First rifle reloads... not a good start IMO

[1KPerDay]

Let me begin by saying I don't have a lot of practice shooting rifles on paper, and I'm not very good at it, as you will shortly learn.

These are built up with HXP brass, H4895, and pulled M80 fmj pills, seated to 3.285" OAL, not crimped. The bullets are not known for excellent accuracy but they were cheap and I figured they'd be okay. I must say I'm disappointed so far, but I have nothing to compare them against really. Plus, I'm not a good rifle shot and I think I need glasses.

excuses, excuses.

On the plus side, all rounds fired and extracted fine and there was no sign of overpressure or anything.



On the minus side, either my rifle isn't particularly accurate (1903A3), my shooting platform was iffy (it was), and/or my rounds weren't all that great.

These are only at about 60 yards. Larger circles are 3 inches across, smaller are 2 inches.

I actually got discouraged and gave up after only 20 rounds. I figure I really need to go to an actual range (not my cuppa tea, generally) and use some real shooting bags or something to get a better idea.

And maybe use some match ammo as a comparison or something.

Anyway, here are the pics in case you might be able to determine something from them. I couldn't, other than I suck.:banghead:

Plus as the rifle heated up I could swear it looked like my front sight was bending to the left.

the first group, if you can call it that, was way low and right. Sights were at the 100 yd setting. I eventually had to move the rear up to the 300 setting to get close to POA.

46.0 gr on the lower right, and one of the fliers (can't remember which). Moved the rear sight left, moved up to the 200yd elevation, and then 46.2gr group on the left and one of the fliers.



46.4, bit over 3 inches at 60 yds. My best group.


46.6, and then I gave up and went back to shooting pistols, something I can do okay.

 

[popper]

As there is little vertical stringing, I'd say the load is good for the first and second. With the full length stock, I'd say the shooting is pretty good, rear sight is on the receiver and front is on the barrel.

 

[Skyshot]

1K, try some IMR 4350 or some RL-19 and some good bullets, I think the 03 has alot more to prove to you before you can evaluate the rifle. Good luck!

 

[hancjamk]

For open sights, antique rifle and crappy surplus bullets, those groups look pretty good to me. Especially the second picture. Try some Sierra match kings and see if your groups improve...

 

[cfullgraf]

I am not a very good rifle shot. With my M1 shooting prone, I am lucky to keep all shots in the black of a MR-31 100 yard target at 100 yards. The black is nominally 6" in diameter.

While I won't discount the rifle, I have lots of trouble seeing the sights consistently. (getting old sucks)

Try some better bullets and/or better ammo but also work on your technique before worrying about your handloads' accuracy.

 

[USSR]

As you noted, "The bullets are not known for excellent accuracy". Since you are running them quite light (I load them with 49.0gr of IMR4895), you might want to try running them with a grain or two more of powder. These bullets have very little bearing surface (they are nearly all ogive and boattail), which no doubt contributes greatly to their inaccuracy.

Don

 

[Funshooter45]

I think those are pretty reasonable results given the circumstances. When people talk aboutt sub-MOA, they are usually talking about a good modern rifle with a decent scope (or younger eyes), good bullets, etc. And they typically have spent a lot of time shooting rifles. If I were you I would take that middle load and load up a bunch more of them and just start shooting a lot. Make ssure you get the barrel scrubbed out real good to get rid of any old copper fouling. Before long you'll be shooting 2" groups routinely. Once you get to the point of being able to get 4 or 5 groups of 5 that look exactly the same then you can start working on varying the loads and using better bullets, etc.

 

[JerryM]

The groups indicate accuracy is not good enough to hunt with the combination. However, if your eyesight is not good then one must go with other sights.

At 60 yards one should shoot groups at least 1.25 inches to hunt deer with in my view unless you are going to confine shots to 100 yards.
Have a friend shoot the gun from a bench and see what it is capable of.
You might have to try various bullets and powders to get acceptable results. Even though the 03A3 barrels are two groove they are pretty accurate in my experience and what I have read.

Regards,
Jerry

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks for the ideas and encouragement.
I'm not going to be hunting with it.

I'll try some LC match and factory loads from a real bench (when I get a chance... ugh, what a pain), and then try some of the heavier handloads I made up (I have .2 gr steps up to about 47.6 or so). I realize I was starting light but you're supposed to, particularly for your first time. I was going to run a few through my garands but I'm paranoid about the primers... they are not military primers and I'm not sure I'm seating them deep enough. They are flush or maybe a tiny bit below but I still worry.