- Location
- WMU203, Alberta (YCT)
I have a .303 British jungle carbine that shoots 6" groups @ 100 yds, so I'm fairly sure the old girl is worn out and needs some sort of TLC. Is there such a thing as replacement liner for these guns?
Is There a Replacement Liner for the 303 British?
- Thread starter angrygopher
- Start date
- Location
- WMU203, Alberta (YCT)
Sorry for my ignorance, what is a king screw?
The action screw right in front of the magazine. Forend should fit snug at the draws. With the king screw out, mag out and trigger and trigger guard out, you shouldn't have any movement forward or backward...like pumping a shotgun.
I would doubt a jungle carbine bore is worn. (Bubbas truck gun maybe) All the ones I have seen up close or in pictures including my own in full military dress have excellent bores. I'd bet they saw very limited use. And mine is even an ishapore refurb.
Edit. Yes bushing too. Google enfield and forend fitment.
I would doubt a jungle carbine bore is worn. (Bubbas truck gun maybe) All the ones I have seen up close or in pictures including my own in full military dress have excellent bores. I'd bet they saw very limited use. And mine is even an ishapore refurb.
Edit. Yes bushing too. Google enfield and forend fitment.
Even more important, make sure the King Screw Spacer is still present. If that spacer is missing, it will be one of the main causes for way damage.
Sorry tiriaq, I should have read further before replying. You hit it right on.
On the other hand, I've seen more than a few No5 rifles with badly worn bores and especially pitted bores.
A good friend (now deceased) and myself spent close-on 25 years tinkering with old military rifles. He was interested in rifles used in the Boer War and the two World Wars. To this end, we tested German, British, American, Japanese, Swedish (they were available), Norwegian, Russian and Canadian rifles (Rosses and Lee-Enfields both). Through this all, we came to a few conclusions, guidelines, whatever you might call them.
For best accuracy, we found, you can handload almost any of the military rounds to 10% LESS than Service velocity. This SHOULD result in SAFE, LOWER pressure levels.
Seating should be just off the lands.
Wartime tolerances led to some amazing variations in bore and groove diameters. You can compensate for MUCH of this variation by using FLATbase bullets.
Military ammunition tended to use FASTER powders, as this meant less tonnage in transport and for the PBI to have to cart around. YOUR RIFLE MAY WELL DISAGREE.
Many military rifles were stocked with tight action-to-chamber bedding, floating barrels and a 1- to 2-inch damping point at the front end of the wood. If you are bedding one yourself, this is a good starting-point. Here, the ONLY exception is the SMLE, which has a midpoint bedding rest.
Enfield rifling -- 5 deep grooves, left-hand -- DEMANDS flat-base bullets. The later Enfield 2-groove rifling also performs well with flatbase bullets with softer jackets.
OTHER rifles which may demand flat-base bullets with softer jackets include Carcanos and the Type 38 Arisaka.
The Rifle is the Boss!
Screws tight.... and the ONLY exception here is the Magpie Screw on the SMLE.
Follow these rules religiously and you will find that the majority of military rifles which have not been abused can turn in accuracy approximating 1-MOA if you do your end of the job.
Good luck!
For best accuracy, we found, you can handload almost any of the military rounds to 10% LESS than Service velocity. This SHOULD result in SAFE, LOWER pressure levels.
Seating should be just off the lands.
Wartime tolerances led to some amazing variations in bore and groove diameters. You can compensate for MUCH of this variation by using FLATbase bullets.
Military ammunition tended to use FASTER powders, as this meant less tonnage in transport and for the PBI to have to cart around. YOUR RIFLE MAY WELL DISAGREE.
Many military rifles were stocked with tight action-to-chamber bedding, floating barrels and a 1- to 2-inch damping point at the front end of the wood. If you are bedding one yourself, this is a good starting-point. Here, the ONLY exception is the SMLE, which has a midpoint bedding rest.
Enfield rifling -- 5 deep grooves, left-hand -- DEMANDS flat-base bullets. The later Enfield 2-groove rifling also performs well with flatbase bullets with softer jackets.
OTHER rifles which may demand flat-base bullets with softer jackets include Carcanos and the Type 38 Arisaka.
The Rifle is the Boss!
Screws tight.... and the ONLY exception here is the Magpie Screw on the SMLE.
Follow these rules religiously and you will find that the majority of military rifles which have not been abused can turn in accuracy approximating 1-MOA if you do your end of the job.
Good luck!
OP - Given the short sight radius of the Jungle Carbine, 6 inch groups may be the result of your eyes and shooting skills with this particular rifle. In general, how well can you shoot an iron sighted rifle at 100 y?
The No. 5 is famous for not shooting well. Don't waste too much time or money on it...google 'Wandering Zero Jungle carbine'
Someone will be along soon to vehemently state that they can shoot the eye of a gopher at 100 yards with their's. Research this particular model and come to your own conclusion.
Have a great day
Someone will be along soon to vehemently state that they can shoot the eye of a gopher at 100 yards with their's. Research this particular model and come to your own conclusion.
Have a great day
38-55?Or 30-30?
- Location
- WMU203, Alberta (YCT)
Thanks for the advice! I've had this gun for a long time, long enough to know that it doesn't shoot as well as it used to. As suggested I checked the "king" screw and it was definitely not tight. Also, the top forend is loose even after tightening the screw.
The handguard is retained by the collar at the rear and band at the front. It can be shimmed if rattling. The forend is clamped between the trigger guard and the receiver. The "king screw" must be tight, with an appropriate collar between the trigger guard and the receiver.
