Zastava Mauser

[35 shooter]

Most consistent load so far is 22 gr. 4759 no filler with the noe 315 bullet sized .311" and 3 coats of BLL.
It averages .6 to .9" 4 and 5 shot groups with a set 6x scope @ 100 yds. in calm conditions and between 1.2 to 1.4" on the crosswind days.

I'll tweak this load and the seating depth a little bit to see, but doubt i'll do much better till i get a higher power scope on it.
Also need to try a bit of upward pressure on the bbl., but it seems to be very stable right where it's at with the right load.

Lol i've got to get used to these smaller 30 cal. holes after shooting 35 cal. for so long now.
The 30 cal. groups all look bigger than they are to me untill i get the calipers on them.

 

[35 shooter]

Wow! I worked up a seating depth with the 311299 noe tonight and got a shock as far as the feed issue i've had in the mauser.

I had the 315 bullet feeding, but i have to watch how i operate the bolt. With the 311299 it just slides right out from under the rails and feeds with no effort at all.

With the tapered 315 i have to work the bolt fairly briskly, but with the 299 it will feed pushing the bolt as slowly as possible with only my thumb behind the bolt.

 

[fiver]

that nose is guiding it right into the chamber, kind of making up for the shorter case length.

 

[35 shooter]

Fiver your right as rain about the extra nose...feels great to see it funtion so smoothly too.

I shot the 311299s today with both 4759 and aa4350 and found a couple of loads to try again. Had a lot of loads to try, so just shot 4 shot groups today looking for the nodes.
21 gr. 4759(no filler) was 1.332" @ 105 yds. and 42 gr. of aa4350 went into 1.031" at the same distance.

Now to get something besides a 6x scope on this baby so i can actually the rings on the 100 yd. small bore targets i'm using.
I use to able to make out the ten ring at that range with this scope ten years ago...guess those days are gone, unless a pair of glasses brings it back lol.

 

[fiver]

I'm getting to the high power scope area too.
I used to be able to see my heart beat in a 12 power scope now I can hardly shoot decent groups at 100 yds with one.
a lot of the older guy's I talk to say a 24 power scope is about right for 100 yd shooting.

 

[35 shooter]

I was trying to talk myself into a 12 power on top end, but may go with a 6x24 something or other. There's supposed to be a new 1000 yd. range within 30 miles of me now, but i haven't checked it out yet.

 

[fiver]

from here you just go north over the overpass and go straight up that road.
about 5-6 miles up past the tailings pile from the mine and it's on the left.

the covered rifle/pistol/22/lever gun-pistol, silhouette range is out of town to the east.
go over the overpass and turn right just past the airport.
it's about a mile from here.

 

[Ian]

For target work, the Weaver T-series is really nice and affordable. The crosshairs are too fine to hunt with, and if you have trouble seeing fine crosshairs at all they may not be for you. I've seen them on sale several places recently for around $450. If you're planning to dial in to 1000 yards you might have to use a base with some MOA built in due to the 1" tube.

 

[35 shooter]

Well, not exactly a target scope, but it's got a 6" eye relief lol. I looked at scopes most of Sunday afternoon at Gander Mt. comparing head to head so to speak.
I finally picked up a bushnell banner 3x9x40 and fell in love with the eye relief.

I can see a bit finer detail through my varix11 3x9x50, but not by much and the banner seems a bit brighter. If it holds up on the .308, it may get transfered to the whelen for the eye relief.
I can center the ten ring on a nra 100 yd. target with it with no problems

I was a bit dissapointed they had no weavers in stock to try out, they did have a bit of most everything else though.
Still intend to get something with higher power for targets, but this will do for 100 yd. load work up and hunting.....if it doesn't shake loose.

First three shots with the new scope with 20 gr. of 4759(no filler) and 311299 bullet sized .311" went into .452" @ 105 yds. 4th shot dropped about 1 3/4" low? The first three shots showed 2 bullet holes and you had to look hard to see the third went right through the first hole.

Next 4 shots with 40 gr. imr4350 and the 299 bullet went into 1.087" same distance. 41 and 41 1/2 gr. gave 3 and 4" random groups.
imr 4831 from 42 gr. to 43 1/2 gr. with the 299 didn't fare any better.
Oh well, the rifle seems to want to shoot with what it likes. Now that i have a scope i can actually see with...we'll see.
I'm impressed with this little 90.00 scope so far.

 

[Ben]

the rifle seems to want to shoot with what it likes.

They are like Kids Buddy.
They have an appetite for the things THAT THEY LIKE !

Ben

 

[35 shooter]

They are like Kids Buddy.
They have an appetite for the things THAT THEY LIKE !

Ben

Exactly Ben! Btw, it really likes 3 coats of BLL too. That's all i've used in it so far.
It has the same habit of sticking those first shots right in the group with BLL just like my whelen does.
I'm sure it'll do the same with Ben's Red too, i just haven't run any through it yet.

Lol, you've got me hooked on tumble lubing now...it's just too easy.

Wow, it's late, i'm going to bed and dream about ten rings and tight groups.

 

[35 shooter]

Just a note on the feeding problems i initially had with this rifle. I had originally bought a new noe 315 mould for this rifle and a used 311299 and a used 30xcb.

The tapered 315 was the one that gave feed problems and the 299 fed slick as butter.
I tried the 30xcb tonight and it feeds as slick as the 299.

Real bummer as the 315 likes to shoot with just about any powder and load you try with it in this rifle.
Glad to find out the 299 wasn't the only bullet that will feed right in this rifle though....