.318 or .323 inch?

[Gut-n-Tight]

I got those bullets and box of JRS ammo that I spoke of from Grafs. I started loading some of the Hornady 170 grain FP but first I did some checking. I noted that a RWS JR bullet would not slip into my drilling's muzzle. The factory RWS JR will go into my chamber just fine as my ready to load S&B & RWS brass does. I did the smoke trick. I discovered that those .321 bullet reloads that I had are Speer 150 grain SP-the same as I got from Grafs, but I found they resisted s insertion into the chamber. The soot was rubbed off the neck. The box of new Privi JRS was even tighter.
I plan to go out to the range better equipped again. This time with five boxes of my reloads & some factory. The reloads are 150 grain & 170 grain sized to .3182". Some are loaded with Norma 203B and some with 202.

[mike ford]

Just a note, the proper bullet will never slip into a rifle's muzzle, if it is a jacketed bullet smokeless cartridge, instead of a lead bullet black powder cartridge. To do so, it would have to be smaller than bore diameter, whereas it should be at least groove diameter.
Mike

[Gut-n-Tight]

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: I at first thought I should apologize for wasting our time but then maybe somebody else can learn from this. I often find myself reading our old posts.

I took the Heym out again armed with lots of ammo. Before we go to there let me say that having done the soot test and noted that the old .321" Speer bullet reload box showed that the case necks rubbed the soot off. I then noted that fired case from same showed flattening of the primers so the oversize bullets are driving up pressure.

Ten days ago while making progress on sighting in I noticed the front scope mount could be moved ever so slightly. I corrected this by very judicious hammering of the mount's claws. So what happened today?

I was hoping that I could begin where I had left off (out of ammo). It did. I fired three-shot-groups at 50 yards on target with five different loads. I was using small bulls about the size of a coffee cup plate at 50 yards. After confirming an acceptable showing there, I shot three rounds each at 200 yards. In all, I shot five different 8X57JR loads; RWS factory, my older reloads using Norma 203B powder and newer loads using Norma 202. The reloads were of 150 grain & 170 grain. All were Hornady SP that I had resized to .3182" using a sizing die. The biggest spread and difference was the RWS factory SP while my reloads 150 & 170 grain shot very well. At 200 yards all my reloads would fit in a paper plate, one hit the ten ring.

To reload 8X57 JR, I use Norma data for the 8X57JRS. I start at the suggested starting level. I can now report that I am now pleased that I have a scoped drilling that I can take out deer, boar, or as I have applied for Missouri's 1st Elk Hunt, a big stag, if they stand pretty while I get a secure firing point and have time to set my trigger. Moto: Endeavour to Persevere.

[mike ford]

Terry,
Great, Good luck on your hunt. With experience, setting the trigger before the shot becomes second nature. On a stand, I go ahead and select the rifle barrel, then the safety and setting the trigger don't take much time, the safety is moved to off while mounting the gun.
Mike

[sharps4590]

Gut, you in Missouri? If so, may I ask where? I didn't apply for our first elk hunt...not with my luck...lol!

As an aside, I size my cast bullets to .321 for my .318 groove 8mm's. Mike is spot on, no, a jacketed bullet of the proper caliber will not fit into the bore of the rifle. Neither will a cast bullet if sized correctly. Take 30 cal., for instance. The bore is .300 and the groove is .308. Bullets are .308....they ain't gonna fit unless you drive them in with a hammer or slap them in the butt with 30-50 KPSI of pressure.

[Gut-n-Tight]

St. Louis area.

[sharps4590]

Ahh....ok. We aren't that far apart. I'm near Rolla.