No 1, No 4, MN 91/30

[happydude]

I just came back from a trip with the NRF No 1, the recently refinished No 4, and the Mosin. Had 50 rounds for each gun, this was a sort of new brass work out for the guns. Anyway, for the Enfields I loaded up 38grns of IMR4895, a midlevel load, under 174grn Hornady match bullets. Winchester brass for the No 4 and RP brass for the No 1 (my way of keeping them separate for neck size purposes). No surprises here with respect to accuracy. The load matched the sites rather well but I found it interested that the No. 1 was far more accurate in my hands but I could feel the recoil more. I'm guessing this has more to do with my experience with open sites and relative inexperience with peep sites. I don't know if Claven ever fired the No. 1 but that thing is bang on. Unfortunately I don't have my best target to show.

The interesting part was my Mosin reloading experiment. I had previously tried out 40/42 grains of IMR 4895 under 150grn bullets to see what happened. They went bang but were nothing special. This time I took 50grns of H414, which I don't like in my Enfields and have to burn off in another gun, and put that under 125grn sp's, 150grn sps, and the 174 Hornada match bullets. I normally don't advise doing this but I have little data to go on and the Lee manual advises that 50grns of H414 is fine for 165grn and 180grn bullets. As it turns out that 174grn loads had a ton of oomph to them, a heavy load and a heavy bullet, that I shant be repeating. The 150grn loads were pleasant to shoot but the load didn't match the sites and a such I have no picture. The 125grns under 50grns H414 matched my sites bang on, were quite accurate at 100yards, and at 200yards freehand I nailed the gong 4/5 times. They were nice and light to shoot which was a perk.

All targets at ~100yards

No. 1


MN, 174grn bullets


MN, 125grn bullets

Information

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[Stevo]

Thanks for the range report on the loads. Nice shooting too!

[Claven2]

Nope! That SMLE was unfired when I sold it to you

[happydude]

Nope! That SMLE was unfired when I sold it to you

I do believe I have lessoned its value then.

Still a fine rifle though.

[Claven2]

I wouldn't worry about it - enjoy shooting it. I would have except I have too many guns

[Andy]

I have to advise you against a potentially unsafe practice. While it is generally safe to substitute a lighter bullet for a heavier one, that can't be said when using slower powders like H414, as you did with the 125gr bullet. Load manuals always prescribe fast(ish) powders for light bullets, and there's a good reason for it.

When using a slow powder with a light bullet, what can happen is that the light bullet leaves the case too easily, not allowing pressure to rise high enough to seal the neck against the chamber (did you get any neck "smoking"?), nor for the powder to burn effectively in its correct pressure range. The bullet exits the neck then comes up against the rifling, offering renewed resistance (essentially acting as a barrel obstruction), causing the powder to start to burn again with renewed vigour, creating a pressure spike - not good. Of course there are many variables (case size, powder charge and burn rate, bullet shape and weight, chamber size, amount of leade, etc.), and you did escape unharmed. In fact your combination might be perfectly "safe", but the practice you followed is not a sound one.

[happydude]

Good post Andy.

I was aware of the dangers of what I was doing and I proceeded accordingly. I should have clarified this was a one-time experiment. I carefully inspected the brass as well as taking careful note of the rifle during firing. The 150grn loads are probably fine but I value my safety more than $30 for a can of different powder and I plan to switch to an approved powder like Varget or H4895.

I still have two cans of H414 to deal with though. Might just take a match to it.

[Andy]

I still have two cans of H414 to deal with though. Might just take a match to it.

Now I know you're kidding. H414 is an excellent powder for heavier bullets in a very wide range of cartidges. Spherical, so it meters wonderfully, and settles in the case just as nicely allowing high load densities.

[happydude]

Now I know you're kidding. H414 is an excellent powder for heavier bullets in a very wide range of cartidges. Spherical, so it meters wonderfully, and settles in the case just as nicely allowing high load densities.

Are you sure I'm kidding


Well I am. It was very accurate to measure out with my RCBS powder thrower and although the 174grn bullet loads were too hot they showed enough potential that I will be working down a load. I'll take my 50 pieces of brass and make 10 rounds starting at 49grns and working down to 45grns and hope to make a trip on Saturday.

Now if only I could find a cheap source of .310/.311 bullets I'd be set. I guess my summer project will be to start casting my own bullets.