M96 Swedish Mauser

[chuck boyer]

I have a new sporterized 96. Remington factory loads had very light primer strikes and 4 misfires out of a box of shells. I suspect undersized factory ammo. I think I remedied the problem by just sizing the neck of the case and just bumping the shoulder. No more misfires and good primer strikes. But, loads with 120 A-Max, 129 Hornady SP, and 130 Accubonds with 4350, RL-22, and RL-17 string horizontally. When I tried a faster powder(4895)groups shrank and became more round. The A-Max load with 4895 will shoot under an inch and the other 2 bullets shoot about 1.5" for 3 shots. The gun is in a Ramline medalist stock. The gun should be more consistent with the slower powders(groups 3"). Could it be the bedding? What gives with the horizontal grouping with the slower powders? I would like to use 4350 or RL-17 for the increased velocity potential.

 

[1000yardstare]

Chuck, what make is your brass? From the sounds of you initial problem, the rifle may have an oversized chamber which may be causing some dimensional difficulties in the throat area.

You are using lighter bullets in a rifle that probably has a long throat. Have you determined seating depth to have the bullets .020" off the lands? My guess is they won`t even be in the case neck and they have to be seated deeper to have adequate neck retention giving a fair jump to the lands. This in combination with a possible oversized chamber could lead to some difficulties in load development.

 

[chuck boyer]

Brass make is Remington that was "fireformed" in the gun. After 3 loadings the brass needed to be trimmed. I have the bullets seated to 3.085. If I seat them any further out there is not much bullet bearing surface inside the case neck. The gun is undoubtedly throated for 140+gr bullets. Should I seat the bullets deeper? That would be quite a jump.

 

[1000yardstare]

I have a Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5x55 that is throated for the 140s and 160s. In other words we are talking a ginormous freebore for the lighter bullets. To have adequate neck retention with the 95s and 100s, say 3/16 inch, the jump to the lands is measured in tenths, not 100ths.

My COAL for the 140 AMax is 3.160 to be .020 off the lands. The COAL for the 95 VMax with 3/16 neck retention is 2.920 which would put it roughly 0.26 off the lands.

But amazingly the accuracy is the same for all bullet weights, three shots in 3/16 inch at 100 metres (110 yds). I think this is a testament to the engineering skill at Sako/Tikka as much as anything else.

The voodoo science of internal ballistics can surprise you so seat bullets for adequate neck retention and see what happens. That is about all you can do.

 

[firewrench044]

96 Swedes prefer the heavier bullets --140, 142, 160 gr
( they have a 7.5/1 twist )
if the barrel is still 29 in. IMR 4350 will to work the best
(with the heavier bullets)
with a shorter barrel Varget or IMR 4064 will work better

 

[DukeDuke]

Great shooting Swede you got there

 

[1000yardstare]

Tiger, great group. What amazes me is the velocity you are getting. I don`t have a 6.5 mould but may get one next Winter to help stave off cabin fever. This Jan/Feb I shot 170 gr g/c cast out of a .308 target rifle. Managed to get a 5 shot 3/4 inch group at 100 yds but they were pooping along at 1700 fps. Couldn`t drive them any faster with 6% antimony. But I see you have really boosted the hardness with wheel weights. Will have to try that myself.

 

[rasp65]

My 96 really likes 160 gr bullets and slow powders. One of my favorite loads is 160 gr Hornady over 56 gr of H870 with a Fed 215 primer. It is good for 2375 fps from an 18" barrell.