Hi there, I was considering rebarrelling my Sporterized Enfield and thought " why not convert it to a more powerful cartridge?". So, does anyone know the most powerful non-wildcat cartridge that a .303 lee enfield #4 mk1 can be safely converted to? I was thinking something like a .338, .325, .358, or .375 caliber. Thanks all, skokie.
Lee - Enfield #4 mk1
- Thread starter skokie
- Start date
- Location
- In lalaland, that is Ottawa.
No way for those calibers that you mention.
But, Epps could open the chamber some what to give you a bit more power IF you can reload. If not, forgetab outbit!
Nothing wrong with the cartridge itself, shoots well, a good deer rifle in Ont. However I was thinking, if I'm putting a new barrel on it the gun why not try something a little cheaper to buy in store, and maybe with a little more bullet selection, I think all I have seen for .303 cal is an expanding bullet like the interbond, powerpoint, and corelokt and an Fmj. A TSX would be nice, something geared toward big, thick-skinned game. Correct if im wrong, but with the cost of a new barrel, I may as well get some ballistic improvement. Or perhaps there are bullet choices I am unaware of? Thanks skokie.
I agree with 7.62x51, you can't find any better selection of bullets than in .308. Lee Speeds were made in .375x2.5 Nitro Express which would be way cool. Mind you that even though these were a factory round, you'll need to be reloading for them now, and your bullet selection will be pretty limited.
recommended max pressure for the Lee action (IIRC) is around 49000 PSI, the .338 Federal and the .358 Win and .375 Win all have shootable loads in this range, but careful handloading is the only way to use these cartridges in a Lee action without damaging it. I wouldn't go near factory ammo.
recommended max pressure for the Lee action (IIRC) is around 49000 PSI, the .338 Federal and the .358 Win and .375 Win all have shootable loads in this range, but careful handloading is the only way to use these cartridges in a Lee action without damaging it. I wouldn't go near factory ammo.
Barnes now makes their TSX in a flat base 150grain version with .311 diameter. Wholesale Sports lists them for $44.99 for a box of fifty. All my Enfields shoot .311 diameter Sierras accurately enough for hunting, though I find slightly better accuracy with .312 diameter Hornady bullets, and I like their 174grain round nose.
Problem here is that the old Lees are designed for rimmed cartridges, and will always perform feeding and ejection best with what they are designed for. Although there are plenty of conversions to the 7.62 they were primarily done for club shooting where reliable function in the field isn't as imperative and effective magazine modifications are even less common. To be honest IMO if you want Enfield reliability in something other than .303, you need to consider a wild cat based on the .303. Personally I love my Ross in .35 EPPS, truly awesome wild cat (basically a rimmed .35 Whelan) except that to date it has been Deerbane, and I am taking to leaving it behind because of the bad juju. I guess it just wants something bigger and discourages anything short of moose and bear from even showing up (now if I had moose or bear tags, I'd have no problem).
Currently I am putting the most horrendous bubba job into ATI stocks and scoping it using the pre-existing side mount, but I have thought fondly of trying a .25/.303 wildcat.
Currently I am putting the most horrendous bubba job into ATI stocks and scoping it using the pre-existing side mount, but I have thought fondly of trying a .25/.303 wildcat.
Just be sure it is not the 25-303 Improved. It will not feed more than one case from the magazine. BTDT, and while it was very accurate, it was extremely frustrating.
The standard 303 Br necked down feeds like a fat boy at a buffet!
Ted
The standard 303 Br necked down feeds like a fat boy at a buffet!
Ted
Aside from the pressure of a 308 there is an almost 0 chance it will feed and eject properly. Also unless you are comitted to the rifle a rebarrel will cost more then the rifle is worth. The only SMLE rifles I've seen that work with the 308 are the Ishapore (sp?) with a different bolt head and ejector which I think is on the magazine.As mentioned you could rebarrel to a 308/303 or other wildcat if you wanted better bullet selection.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
The problem, and it's the same with the Ross, is that the magazine was designed for a very tapered rimmed cartridge. Converting it to a straighter cartridge wall round means that the rear of the cartridge sits too low for the bolt to reliably strip it from the magazine. It really needs a complete magazine redesign to function properly. Otherwise, you may get one, or two shots, then it will skip over the next round in the mag.
Come to think of it, when you've paid for a new barrel and the other parts and the gunsmithing to convert a No.4 to .308Winchester, and factor in the chance it won't work as well as you hoped and what cost do you assign to living with that frustration and disappointment, maybe you will have been better off to have put the money on an AIA Enfield from Marstar before they run out.
Sum'btch! I never thought of that! I am also curious as to what you're using for a crimp die.
Ganderite, that is an interesting idea there.
Should be able to neck size with many different 30 calibre dies or simply put a .308" expander ball in the .303 sizing die (I'm guessing that the die would size it down enough to make the .308 ball work). No need for any crimping on a .303.
Mark
I don't crimp. I neck size with a 303 die with the expander button removed.
I think I also neck size with a 308 neck size die.
The reamer cuts a 308-sized neck.
The heavy barrel is hiden under the wood. The muzzle section is contoured like a regular #4, complete with bayo lugs.
Top one in the picture is the 308Brit.
I think I also neck size with a 308 neck size die.
The reamer cuts a 308-sized neck.
The heavy barrel is hiden under the wood. The muzzle section is contoured like a regular #4, complete with bayo lugs.
Top one in the picture is the 308Brit.
