CBE 195gr. Loverin, Saeco #315, Ly. #314299 in Finn. M-39

Maven

Well-Known Member
My as issued Sako-made Finnish Nagant M-39 has always been an accurate CB shooter...if you size the bullets to .312" (not .311" or .313"). Today I decided to shoot some ammo I loaded a few months ago, as the loading block + ammo was taking up too much space on my work bench. As the heading states, I used Ly. #314299, which is my CB of choice for the M-39; a CBE/Jim Allison 195gr. Loverin which I purchased for a different rifle; and the [seemingly] all purpose Saeco #315, which I never tried in the M-39. The load was 12.5gr. Unique ignited by Win. LR primers in Hansen/Privi Partizan brass. Ly. #-299 performed as expected, which is to say, very well. However, I monkeyed with the OAL in the two 20 round lots I used: 2.96" v. 2.98". The latter was markedly better. CBE 313-195 @ .312" was something of an eye opener as my last outing with it didn't end so well. Today, it shot into less than 2 m.o.a. The surprise of the day came with #315, which I never thought of using in the M-39. After today's result, I think it has earned another test as it was almost as accurate as the Ly. -299. Btw, the -299's seated to 2.98" OAL also wore the last of my stash Ben's aluminum GC's, which fitted the bases so well that they appeared to be part of the bullets themselves. They were also accurate, but past experience tells me it was more a question of greater OAL than GC material. Thought you'd like to know....
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Isn't it amazing when we make very minor changes in loads how much it can affect down range performance.

Ben