Maven
Well-Known Member
I posted the results of testing various CB designs in my "as issued" Sako-made M-39 Finn. Nagant in August"
"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...."
Earlier today I retested Saeco #315 in the same rifle, using Ly. #314299 as a control. Then, as now the load was 12.5gr. Unique ignited by WLR primers. #315 was gas checked and sized to .312", which the M-39 prefers. The results were better than expected, given the low sun on the rifle's [open] sights. (Unfortunately, our range is such that we shoot to the southeast, which isn't the best position in the autumn.) The target, fired @ 50 yd. almost speaks for itself if you look at only the 15 hits highlighted by the bright green index card. The other hits were foulers:
As for #315 itself, I've obtained outstanding accuracy from it with different propellants when sized to fit a given rifle. To wit, it was the most accurate CB in my .30-30 Marlin #336 @ .310", impressive in my .30-06 Win. Mod. 70 @ .311", and as you can see, no slouch @ .312" in the Finn. Nagant M 39. To say I'm impressed with it is an understatement!
Btw, I'm confident that I can do better in the M 39 on an overcast day when the sun can't prevent a better sight picture.
P.S. Distance was 50 yd. At this time of year, our 100 yd. range is in deep shadow most of the day.
"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...."
Earlier today I retested Saeco #315 in the same rifle, using Ly. #314299 as a control. Then, as now the load was 12.5gr. Unique ignited by WLR primers. #315 was gas checked and sized to .312", which the M-39 prefers. The results were better than expected, given the low sun on the rifle's [open] sights. (Unfortunately, our range is such that we shoot to the southeast, which isn't the best position in the autumn.) The target, fired @ 50 yd. almost speaks for itself if you look at only the 15 hits highlighted by the bright green index card. The other hits were foulers:
As for #315 itself, I've obtained outstanding accuracy from it with different propellants when sized to fit a given rifle. To wit, it was the most accurate CB in my .30-30 Marlin #336 @ .310", impressive in my .30-06 Win. Mod. 70 @ .311", and as you can see, no slouch @ .312" in the Finn. Nagant M 39. To say I'm impressed with it is an understatement!
Btw, I'm confident that I can do better in the M 39 on an overcast day when the sun can't prevent a better sight picture.
P.S. Distance was 50 yd. At this time of year, our 100 yd. range is in deep shadow most of the day.
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