Range time prep for L42a1

[speckles]

I needed to start preparing for a quasi-vintage sniper military match we are having in April, and have been stewing over which rifle to use this year, I have always tried to have the uncommon odd rifle. The CMP defines the vintage sniper as Korean era and before in military configuration. One time a year we open our range up for a “CMP” match but add Cold War weapons as well, provided they have scopes which are comparable to the Korean/ww2 scopes.. That means zfk55s, L42a1s, vz54’s, SVDs and so on... well I have chosen my L42 as this years’ ringer. Comparing the 155 vs 168 grain projectiles yesterday out to 600 yards really did not show much of a difference. I have shot both before and had the same results. Both give single MOA results. Any thoughts from the group?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[chosenman]

If there is any wind on the day you might find the 168 will fair it better. Just a thought??

[Bindi2]

Just remember the L42a1 was proofed to use 144gn Nato ammo not 168gn factory/handloads.

[speckles]

I’ve never shot that grain projectile in my L42. We shoot out to 800 yards. Any idea on wind at that distance with the lighter bullet?

[30Three]

Are you loading your own to velocity of 7.62 NATO spec' or are you using .308 civilian ?

[Bindi2]

Are you loading your own to velocity of 7.62 NATO spec' or are you using .308 civilian ?

If you load 155gns to the same velocity as the NATO specs the pressure will still be higher than the 144gn NATO.
For the wind use a Ballistic calculator like Hornady to create dope sheets.

[chosenman]

Sierra 168 SMK with 42grain of RE15 behind it. Fed gold match primer. I’ve used this load for years through both of my L42’s and is a superb load at 600 yards with no signs of pressure overload on the cases.

[Bindi2]

Sierra 168 SMK with 42grain of RE15 behind it. Fed gold match primer. I’ve used this load for years through both of my L42’s and is a superb load at 600 yards with no signs of pressure overload on the cases.

It is not a case of overload on the brass it is over load on the rifle.

[chosenman]

However, your cases are the first indicator of excessive pressure. I done load development in years gone bye and walked a load up to a desired finished load with normal brass at the start and brass showing excessive pressure before reaching the desired end load. Flattened primers and sign of gas escaping from around the primer are common signs of excessive pressure. I experience zero indicators in my load development for the L42 which one would expect to see before rifle failure.

[Bindi2]

Cases will not show pressure signs before rifle failure in this case. The case can be loaded above what the rifle was built for.