Any Enfield 303 British fans here?.

[FrankCVA42]

Have an old Parker Hale 303 British sporter. Basic model where they chopped the forend,shortened the barrel to 22", added a sporting ramp sight base that takes the military sight inserts based on a Long Branch action with 2 groove barrel. Any suggestions for a bullet mold?. Looking for a cast bullet mold that casts 200 grains or so and since the two groove barrels are said to be "generous" with the internal dimensions someone who makes H & I dies as well. Thanks,Frank

 

[waco]

What size are you looking to make the bullets?
Plain base or gas check mold?

 

[Bill]

I shoot a number four in some of our milsurp matches, the NOE 316299 is my choice and it does very well, I have the 314299 also and shoot it from my 03-a3, my groove size is .3125 and the 314299 would probably work for both guns, but the 303 seems to prefer the fat nose (307) which engraves just a skosh on chambering.
They both seem to do just fine with moderate charges of 2400, 5744, or 4759.
I also shoot the 165 saeco plain based at .314 with nine grains of blue dot

Bill

 

[462]

Had a No. 4 Mk. 2 that shot jacketed well enough, but didn't have the patience to find the same accuracy with cast, so sold it.
Had a Savage No. 4 Mk. 1 that is now my son's. More of a historical piece than a shooter.
On a whim bought a Golden State Armory Model of 1944, a sporterized No. 4 Mk. 1, but, again, didn't have the patience to pursue much cast development, and sold it to subsidize something else.

 

[FrankCVA42]

Have two, one is a standard #4MKII made by Fazerkly in 1947,and of course the Parker Hale sporter on a Long Branch #4MKI* in 1942.The Long Branch has a mint two groove barrel. Trigger isn't bad. So will polish all the contact points. Unfortunately all my bullet molds are thirty caliber so if anyone has some fat bullets so's I can slug the barrel I would be greatly appreciative. Of course I am only too happy to pay for about a half dozen or so.. I did mention the chopped forend that was on the rifle. It was cut behind the mid barrel band. Someone gave me a forend off another rifle most likely one off one of the many #4's that was repaired at the Ishapore Arsenal as it has the Ishy screw. Have the rear handguard sling swivel so will probably end up what looks like a mini #4. I'm an old mechanic and like to have some work that involves my hands. Been cooped up in this house for three weeks think I have cabin fever. Frank

 

[FrankCVA42]

What size are you looking to make the bullets?
Plain base or gas check mold?

Waco, well first I'm going to Tom at accurate molds and probably get his copy of the lyman 314299 which has worked so well in my Finn Model 27 and go from there. And since all my molds are basically 30caliber I put out a request if anyone has cast bullets from Al's @ NOE's 318299 I would pay for them just to get something fat enough to slug the barrel. But it will be a gas check bullet no matter what. Thanks,Frank

 

[fiver]

get you some egg sinkers.
you can mash them in the vice or gently persuade them with a hammer to be fatter and the center hole hlps them fit the barrel.
just stick your calipers in the muzzle to get an idea how big you think you'll need.

when your done with that.
do a quick search on how to do a throat impact then you'll be more on the right track of what you really need to be measuring.

 

[FrankCVA42]

Probably take a couple 314299's and put them in a small machinests vice and squish them and try to get an accurate reading. Fattest bullet I have. NOE's 318299 would probably work my H&I dies do not go above .314. so have to find someone who can make a few. gas checked bullets,never had much success with plain based bullets. Still hoarding my dwindling supply of 4759. Works great in my 1935 Finn model 27. Frank

 

[CZ93X62]

No. 1 Mk III here, BSA 1918. Throat is .3155", I size a custom Lee 200 grain spitzer-ish casting at .316" and run them atop 16.0-18.0 grains of 2400. Fun rifle.

 

[FrankCVA42]

Still working on a different forend on the Parker hale rifle. But as usual things get in the way. Draws on the stock were badly cut aysemetrical so the load was transferred unequally to the draws and the stock. back end of the stock was badly cracked. Cut out the damaged wood which fell apart as it left the stock. Making up a dutchman to replace the wood taken out and that will get epoxyed in. Then have to recut the draws and install the new ones. Then eventually glass the action body. And right where the barrel touches the center section of the new forend. Can't go anywhere except, fuel,food and meds. Gotta have something to keep the hands and mind active. I'd like a heavy bullet approx 200 grains/gas check. Most likely NOE's 316299. 2 groove barrel.And one day get it scoped. Frank

 

[Iron Brigade]

Double post sorry

 

[FrankCVA42]

Have 2400,5744, 4759 powders. So should find something that works. Gonna take the day off and hopefully get some work done on the extra forend for the PH sporter. Spent yesterday cutting some trash trees down and hauling to the burn pile. Was going to do the remaining ones but at 73 my back is telling me to back off for a day or so. Making decent progress with the yard work so that's good. A little bit at a time. Frank

 

[Bohica]

I have a love/hate relationship with my No4 Mk1. Still haven't found a load it likes. Love the rifle just haven't gotten anything to group better than 4" at 100 yds.

 

[Iron Brigade]

I shoot a couple Enfield rifles, my p14 likes 6.8 grains of bullseye. And my Lithgow #1 mk I I I liked the bullseye load but also 9 grains of blue dot. These are plain base loads as cast at .317. 316299 noe mold.
as for the #4 Enfield rifles, what I've learned from a gent that has a lot of experience with these rifles is that the fore stock is prone to warp causing accuracy issues.
Gas check loads with the 316299 have been 16 grains of 2400, 12.5 grains of red dot and 14 grains of blue dot.

 

[Missionary]

We have a couple... but shoot the Savage more than any other. As far as a battle rifle goes they do their job very well.

 

[MW65]

I enjoy them, but haven't shot'em for a while. I recently got an NOE mould to try out.... Going to try out the bullseye load first, then go to 2400. Would like to get a good 200yd mil match load ready.

 

[FrankCVA42]

Well got the forestock sanded and stained as well as the rear handguard but need to do some stock repairs before glass bedding the action and and first inch or so of the barrel. Been doing some reading about center bedding. Supposedly the knock's form is bedded, then where the mid point of the military stock is also bedded and from there to the end of the forestock is slightly raised to provide some upwards pressure on the barrel. But this is with an original military rifle, and with the standard length barrel. Mine has been shortened to 22". Something to think about. I could shorten the military stock, move the steel piece that is part of the stock back or Cut the stock back and add some cork gasket shims to get some upward pressure. Spending at least 6-8 hours outside doing long overdue work has been great as far as getting stuff done. I for one need the excersize but when I get in the house have no energy and at 73 need all I can get. Maybe trying to do too much too fast or too soon. Gotta slow down a bit. Frank

 

[Iron Brigade]

Mw65..
The bullseye load is a 100 yard plinker load and will drop like the proverbial brick at 200 yards. Great 100 yard load that Larry Gibson shoots.
try the 2400 load for 200 yards. The 14 grains of blue dot chrono'd at 1550 fps with a 200 grain bullet. Have fun

 

[Tomme boy]

Accurate 314-215b is one I made for the Mosin. A bunch of people are using it in their 303 Brits and love it. Ed Harris got a plain base one and he really likes it for his Enfields.

 

[John]

Mad minute involves shooting with the middle finger. The thumb and forefinger stay on the bolt. Bruce Bannister told me he shot a black bear that came at him from 30 yards away. He had no idea how fast he was firing but at one point happened to notice he had 5 pieces of brass in the air. As he was trained by the Canadian Army I am pretty sure he was familiar with this method.
I shot my first deer with a sporterised #2, side mount scope. Younger brother has it now.