Advice for Match loads L39A1.

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   Our local Shooting Federation has announced an extra competition for Service rifles next year. ISR. (International Service Rifle.)The good news is that I can use the L39A1. Which is not allowed in the French Service rifle competition (TAR).
The new competition will be at 300 m or 200m on reduced targets.
I have Norma 202 powder available.
 With 155 gr SMK's and Lapua cases.
I am thinking that 40 grains of 202 would be a good load .
But thought I'd ask you guys what you think?

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Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Advice for Match loads L39A1. Posted: September 24 2024 at 4:28am
	Our local Shooting Federation has announced an extra competition for Service rifles next year. ISR. (International Service Rifle.) The good news is that I can use the L39A1. Which is not allowed in the French Service rifle competition (TAR). The new competition will be at 300 m or 200m on reduced targets. I have Norma 202 powder available. With 155 gr SMK's and Lapua cases. I am thinking that 40 grains of 202 would be a good load . But thought I'd ask you guys what you think?
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: September 24 2024 at 4:50am
	That's a good starting load Shaun, but if you can get some range time in, run some tests up to 42.0 gr, in 0.5 grain steps. Per Norma online reloading data for .308 Winchester with 155 SMK and Norma 202: Min 42.0 Max 43.5 With the heavy free floating barrel on the L39, you may get better accuracy at the higher load densities. You may also find benefits to fine tuning the load by trying a few different seating depths. I was able to get fairly good accuracy with the 155 SMK Palma bullet in the No. 4 DCRA, especially at short and mid range (out to 600x), but not quite as good as the 168 SMK or 168 TMK. There is also a regular 155 SMK, but I don’t recall if I’ve shot any of those bullets in my No. 4 DCRA. But, this may not be relevant to your L39 given the very different barrel.

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: September 24 2024 at 9:55am
	Thanks Geoff. I actually have both types of SMK, Palma and standard. I haven't shot the L39' much; as what little range time I get, would prioritise the rifles for competition. (No4Mk1/2 and SMLE). No clue what the difference between the two will be. Probably only noticeable in the longer ranges. So I need to dedicate some time to practice and load developement.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: September 24 2024 at 10:23am
	I'm a fan of the "ladder test" approach. I've described it here on the forum somewhere. Load three rounds each in increments of 0.3 grains (weigh and trickle all charges for this test). Shoot these all on the same target at the range you intend to use the load for in a round robin style. Your ladder test loads would be this: Charge Shot # 40.0 1, 9, 17 40.3 2, 10, 18 40.6 3, 11, 19 40.9 4, 12, 20 41.2 5, 13, 21 41.5 6, 14, 22 41.8 7, 15, 23 42.1 8, 16, 24 Plot up the group center of each of these charge weights and look for two or three adjacent loads that have vertical MPI clustered together. Look for two or three adjacent loads that have almost the identical vertical MPI, this is an "accuracy node". Conversely, you will usually find one or more "scatter-nodes" where either the group is large (scattered) or there is a large change in MPI between two adjacent loads. It's a very efficient way (24 rounds) to find the most accurate load for your rifle. You need to be able to accurately plot the individual hits (or be able to later identify individual hits on the target) and plot the MPI of each three round group at the same load. Since the L39 has a floated barrel, you can shoot this off the bench to minimize holding errors.