nitroexpress
Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2011
- Messages
- 28
I purchased a Husky FN98 8x57 circa 1952 for nostalgia hunting. I wanted a rifle that was not modified, as close to out of the box as possible and this one fit the bill. Early on in load development I realized that my shooting ability with iron sights would make selecting a load on accuracy potential a real challenge.
My first mod was to install a Williams receiver sight. Sighting this combo in uncovered another problem, the front sight was too low, POI was a foot high at 100. I replace the front blade with the tallest one available at our local Cabelas (Winnipeg). This was just about high enough, 150's would still go a bit high. There is a 0.250 sight (front blade) extension available from the USA, but with the new homeland security rules importing is out of the question. The project took a short hiatus while I waited for CFE 223 to arrive. I purchased 3 pounds of CFE 223 and began testing again. On shot #6 the front sight fell off, ramp and all. The solder just let go, not shinny, just dull and oxidized.
I bought a new, taller Williams ramp (screw type) and soldered it on, twice. It just didn't seem straight, so I did it again. While doing all the sight work and such I noticed that the barrel and action seemed out of alignment and I checked it out carefully. Misaligned by 1/2 an acre. The rear (receiver) sight is just under a quarter inch off center, Swedish quality at its best.
During this time I also re-crowned the muzzle with a Dave Manson Military crowning tool. This tool is a sweetheart, working very nicely for those of us with no access to a lathe.
Yesterday was test day, and it went well. I only tested 150 Speer handloads, and they worked out well. I seated all the bullets so that the shank was fully supported by the neck, 2.890 COL. All cases were FL re-sized in a modified Lee die. I lapped the base of the die to adjust the headspace of the case. I did all my measuring with the help of the new Hornady "Lock-N-Load Headspace Kit".
My pet load will be a CCI 250 primer, a Speer 150 HCSP bullet, with 56 grains of CFE 223 in a PRVI case loaded to 2.890. 57 grains is max and it is as accurate with 2900+ fps, but at 2800+ fps the 56 load is good enough for a practicable point blank 200 yard range. After 200 yards the front sight is bigger than a deer anyways. 55 grains of BLC-2 works as well with the Speer 150.
With the cock-eyed barrel/action alignment this rifle will never be a candidate for a scope, but I can't see any reason not to use it for hunting with the present configuration. I would like to experiment with heavier bullets, and I have a few boxes of 8mm Rem Mag factory ammo that I'll probably knock down for the 185 grain bullets. Perhaps the powder can be salvaged/re-used as well. I believe it could be used with 4350 data.
Anyone else use crooked rifles?
Any pet loads for 185 bullets in the 8x57?
TTFN
My first mod was to install a Williams receiver sight. Sighting this combo in uncovered another problem, the front sight was too low, POI was a foot high at 100. I replace the front blade with the tallest one available at our local Cabelas (Winnipeg). This was just about high enough, 150's would still go a bit high. There is a 0.250 sight (front blade) extension available from the USA, but with the new homeland security rules importing is out of the question. The project took a short hiatus while I waited for CFE 223 to arrive. I purchased 3 pounds of CFE 223 and began testing again. On shot #6 the front sight fell off, ramp and all. The solder just let go, not shinny, just dull and oxidized.
I bought a new, taller Williams ramp (screw type) and soldered it on, twice. It just didn't seem straight, so I did it again. While doing all the sight work and such I noticed that the barrel and action seemed out of alignment and I checked it out carefully. Misaligned by 1/2 an acre. The rear (receiver) sight is just under a quarter inch off center, Swedish quality at its best.
During this time I also re-crowned the muzzle with a Dave Manson Military crowning tool. This tool is a sweetheart, working very nicely for those of us with no access to a lathe.
Yesterday was test day, and it went well. I only tested 150 Speer handloads, and they worked out well. I seated all the bullets so that the shank was fully supported by the neck, 2.890 COL. All cases were FL re-sized in a modified Lee die. I lapped the base of the die to adjust the headspace of the case. I did all my measuring with the help of the new Hornady "Lock-N-Load Headspace Kit".
My pet load will be a CCI 250 primer, a Speer 150 HCSP bullet, with 56 grains of CFE 223 in a PRVI case loaded to 2.890. 57 grains is max and it is as accurate with 2900+ fps, but at 2800+ fps the 56 load is good enough for a practicable point blank 200 yard range. After 200 yards the front sight is bigger than a deer anyways. 55 grains of BLC-2 works as well with the Speer 150.
With the cock-eyed barrel/action alignment this rifle will never be a candidate for a scope, but I can't see any reason not to use it for hunting with the present configuration. I would like to experiment with heavier bullets, and I have a few boxes of 8mm Rem Mag factory ammo that I'll probably knock down for the 185 grain bullets. Perhaps the powder can be salvaged/re-used as well. I believe it could be used with 4350 data.
Anyone else use crooked rifles?
Any pet loads for 185 bullets in the 8x57?
TTFN
