8x56r steyr/lebel bullet reloading question

[kungfuhippie]

I searched and found nothing so here's my question.
I found that i can get 100 grain .330 TMJ bullets from grafs (intended for a lebel revolver) I thought that these would be great for very light target loads. Does anyone have any experience reloading 8x56r with such light bullets? I was thinking about Unique powder, starting at 6-7 grains and going up from there. I'm open to suggestions about what powder to use and what type of loads to try. I'd prefer a powder that doesn't need the case topped off with filler to avoid shifting. Thanks.

(please don't give me the "check a reloading manual" line. I want human input to help work up a load.)

 

[NuJudge]

It's been done before

I bookmark the oddest of links, sometimes:

http://forums.handloads.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7027

CDD

 

[kungfuhippie]

115 grain hard-cast bullet sized .330 (originally intended for Lebel 8mm revolver)
Primer used: WW large rifle
Propellant used: 6.0 grains Unique
Case used: Graf boxer primed (recent Serbian manufacture)

So now to expose my newbieness to reloading.
What I was looking at was jacketed 100 grain bullets, this guy is using 115 grain cast bullets with 6.0 grains of unique.
Would I be safe using that as a starting load? It seems like a nice light load, will I be risking a squib? Now you can tell me to look it up in my loading books, I'm at work so I can't really look in my books at the moment.

 

[kungfuhippie]

Oh and thanks for the link!

 

[NuJudge]

Try not to be too inventive.

Being too inventive can win you a Darwin award.

Can I suggest that you secure some lubricated Lead bullets cast on Lee's .329" mold, which casts bullets intended for the 8x56R. My experience is that these bullets fall from the mold about .330" or .331". There's lots of data around for the Lee mold. Get a Lee expander for the case necks. I've used loads of between 16 and 18 grains of 2400 with the Lee bullet. Elevate the muzzle before firing to get the powder charge back against the primer. Recoil is about on the order of an M1 Carbine.

If you don't feel like doing that, pull bullets on the surplus 8x56R ammo, reduce the powder charges 10%, and reseat the bullets.

If you are determined to go with the Jacketed pistol bullet, you are almost completely on your own. Read up on something called "the load." Several very fast burning pistol and shotgun powders can be used for reduced loads in rifles using large cartridge cases (eg .30-'06, 7.62x54R, & 8x57), both with 150-180gr Lead and with some jacketed bullets.

Other than overpressure, also worry about underpressure. With a weak load, you may stick a bullet in the bore. Pushing a lubricated Lead bullet stuck in the bore out is possible with a really stout supported cleaning rod. Pushing a Jacketed bullet out will probably require the attention of a gunsmith.

 

[Firehand]

I just fired the carbine I bought from AIM, using the Lee cast bullet with gas check, lubed with Liquid Alox, in front of 16.0 grains of 2400. As NuJudge says, about like an M1 Carbine for recoil. Hard to say much about accuracy, indoor range was at only has 30 yards for the rifle side, but seemed to shoot nicely(the dim light doesn't help my aim, either). Next time I get to the outdoor range, I'll have more loaded up. Hopefully, I'll have some clips for it by then, too.