AG-42 Ljungman - What 6.5x55 loads are you using?

[Galil5.56]

I have been sticking to IMR-4895 because of the rifles DI design/short DI tube, and keep the velocity to just under 2400 fps (37 grains) with Privi 139gr FMJ/.263" bullets. No lubing of the cases and everything works fine as for functioning... Aside from the rifle being really, REALLY hard on brass.

This load results in nearly identical velocities to Privi with the same bullet, but I'd like to add just a bit more velocity to kinda clone M41 surplus, which should be around 2550 fps. I have read of one person who used 37 gr of RL15, and got about 2550 fps with a 140 gr FMJ, but I'm kinda scratching my head as to how, considering it's curve relative to IMR-4895. FWIW, the charge of whatever tubular propellant used in Swedish M41 ammo really fills the case, so it must be assumed is of a much slower curve than IMR-4895, which leaves a lot of empty space in my loads.

I'd like to use a propellant that is as 'fast' as possible to keep port pressures their lowest, while getting the velocity nearer 2550 fps. I may at some point try to regulate the gas system, but until then I'd like to hear from AG-42 loaders who have tried to achieve what I am looking for, especially with chronograph data... Please, this relates only to loading for an AG-42; I have, and can find all the data in the world for 6.5x55 loads well suited for older and modern bolt action rifles. Thanks.

 

[LRDGCO]

So I load for the Mauser and can't offer direct experience with the Ljungman. I would however suggest that both Varget, and I think even more likely, IMR4064, are worth investigating for your pressure/velocity parameters.

 

[Slamfire]

No lubing of the cases and everything works fine as for functioning... Aside from the rifle being really, REALLY hard on brass.

Lubricate the cases and fire them lubricated. This is what the Swedish service manual recommended. As I don't have one, I don't know what you mean being hard on brass, but if this mechanism was meant to be fired with lubricated cases, then dry cases will experience severe case stretching.

You might think of going faster, such as IMR 3031, and bumping up the velocity with that powder. You do not want to go the route of a slower burning powder, if you don't have to. The gas system will always be your limiting factory. At some port pressure level you will be overaccelerating the gas system, typically ripping case rims off, bolt overrides, either closing on an empty chamber, or jamming the top round in the stack.

And, who says 2550 fps is the magic number? Until you fire Swedish ball in your rifle, you don't know whether the "experts" know what they are talking about, or not. Based on my experience, the smart guys are typically full of beans. While I don't have an AG-42 Ljungman, I do have various bolt rifles in 6.5 X55 and I have Swedish ball. And I am going to say, in a 24" barrel, Ball ammunition is doing just fine to go to 2450 fps. So, who says?


M38 Calvary Carbine #601 837 24" barrel
20-Mar-94 T ≈ 78 °F

143.5 gr FMJBT Swedish 1986 ball. OAL 3.065" 47.4 grs powder average

Ave Vel = 2477
Std Dev = 23
ES = 57
Low = 2449
High = 2506
N = 4

M70 6.5 X 55 Swede Featherweight 22" Barrel #

143.5 gr FMJBT Swedish 1986 ball. OAL 3.065" 47.4 grs powder average
13 Oct 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2460
Std Dev = 21
ES = 30
High = 2474
Low = 2444
N = 5

Very good group

 

[Laphroaig]

Doug Bowser discusses the AG-42B in his book "Neutrality Through Marksmanship". He states the following: "The Ljungman has a direct impingment gas system and it operates rather violently, even using gunpowder with the proper burning rate. If the gas port pressure is increased the action may operate too quickly and damage the rifle."

He lists the following recommended powders: IMR 3031, 4895, 4064; AA2460, 2520; H335, WW748, and BLC-2. In short, nothing slower than IMR-4064.

I don't know why my margin shifted like this??​

 

[Mustang51]

Recently began to refine my Ljungman loads. I reduced the powder charge from 36.0 to 34.5 grs of 4064, with Nosler 140 gr CC bullets, Prvi brass, CCI 34 primers, OAL 3.015. This shrank my groups a bit...

5 shot groups @ 100 yards

 

[MikeInOr]

I started with 4064 for my 96 Sweeds and didn't have to make any changes when I got my Ljungman a long time ago. I switched to Varget because it meters better for me. I have always used middle of the road charges. I have never really tuned any loads for accuracy. All of my Sweeds can shoot more accurately than I can with notch open sights.

I have never had the Ljungman be particularly hard on brass... its cousin the Hakim likes to dent pretty much every case reguardless of what I have the gas port set to.

 

[Walkalong]

I saw a guy shooting a Ljungman at the range once and t was slinging brass 5+ benches over. Very cool guns.

 

[Mustang51]

I saw a guy shooting a Ljungman at the range once and t was slinging brass 5+ benches over. Very cool guns.

Yep. Very common. The extraction/ejection sequence is almost violent when using most commercial or military 6.5 x 55 ammo. I think it is the slower burning powder used in most of those rounds. Before I started reloading with the medium burning powders, I had the same experience. Frequently the rim was torn by the extraction. As you might guess, the whole process was very hard on the brass.

 

[Mustang51]

I've got two Ljungmans that my son and I use in military silhouette matches.




The Ljungman without the sling has always been the more accurate of the two. It is the one that I used to fire the groupings shown above.

I got out to the range this weekend and took a few shots with my other Ljungman using the lighter loads. This time I was on the 200 yard range and I got the usual 4 decent shots and a flyer.

The 4 shot group was 2.25", or a little over 1 MOA. The flyer opened the group up to about 2 MOA. Group was shot with the rear sight set @ 100m

 

[Mustang51]

Got out to Sac Valley Shooting Center this week and spent some time with some rifles, including my second Ljungman. Shot it at 200 yards, with the following results...

@200 yards, as usual, decent group and a flyer. Main group about 3" or 1.5 MOA, with the flyer, about 4.75" The sights were off, obviously. I was able to adjust them and got them pretty well centered.


@200 yds, the main group was 2.5", or about 1.25 MOA. With the flyer, about 5" or 2.5 MOA.