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Normal Topic Handloading for Swiss Martini-Hammerli 3-Pos Rifle (Read 2150 times)
Tommaso
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Handloading for Swiss Martini-Hammerli 3-Pos Rifle
Mar 22nd, 2015 at 10:39am
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All~ I recently acquired a Swiss Martini-Hammerli 3-position rifle dated around 1920. 

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The rifle is proofed for the GP11 ammunition, with a groove diameter of .307" and finally a full set of sights (bought Schützen sights because a base was added to the rifle, although I'll use the barrel-mounted rear sight assembly as they did in the original 300m competitions). 

I have never engaged in this discipline, and I confess my ignorance about how to handload for this type of rifle. I would appreciate it if someone were to walk me through what I should do. For instance: 

1 - Should I paper patch, and if so, at what diameter and why?
2 - Can I get away with a bit of trial and error without doing a chamber casting?
3 - What would be the drawback of using cast lead gas-check bullets? 
4 - Anything else I should know, or a good resource (even in French, Italian or German) anyone could point me to? 

Thanks a lot in advance--I want to make sure I get this right without messing up the rifle, which has an absolutely perfect bore. 

Tom
  
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UtahDave
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Re: Handloading for Swiss Martini-Hammerli 3-Pos Rifle
Reply #1 - Mar 22nd, 2015 at 11:00am
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Tommaso, 

You might look at the following forum for info.  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I shoot a K-31 with plain base bullets without problems.  Gas check is also common for events that allow that.   

Dave
  
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Tommaso
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Re: Handloading for Swiss Martini-Hammerli 3-Pos Rifle
Reply #2 - Mar 22nd, 2015 at 7:39pm
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Thanks, Dave--I've been a member of that forum for over 10 years... I find it amazing for military-rifle and militaria info, but less so for highly technical non-military shooting. That's why the "Other Swiss Arms" forum is quite slow compared to the other ones. 

Anyone in the know there will be a member here, but not the other way around... Wink
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: Handloading for Swiss Martini-Hammerli 3-Pos Rifle
Reply #3 - Mar 22nd, 2015 at 8:53pm
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the cast bullet assoc has quite a bt of data on shooting the K-31s with lead bullets, though they also use gas checks so that needs to be factored in.  they also have developed a bullet specifically for the "throat less" chamber commonly used with that round.   I'd recommend a careful chamber/throat cast of your rifle to develop a suitable bullet.

I also have one of those Hammereli barreled action "international free rifles" of the same era.  I have used one of Steve Earle's 'schuetzen sight rib adapters" to mount a target scope without D/T for scope blocks. 
  I also had Accurate Arms make a stop-ring version of the NOE K-31 bullet the castbullet guys group ordered.   I have not had time to really develop loads for it yet,   too many other shooting-irons in the fire.
« Last Edit: Mar 23rd, 2015 at 8:07am by QuestionableMaynard8130 »  

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