I was reading in a old Lyman reloading manual about shooting cast bullets in a 303 British. It states that " An extreme variation in groove diameters exist in rifles chambered in this cartridge. And goes on to say, that they should be slugged before reloading. How do you do this ??? Jack
How to slug your barrel
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I will not speak for anyone except myself here pardon that.
Take a soft lead slug of proper size for your arm and slowly hammer it through the bore, if some areas become loose maybe that said area is bulged unless thats the origional intention of the design of the arm....though I have yet to see a barrel designed twards a end as such.
cheers
Take a soft lead slug of proper size for your arm and slowly hammer it through the bore, if some areas become loose maybe that said area is bulged unless thats the origional intention of the design of the arm....though I have yet to see a barrel designed twards a end as such.
cheers
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The following articles should help you understand the process and what equipment is required to slug and measure a barrel.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reloading/slug/index.asp scroll down to
"The How To of Slugging a Barrel"
http://yarchive.net/gun/barrel/barrel_slugging.html
http://hgmould.gunloads.com/casting/sluggingthebore.htm
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reloading/slug/index.asp scroll down to
"The How To of Slugging a Barrel"
http://yarchive.net/gun/barrel/barrel_slugging.html
http://hgmould.gunloads.com/casting/sluggingthebore.htm
Wow !!! There's some good reading there !!! Thanks, Jack
"...Lee Enfields have 5 lands and grooves..." Very few post war rifles. Most have two groove rifling.
Slugging a barrel is not a big scientific or complicated thing to do. Hammer a cast .30 calibre bullet or suitably sized lead fishing sinker through the barrel with a brass 1/4" rod and a plastic mallet. Easier from the chamber end. Measure the bullet/sinker across the widest part with a micrometer or a good digital calipre. No vee blocks are required.
Lee-Enfield barrels(either model) can measure from .311" to .315" and be considered ok. Larger than .315", the barrel is shot out.
Most commercial jacketed bullets are .311" or .312". Steve at .303british.com(add the W's.) is or was making 200 grain .313" and .314" jacketed bullets.
Lyman makes a mould for a 200 grain .314" cast bullet(needs a .30 calibre gas checks).
Slugging a barrel is not a big scientific or complicated thing to do. Hammer a cast .30 calibre bullet or suitably sized lead fishing sinker through the barrel with a brass 1/4" rod and a plastic mallet. Easier from the chamber end. Measure the bullet/sinker across the widest part with a micrometer or a good digital calipre. No vee blocks are required.
Lee-Enfield barrels(either model) can measure from .311" to .315" and be considered ok. Larger than .315", the barrel is shot out.
Most commercial jacketed bullets are .311" or .312". Steve at .303british.com(add the W's.) is or was making 200 grain .313" and .314" jacketed bullets.
Lyman makes a mould for a 200 grain .314" cast bullet(needs a .30 calibre gas checks).
