’s the composition of the metal.
As I wrote in my previous post, I have noticed that the Dutch AI brass is much softer.
Let me know how things work out with the FMJ’s and the stiffer rifle load.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

I am copying this to the best of. Interesting topic, I have referred several people from Bills board here when the question of 6.5 Dutch came up.