Mauser M38 consistantly inconsistant groups

texasloader49 · February 26, 2010, 12:30 PM

I have a Swedish Mauser M38 that is giving me consistently inconsistent groups. What I mean by this is that it seems that no matter WHAT bullet or powder combination I use, the groups I am getting are the same in that in a 3 SHOT STRING, I will have two of the bullets touching or almost touching, and the third acting like a flyer usually to the right and slightly above the other two by 1 ½ inches to 2 ½ inches.

A good friend of mine sold the rifle to me some years ago, and he showed me some of his targets, and with a different scope, using the same “New Style Weaver” mounts, he was getting the same type groups as I am. I removed and reattached the mounts and mounted one of my scopes (Luepold VX-1 in 3X9) just to make sure it wasn’t the problem. It wasn’t.

This rifle has a Timney trigger, Fajen stock, “cock on opening” original bolt (modified), and a barrel that was cut down and crowned (22.5 inches, one in 9 ½ twist).

My loads are as follows:

Hornady 129gr Spire point
44.5gr IMR-4831
CCI-200 Large Rifle Primer
OAL – 2.932 (Seated to crimp line on bullet)
Estimated velocity – 2550 (Hornady manual)
Full length sized brass (Rem)

Berger 140gr VLD
45.5gr RL-22 (Reference Berger)
CCI-200 Large Rifle Primer
OAL – 3.136 (For best accuracy)
Chronographed Velocity (Pact Pro) – 2407 FPS
Full length sized brass (Rem)

Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?

February 26, 2010, 12:30 PM	#1
texasloader49 Junior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 4	Mauser M38 consistantly inconsistant groups I have a Swedish Mauser M38 that is giving me consistently inconsistent groups. What I mean by this is that it seems that no matter WHAT bullet or powder combination I use, the groups I am getting are the same in that in a 3 SHOT STRING, I will have two of the bullets touching or almost touching, and the third acting like a flyer usually to the right and slightly above the other two by 1 ½ inches to 2 ½ inches. A good friend of mine sold the rifle to me some years ago, and he showed me some of his targets, and with a different scope, using the same “New Style Weaver” mounts, he was getting the same type groups as I am. I removed and reattached the mounts and mounted one of my scopes (Luepold VX-1 in 3X9) just to make sure it wasn’t the problem. It wasn’t. This rifle has a Timney trigger, Fajen stock, “cock on opening” original bolt (modified), and a barrel that was cut down and crowned (22.5 inches, one in 9 ½ twist). My loads are as follows: Hornady 129gr Spire point 44.5gr IMR-4831 CCI-200 Large Rifle Primer OAL – 2.932 (Seated to crimp line on bullet) Estimated velocity – 2550 (Hornady manual) Full length sized brass (Rem) Berger 140gr VLD 45.5gr RL-22 (Reference Berger) CCI-200 Large Rifle Primer OAL – 3.136 (For best accuracy) Chronographed Velocity (Pact Pro) – 2407 FPS Full length sized brass (Rem) Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?