Precision loading for H&K Mod 91 .308

[VaRandy]

I have been reading the excellent source of work by Sticky on precision reloading.

I am a seasoned benchrest guy with wildcats and I go all the way in taking edges in reloading with demonstrated results. Precision in shooting is the challenge that keeps me shooting.

I have one spray and pray (I say with disdain!) for my semi automatic H&K which I have decided to reload for. I bought it simply to insure nobody takes my bench guns!

I realize that there is little I can do to help my accuracy with this unit through reloading but thought I would ask the semi crowd here whether any preparation is worthwhile.

I know I will keep brass and overall lengths uniform and probably pocket preparation. Rounds will be much shorter than I am used to which is touching or much deeper for my VLD bullets.

I'm guessing necks walls will not be real important. Is there anything else that I should know, I will appreciate the input.

In case it matters, I had a Harris set trigger put in with serious reduction of pull, slop and the trigger was straightened, widened and tig-welded.

Also, is there any lubricant that should be used with the 91 because it seems to drag and occasionally hangs up short of a full cycle. I have little experience with semi rifles.

 

[1lnbrdg]

If it's a true German made H&K 91, it should be fairly accurate. Mine are.

The H&K 91 will handle just about any trash ammo. Really wicked how the bolt can adjust to long/short headspaced ammo but try with new once-fired from same rifle to get proper headspace measurements.

41.5gr H-4895 with 168's, 44.0gr Varget with the 175's. Both of these bullets work well when jumping so magazine loading length works.

 

[tsavo303]

I had one that was 2moa with 147 guatimalin ball
Same with 168 fgm
Tried some 180gr and it turned into a shotgun!Like 8-10 moa

At least it liked the cheap stuff!

 

[HK MaNiaK]

I was able to pulled of 1/2 moa at 600 yards with my ptr 91 and seems to shoot under an inch most of the time at a 100 yards. I had about 100 rounds I fired through it and sent the brass to southwest ammo to reload and they did a excellent job I haven't tested accuracy yet because I dont have a working scope anymore but just shot some rounds at 200 yards iron sight and was able to hit a 5 inch block. I just got myself redding type s full length resizing dies to reload for my 91, I plan on using 175smk. These dies require a neck bushing so I measured the outside neck of the rounds im going to be firing and most of them were around .338 so im going with a .337 bushing and I am just waiting till powder valley gets another shipment of varget and federal 210 primers and I can start to get the ball rolling.

I have never heard about Harris set trigger but seems pretty good, I have heard about williams set trigger and bill springfield trigger work, I have the springfield trigger work done on mine and its pretty good it just takes slack and creep away and lighter trigger pull nothing to fancy. As for lubing I just use some regular hoppes gun oil throughout the bolt and rollers but thats it.

 

[ksthomas]

VaRandy,

You'll be hating life very shortly. To begin with, if you're a seasoned BR shooter, forget everything you know about handloading for them. Virtually none of it applies to loading for an autoloader. They're very different animals, a different set of rules apply and many of the techniques you'd use with a Bench gun will be downright troublesome (or dangerous) with an auto. Few things here;

1) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS Full Length size. Without fail, every time, no excuses ever. Small Base sizing is even better. Neck Sizing or other forms of minimal sizing are ivitations to disaster.
2) Bump the shoulders back a bare minimum of .002" and .003" is better still. Forget everything you've ever known about minimum shoulder set back and case longevity when dealing with bolt guns; it doesn't apply here.
3) Specific to the HK family, the fluted chamber will leave your brass looking pretty funky. Not a problem, and doesn't affect case life. Just looks a little wierd. Nothing to do with reloading, just sayin'.
4) Most autoloaders are pretty specific about burn rates and powder selection. The roller locked blowback system of the H&K family seems to be an exception, and should work with a pretty wide variety of powders. Bonus!
5) Yes, they're military issue, but avoid the 147-150 grain military style FMJs like the plague they are. Most of them are pure crap and will never tell you what the rifle is truly capable of. These are generally the least accurate bullets produced by any manufacturer, and won't hold a candle to the better projectiles actually designated for Match use.
6) Don't ever sell the autoloaders short in terms of accuracy. There's plenty of them out there (the AR family being the best example) that shoot remarkably well. Good friend of mine actually shot an "Official Screamer" (got the patch and everything) for a sub .1" five shot group in a registered Benchrest match, and pissed off a bunch of 6mm PPC shooters to no end. Shot with a Bill Wylde built AR. Like I said, don't sell them short, they may just surprise you.

 

[VaRandy]

Thanks to all. Mine IS a Williams set trigger (I got mixed up, did it many years ago). The 91 is all German, not a clone and has the MSG stock. I also have the original collapsible stock and would never use it but would not sell it either. I just ordered a Redding 3 die set off this board and am looking for some quality brass and additional primers.

It is scoped but I had trouble with mounts but the gun shoots very well. The scope is Nightforce and I have NF mounts coming.
I am putting a Harris swivel bipod on it because it is too heavy for shoulder fired for very long.
I am hoping Berger 175 Grains will work well because I have plenty of them from BR reloading. The gun probably only has 50-75 rounds through it and is rough on brass and sometimes fails to complete the cycle as if something is dragging. Hopefully it only needs more rounds through it.

thanx to all for the help.

 

[VaRandy]

Change in Plans...h&K 91 will go

Don't try and sell on this site without the required number of posts. Read the rules.

 

[FN in MT]

Both of my 91's were capable of FAR better accuracy than I was, with the iron sights. Back when I still had decent vision mine shot GI Match into 1- 1.5 inches at 100 yds all the time. Never scoped one to see what it was capable of.

I'd suggest finding on of the Factory case buffers Otherwise you have a fairly large DENT on all of your cases from the VIOLENT ejection.

And...NEVER shoot at a coyote with your HK 91 from your pickup truck, while INSIDE. The cases WILL ding the windshield enough to require replacement. Though the coyote did fare worse.

 

[P7id10t]

Don't quote people breaking site rules

Now there's a man who knows what he wants!

I'm nowhere near the skill nor have the hardware to be a competitive BR shooter, However, out of curiosity, how was it that it would hurt your handloads?
I would think you would keep loading for your BR stuff using well honed techniques, and load differently (with a different set of supplies) for your 91.

 

[VaRandy]

There is little reason to handload for the 91 as the magazines reduce the OAL I would like to have, and I would need a second source for throwaway brass bersus the Lapua and RWS I use now. It does dent often enough to preclude using good brass.

Now there's a man who knows what he wants!

I'm nowhere near the skill nor have the hardware to be a competitive BR shooter, However, out of curiosity, how was it that it would hurt your handloads?
I would think you would keep loading for your BR stuff using well honed techniques, and load differently (with a different set of supplies) for your 91.

 

[VaRandy]

Definitely not intended. Cannot find the rules you refer to so please send me a copy.

Don't try and sell on this site without the required number of posts. Read the rules.