No 1 Mk III* HB Range Debut

Took the No1 MkIII* HB that have I desporterised out today for it's debut. Probably shouldn't have bothered. Felt like ca@p and there was a fair (cold ) breeze blowing alternately across the range ar directly at me making my eyes water.
I shot some average to poor groups. The the best I managed was probably 2-3inches and the worst... about 6 inches. I need to go again when both the weather and I are in a better state.
My little collection ( didn't fire the No4, that's how much of a bad mood I was in ! ) got heaps of comments. It's amazing how many people float over to have a look and a chat.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...07/range-1.jpg

I might prepare a few changes before the next trip. I will find the spring that goes under the nose cap, get another nose cap and be prepared to hone it out a little and triple check the bedding to make sure it's all okay. It showed potential to be a nice and accurate rifle. I will make sure it isn't me before making any changes and the good thing about these is that I can do the changes at the range and see straight away if the change makes any difference.

Here's the SMLE target... not very encouraging but okay for a start. This was at 100m
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../target2-1.jpg

Here's the swede target at 50 rapid fire .... 10 shots. Bit of a difference!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../target1-1.jpg

Problem is, I was using up old ammo which was mixed up and probably reloaded 15 years ago. No idea what combination it was !

Nice shooting partner ... :super:

Thanks for posting the pics .. :)

Regards,
Doug

Gotta establish a baseline. At least you are willing to show targets from your "off" days. Most folk won't do it.

NOW you will have to keep this thread alive by posting updates with all the "gory details" about what works and what doesn't.

We all have off days and I am not too proud to show mine .. though at least the swede (albeit at 50 ) made me feel like I wasn't a complete dunce. I have some ideas which I will try out next trip. I have some FB projectiles as opposed to the BT I was using . I might run up a batch and see if makes a noticable difference. Once change at at time though. New projectiles and see if it does anything then the changes.

G/day mate what loads were you using as I've found with my Mk3 No.1 that 45.5 gns of AR2209 and a 180gn Sierra Pro hunter pulls groups in mine of about 2" at 100 yds but if I put an extra .5gn in the groups open like you wouldn't believe.

I reckoned that using a pill weight close to what was originally used would get this old clunker shooting close to what it was designed to shoot

I have some old handloads from eons ago that use W760 ( i think ) and 174 grain fmj bt. I have some fb projectiles to try out but have had an attack of the lazies and haven't finished loading. I did trim about 100 twice fired cases to length .. damn that brass is hard. I just need to get off my butt and finish some up and head on out to the range.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xa-coupe

I have some old handloads from eons ago that use W760 ( i think ) and 174 grain fmj bt. I have some fb projectiles to try out but have had an attack of the lazies and haven't finished loading. I did trim about 100 twice fired cases to length .. damn that brass is hard. I just need to get off my butt and finish some up and head on out to the range.

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I just scored some 180gn Highland pills that I'm going to try shortly and see if they group as well as the Pro Hunters.I tried AR2208 and while it did group reasonably it was nothing on AR2209 which also works well in my 30/06AI and CMC Howa .270,a very versatile powder that burns clean and is not temperature sensitive,regards

I think I have some 2209 ... might have to have a crack with that. I believe the FB projs I have are only 150gn.. possibly an error but I have the things now.

I used to own a Parker Hale commercial .303 and used to use Hornady 150 gn pills and they performed well on pigs and goats but I'm convinced that a 174 -180 gn pill will perform better as it's what the original pill weight was after WWI,REGARDS

Back out with the No1 Hb today with no changes but the ammunition. I have been pondering the fact I have been using BT projectiles and the average grouping si I reloaded some 150gn FB.

Holes with the lines through them - 150 FB, ones without the holes are 174 FMJ BT. Fairly obvious that despite having a non miltary barrel, it prefers a diet of FB. I will get myself some 180 FB and compare them to the 150. Target at 100m.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...et_no1hb-1.jpg

I still think there is nore to wring out from bedding and general fiddling but at least I am on the paper and a half decent group.

XA, try pushing the BT's a bit faster, around 2750 fps or better. Try 2206H, 37-38 GRNS. You may be surprised.

I am using 46 gns of 760 ( as I have a bucket load to use after losing my 30-06 in 96 ) which is pretty well up there, but I don;t believe it will be around 2700 fps, more like 2400. I might see if someone I know has some 2206H anyway. I am well aware that different combinations can yeild results. it's the age old thing of having to buy a full 500g of powder to find out you have no use for it that puts me off experimenting too much.

---------- Post added at 07:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:30 PM ----------

I am also starting to have S&B brass issues. Had my first case show a ring around the base so it's history. I expect I will get one or two more reloads from these then be buying some privi cases.

XA, considering the old service round was pumping at about 2550, I think yours could be a bit slow. AR2206H is one of the more versatile powders and can be used in most of the intermediate calibres from 222 to 30.06, as I buy it and 2208 in 4kg lots for loads for both service and target rifles, it also does nearly every calibre I own.
S&B certainly are a problem, but then they are'nt really catering to reloaders. I use remington for 303 target work, winchester for service and any other Berdan or Boxer case for rapids, snaps and walkdowns, that way, if I lose a case I'm not crying.
You really need to chronograph your loads, the data in reloading manuals is both conflicting and inaccurate, if using ADI powders use their information, not figures for their powder from another source.
At the bequest of the NRAA, ADI produced a revised loading chart specifically for 308 target rifles, very informative, and gives an insight into the safety margins included in reloading manuals. This only covers Lapua, winchester and ADI cases in comparison to the Palma Match Load, using Sierra 155gn Matchkings. As we have since moved on from 2206 onto 2206H and through Dyer BJD's and now Dyer HBC'S these loads at the top of the scale would need to be molycoated, ....but I digress, back to 303, using top of scale loads think molycoate, it certainly takes the load off the old ladies and lets them perform like young girls again.