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My reloading logbook shows that I was using 9,3x57 Norma brass, but I was also using a +10 thou Redding competition shellholder to cancel out excess headspace. The necks were quite uneven, I think because I had a bent decapper thread in the RCBS die. I straightened them our by necking down to 9x56 M.Sch. and then used a C-H tapered expander to bring them back up to 9,5x57 M. Sch. I'd be checking run-out along the way with a RCBS casemaster. I also now use a Hornady concentricity tool that actually pushes "bent" bullets back to within 1-2 thou runout. This also helps true the case shoulders on firing because the case is just short of a crush fit. The competition shellholder also helps this, because the case has nowhere to go out of alignment when the die and the shellholder stay in firm contact.

Jeff Munnell published an article on this caliber in Precision Reloading, Sept 2005. I used one of the suggested loads; H4895 with a 260 Nosler Accubond, at a measured 10 ft, and the Chrony velocity I got from my 1927 built, 24" barrelled take-down was 2,250 fps with SD's between 5 and 11. Normally 3 shots would go within 1,1/4" between centers. For open sights, I was well pleased.

I also discovered excess headspace on one of my other Mannlichers when the cases ejected with the primers left half way out. I cured this by making a false shoulder, (i.e. expanding the neck by another 0.5mm), I would have backed the FL die well off, then lowered it a 1/8th turn or even less, then checked it in the chamber to see if the bolt would close, and then another 1/8th, and check again, etc. A small gunsmith's spirit lamp meant I could also smoke the neck and shoulder and see if the dies were making contact. So on the next firing the case stretched to take up the headspace, but it didn't get sized back afterwards. The new dimensions became the permanent ones and I had no more problems.

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