.243 Nosler 55gn Ballistic Tip Bullets

Suzanne

Way to go Vince! As with Tikkat3, I've found that most of my best loads are near max and the powder filling most of the case is also a plus. (not that I know anything, but just my observations) Good shooting! I think it's a lot of fun to do the OCW thingy, and I can't wait to do my Swiss rifle.....after i get it scoped.

Suz

Vince

Thanks Slim...I reckon it will come together mate.

Thanks Joe. You are 1000% correct with sendin' lead downrange mate...most relaxing and enjoyable day I've had in I can't remember how long.

Thanks Suz. You are really gonna enjoy the process...I know I did.

Tikks wrote:

My loads would be 3x45.5, 3x45, 3x 44.5, 3x44, 3x43.5, 3x43
and try those, I don't know if measuring out to the 1/100 of a grain at this point is either beneficial or easy.
Just my 2 bobs worth, but it is fun trying to find that load that just makes 1 hole with 10 shots.

I can't measure out to 1/100th of a grain...my scales just ain't that good. Very Happy

I rounded the loads to the nearest 1/10th and took it from there.

Starting from the top and working down...interesting idea. Personally I would work out the loads and start from what would be my lowest charge.

Its interesting what you say about your loads being best near max. All of my loads so far with AR2208 (Varget) come out best at .5gn below max. The 5th Edition of the ADI Handbook lists a max of 45gn AR2208...it is looking like 43.9gn is the best (to be confirmed) which is 1.1gn below max, but I will go 1/10th of a grain either side of that just to be sure.

Another option is to do a mini OCW on that load...drop by .7% - 1% (43.6gn) and go up .7% - 1% (44.2gn) and see what transpires.

Whichever way...I know that I will have the definitive load very shortly.

Cheers, Vince

Pumpkinslinger

I set up an Excel spreadsheet where I enter the max load and it calculates 1% increments for testing. There are also fields for group sizes, etc.

Vince

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

I set up an Excel spreadsheet where I enter the max load and it calculates 1% increments for testing. There are also fields for group sizes, etc.

What a damn fine idea Punkin...never thought of that mate. Have you input a formula to calculate group size or do you work that out separately? If you have a formula, that would make life much easier, although I enter the data into Point Blank anyway, which calculates the group size.

Cheers, Vince

slimjim

Vince wrote:

If you have a formula, that would make life much easier,

Set-up a cell for vertical spread then one next to it for horizontal spread. Use the square root function of the square of the verticle plus square of the horizontal spread. Example.

=SQRT(Q15*Q15+R15*R15)

I'm sure this made things clearer!

Vince

Slim wrote:

I'm sure this made things clearer!

Thanks Slim...has made it perfectly clear for me mate. You are a champion mate...works a treat.

Cheers, Vince

Pumpkinslinger

Nope, I don't calculate the group size, just measure and write it in for reference during testing. Mine is for record keeping, prints onto a 4x6" card and I can also keep a record of loads tested on the computer. All I'm actually calculating is the increment between loads and six test loads.

Suzanne

Geeez wish I was smart...

Suz

slimjim

Suz, I think you have great smarts and are a keeper!

slimjim

I like keeping track of both the horizontal and verticle spread so I can differentiate which loads are stringing which is a characteristic I try to avoid. Vinces, 43.5 load has nice distribution and pretty close to the same size as the 43.9. However, the vertical spread is much tighter on the 43.9 and makes me wonder if a little wind didn't spread the horizontal out a bit. That's why I'm waiting in anticipation to see the results from his next range session.

Vince

Slim wrote:

That's why I'm waiting in anticipation to see the results from his next range session.

You and me together Slim...and I really want to get out and bust a few caps anyway. I'll be heading out to the range Monday 5 Jul (hopefully), so watch this space.

Suz...don't sell yourself short mate...you are smart and clever (and a good lookin' sheila to boot)...and as Slim says...a keeper. I'll lay odds that you could run rings around many of us in the bush...its in your blood.

Cheers, Vince

44marty

Suz
"I can't wait to do my Swiss rifle.....after i get it scoped."

I'm surprised that you don't like the iron sights of the K-31. They are a very clever design (especially the rear sight), made to be easily picked up even in the glare of bright sun in snowy conditions. The range adjustments actually have a reputation for great accuracy (although I can't confirm this - I've only used these rifles up to 150 yards - so far).

That said, I must admit that I only hunt with iron sights when it is raining hard enough to make a scope a hassle to use.

I don't know if yours came with a sling. If not, there is a shop in Barre, VT that has them for $24 plus shipping.
New England Wholesale Sports, POB 480, Barre Vermont 05641
Tel: 802-479-0044
You are planning to sporterize yours with a new stock though. I'm not sure if the original stock is one of the reasons these rifles are so accurate. These stocks are "burned in" to the barrel - an unusual bedding method. Notice the scorch marks on the wood when you remove the stock.

Anyway, whatever you do with it, I hope you enjoy this rifle. it is a pretty cool design.
I can't wait to see your OCW results. I am planning the same for two K-31's (mine and my son in law's). I will be using Speer 165gr BTSP bullets, pushed with IMR 4064 powder. It will be interesting to compare three rifles, to see how much the results vary.

Suzanne

44Martydude! It's the aged eyes that ruin my iron sights. I can't focus up close anymore, so lining the two sights up and the target is sort of a guess. My deer hunting is usually very close quarters and the scope can be hard to line up, but I get the job done (sometimes) hee hee. I like shooting targets too and so the scope can give me more pinpoint targeting. I think my eyes are good for 50yds but after that (if you're anywhere near) you better duck!

As far as bedding the barrel, mine only touches at the muzzel at the end of the wood, the rest is free. It is not burned-in as yours are. Maybe it's the year, mine is from 1948, When I get my new stock I'm going to try free-floating the barrel, bedding the action and see what happens. I can always add wood to the stock if the thing doesn't like the arrangement.

Yes it'll be fun to compare, like playing doctors! I'll show you mine, if you'll show me yours! Exciting just thinking about it.

Suz

44marty

Yes it'll be fun to compare, like playing doctors! I'll show you mine, if you'll show me yours! Exciting just thinking about it.

I'm game. (NO! Don't shoot!)
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I just came across a note at the end of the section for the K-31 in the Sierra reloading manual:

" In developing the following data, we used five different Schmidt-Rubin rifles. Considerable difference in bore diameter caused wide variations in pressure. Therefore, we strongly urge the 7.5x55mm handloaders to slug the rifle's bore and use extreme caution in working up loads."

By the way, mine was made in 1953. The inside of the stock has a fine burn line that runs full-length on both the top and bottom. My son-in-law's has not yet been disassembled.

slimjim

Here is the post for talking about military rifles.

My new best friend