http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?70299-The-AG-42-For-Slowfire-Prone-And-Offhand
ACarpenter,
I've gone back and forth on the lubricated cartridges. I started doing it based on recommendations from others, then stopped because of new information I got that it's bad to lube cases because it puts undue stress on the bolt face. Lately, I've done some testing that has convinced me to lubricate the cartridges from now on.
I've been taking measurements of unfired cartridges and cases that were fired in my Ljungman. I'm using a Hornady Lock-N-Load cartridge headspace gauge attached to my digital calipers.
I've determined that the headspace on my Ljungman is on the long side. It will not close on a Field headspace gauge which has a headspace measurement of 1.775", however it will close (with some resistance) on a cartridge case sized to 1.774" headspace. So you can see it's about 0.001-0.002" from failing the Field gauge. (I tried to tighten up the headspace using the kit available from Springfield Sporters, but couldn't get the existing spacer block out of the reciever, but that's another story).
I was finding that unlubed, fired cases were actually LONGER than the measured headspace length of my rifle - how could that be? My theory was the cases were being stetched during extraction from the chamber. If so, it should be especially true if the cases are unlubed or the chamber was very dirty.
I recently fired some cartridges that were lightly lubed with a film of Rem-oil. I found that the fired cases were 0.003" shorter than unlubed cases. This supports my theory above and based on that, I think it's a GOOD THING to lube your ammunition for firing in the Ljungman.
In my testing, I've also found that even with the lubrication, the cases are stretched longer than the chamber headspace by about 0.003". The only cases I tested that didn't come out longer than the chamber are Remington cases, and they were unlubricated too. I think the reason is because the American manufactured cases have a smaller case head diameter and therefore are less prone to "sticking" in the chamber of the Ljungman. I would have to do more testing to prove that since Remington is the only "small head" case I tested.
Some average headspace measurements I've taken:
1.761" Unfired m/41 cartridge (87 / 070 headstamp)
1.768" Cases fired in bolt action rifles with "good" headspace (CG-63, Win. M70, M96 FSR)
1.775" Forster Field Headspace Gauge
1.778" Fired lubricated m/41 cartridges in my Ljungman
1.781" Fired unlubricated m/41 cartridges in my Ljungman
Sorry for the long-winded answer to your question. Hope that helps.
http://www.thehighroad.us/archive/index.php/t-402786.html
krochus
December 1st, 2008, 02:23 PM
Congratulations you bought the most obscure and cantankerous semiautomatic to learn loading for autoloaders on.
With the faster powders such as H335 I had shortstroking issues, I ended up with IMR4320 because it would short stroke with weak loads but would operate fine with near max loads, this told me I had arrived at the correct burn rate. Near max loads were required because at much below 2400fps a 140grn bullet would print almost a foot high. Remember the sights on these are fixed within a range so you're load will also have to shoot to the sights.
The problem with this particular rifle is unlike 223/308/30/06 or 7.62x39 you neither have specific semi auto data and you have a case that works best with completely ag42 unsuitable powders. Meaning that conventional 6.5x55 data is out the window for you.
My favorite is the "you have to lightly oil the rounds or the gun will rip the cases apart" comment.
I guess you're unaware then that the swedish always lubed the ammo for these rifles and the Swedish manuals go in depth to point this out.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=11436
OK, here we go. Lots of so called "experts" are going to jump on this. These rifles, the Jlungmans AG-42B types, were made to have the brass cases lubricated. I know this flies in the faces of many of our members who think they know better, but it is true. The Swedes used a very well made,semi-thick oil that was rubbed onto the loaded ammo to aid in extraction. As you know, the brass cases if left dry may or may not extract, tear in-half or get crushed in the action by that "killer" bolt.
I use a product that I have had very good luck with. Bordens " Slide-All" It is a dry film lube that seems to work very well. Now, my full house loads do not tear in-half. Extraction/ejection is normal ( if you call 25 yards normal) and accuracy has gone way up. Life of the fired brass so far is over 5 re-loads. I'm not too keen on sharing my loads as these rifles are very temperamental with hand loads. I do use a 140 grain bullet and a "medium ' port pressure type powder such as IMR-4895 and RELOADER-15. IMR-4350 and IMR 7828 shot well after I designed and installed a gas port valve. I like the sights on the rifle and how well the rifle handles. You can't bad mouth the rifles accuracy, that's for sure.
Here's a 200 meter target from last summer.
http://milsurpshooter.net/topic/37374
While the no-lube mantra is a safe and conventional approach, some of us have been using lubricated cases in military rifles for years with no problems. The operative principle seems to be that good rifle actions are built with enough strength to handle the full thrust of a lubed or wet cartridge (or an oily chamber) on a regular basis and do not actually depend on the relatively weak brass case to absorb any thrust. Makes sense to me - but it's not for everyone, especially those who are uncomfortable "thinking out of the box".
One example of a fairly lightweight locked-breech rifle action that prefers lubed cases is the AB42 Ljungman. If you think about it, another is the SVT-40, where gas lubrication is provided by a fluted chamber. It would be difficult to demonstrate that either of these tilting-block actions is inherently stronger than the Mosin.
http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/ljungmann_ag_42b.pdf