Johnson shooting today!

[jmoore]

First time Johnson owner( last shot one around 1985) so ran off to the range this morning to try it out. Its not a real pretty rifle, but it has a great bore and a been there/done that patina.

Ran some LC69, S&B, PMC, and some FN67.

LC was anemic (2500-2600fps) and grouped ~6" at 100yd

S&B warmer 4" 5-shot groups

PMC unusually enough, had horrible vertical stringing- about 2 FEET!!

And the best grouping FN67 -1 1/2" to 2" 5-shot groups at 100 yd ! (2700 fps)

However, ONLY the FN ammo backed out about 2/3's of its primers 0.020-0.025", but no pressure signs or other dramas. Still, its worrisome, especially since it likes this ammo the best otherwise!

Cain't never be easy!

Information

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[Harlan (Deceased)]

Where would the fun be if it was easy!

Can you post some photos?

[jmoore]

Pics are a group effort for me (and friends). Eventually it'll get done.

Thought about the primer problem- could it be that the tiny berdan flash holes keep the pressure high in the primer cup longer?

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Pics are a group effort for me (and friends). Eventually it'll get done.

Thought about the primer problem- could it be that the tiny berdan flash holes keep the pressure high in the primer cup longer?

If you have a few photos and want to send them to me in email I'll be happy to post them for you.

nalrahtrohs(AT)aol.com (Replace (AT) with @)

~ Harlan

[jmoore]

Not only do I not own a computer, my cameras still require film! I'd rather squander my money elsewhere. Really nothing remarkable about this Johnson except that it looks USED, which I prefer!

Thanks, anyways! I still might annoy my friends and get a "virtual" pic or two posted.

[andiarisaka]

I'd say the FN ammo was a bit short in the "to the shoulder" dimension, especially if it was the only ammo that exhibited the primer backing out. You should be able to see it compared to other unfired cases.

[jmoore]

Oddly enough, it specs out dimensionally fine and the velocity is spot on too. It gets used regularlly in Garands w/ no ill effects. I still think the small flash holes deserve the blame in conjunction w/ the fast action operation.

[MGMike]

The problem is that the primers are not properly crimped in as they usually are in military ammo. Wait till one of them pops out and jams up the Johnson action. Been there, done that with a JLMG. It was a workbench operation to clear it, and there WAS a round in the chamber when it seized up.

That FN .30-06 German surplus ammo has some other undesirable attributes. Either the brass is brittle or the propellant burning rate is very fast, as it separates cases regularly in a Madsen LMG. The problems went away when Greek HXP was substituted. The FN works fine through Garands and a BAR, so it's not a total waste.

M

[BarryinIN]

FWIW, I've found that when I've chronographed my Johnson and Garands using the same ammo on the same day, the Johnson gives slightly higher velocity. It's a small margin, like around 40 fps, and often less than the extreme spread, but it is a difference. I've done it with a couple vintages of LC, a couple of Korean, and one Greek with roughly the same difference.

I would have expected the opposite given the Johnson's 2" shorter barrel.
But it just goes to show that some individual barrels are "faster" than others and that can matter more than a little bit of length.
I only have the one Johnson, and wouldn't be surprised to learn another one was slower.

While on the subject of ammunition and Johnsons, I was surprised to learn mine would work with cast bullets running well under military ammo velocities.
I got it to work (feed from a loaded mag, eject the empties, cock the hammer, and lock open when empty) using a 180 grain cast bullet (RCBS 30-180-FN) at just over 1950 fps. I later found that another bullet in the same weight range (Saeco #315) would operate it going a little slower (1879 fps).
Using a 165 grain cast bullet (RCBS 30-165-Sil) and the same powder charge, it worked, but I don't have the chrono data handy. I think it was in the mid-1900s.

[browningautorifle]

I shot a Johnson rifle that I had a few years ago and it used to all but pull the rims off with the extraction and cave the rim in on the other side. It would flatten out the mouth and most of them were thrown at least thirty feet to my right. I finally would stand next to the bushes so I didn't have to look for the brass. It worked perfectly but was a reloaders nightmare. Others told me this wasn't typical. Maybe they're all just a bit different?