Lee Metford 1895 Target Rifle with cast bullets

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Paul Barber

New Member
Hello everyone I am new to the forum today.

I was wondering if anyone has experience of loading Lee Metford .303 rifles with lead bullets? My rifle has the original Metford rifled barrel whih is in great shape. The bore dia slugs out to about .311 so is very tight still. But unlike my Long Lee Enfield it will not stabalize bore riding .312 - .314 bullets. They just tumble made from wheel weights and solder gas checked and hardened in water at only moderate velocities. .311" 180 grain jacketed round nose soft point bullets work just fine and do not tubble but being and old gun in mint condition I would rather shoot lead alloy gas check bullets if possible to find a design that will stabalize properly with the shallow Metford rifling.

I was thinking that a bullet design at between 210 and 220 gns that is parralel rather than bore riding might be the answer. Has anyone experienced the same issues that I have and ant thoughts and rtercommendations on bullet type / design and powders / charges that work for you.

Many thanks
 
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RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Paul, I have no direct experience with Metford rifling. However, I do have some with the early 30 US Army (Krag) that has similar issues of inconsistent bore and groove dimensions. The most successful was the Lyman #311284 that has three full size driving bands and the first is about 70% up from the base. It was important to get the first driving band as far into the barrel as possible. The new craft mould makers should have something that will work for you. Velocities of 1450 to 1600 f/s are the most accurate, and A2400 through IMR4198 seem to work well for me. HTH, Ric
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
more drive band length would be a huge help.
the metford rifling is similar to 5R type rifling.
it's easier to think of it as the rifling marlin uses and treat it the same way.
long drive bands instead of a long nose is needed to grip the rifling and spin the bullet properly.
the 7.7 jap rifles suffer this same fate and they respond to the same things to shoot well.
Diameter.
a little more hardness.
and enough drive band length to grab that rifling and hold on to it.

if you look at the ranch dog bullets, which were designed for the marlin lever guns, you'll see they maximize the drive band length and use a different nose shape to deal with the marlin cavity in front of the chamber.

the tumbling is from the bullets not grabbing the rifling and spinning enough for stability.
if you could find a couple of them you would see the wide rifling marks from the skidding.
 
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Paul Barber

New Member
Thanks everyone for your advice. I originally thought that the bore was worn as when you drive a hard lead slug down the barrel its mikes out at .3105" so a tight bore for a .303 Brit. Slug does not show any obvious rifling grooves just looks smoothe though maybe plug too hard or shallow rifling like a glock. Pleanty of rifling grooves are evident in the barrel though and throat looks good as best I can see.

Going to try the Lyman #311284 unless anyone else can recommend a mould that they have tried and works in the Metford. Will size to .312 / .313".
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
that would be an older 314299. [313X304]

I would rather use a newer style loverign design.
http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=31-205B-D.png
this is one I worked with tommeboy to get cut for the tapered throats of the argentine rifles.
it will work in the 7.7 jap rifle I have too.
I ain't got around to using it in my 303's just yet, but for drive band length it would be appropriate.
you may have to have it cut more appropriate to your dimensions.
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Also a softer alloy like maybe acoww+2% that would squash to seal better..

I am assuming that you are using a gas check..
 
KHornet

KHornet

Well-Known Member
I would go along with Ben, and go, if necessary up to .313, then .314, then.315 etc.
Dan's suggestion for PP also has merit.
Paul
 
RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
Have you tried the Lee 312-155 ? For me it seems to work well where it shouldn't and for beans where it should .
 
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Paul Barber

New Member
You guys rock....

Its funny fiver but I was looking at the Accurate molds 205B bullet before you suggested it and thought that it might be a good choice, but its a .315" dia with a nose dia of .313"so hopefully they can make it to .314" dia with a .304 nose as you suggest quicksylver as I think that combination would work.

Thanks for all your inputs guys : )
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
he has one closer to those diameters but it weighs a bunch more.
anyway when you go to order the mold call Tom and tell him what you are doing with the mold and the diameters your looking for, he will talk you through it.
if you order it at .310 with a +.002 tolerance by missing a box to click you will get a 312 mold.
 
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Paul Barber

New Member
Will do fiver, actually it was Tom who recommended that I consult this forum for help to try to decide what would solve my Lee Metford issue.

You don't by chance have a phone # for Tom do you? My communications with him have been via e-mail and as far as I could see there is not a phone conatct # on his site and it would be so much better if I could discuss my needs with him prior to ordering.
 
Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Paul, just click on the users name under their avatar, a window pops ups, just choose "Start a Conversation".
 
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