303 brit brass
- Thread starter marba
- Start date
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
A word of caution, with 'headspace type' problems most notably in Lee Enfield actions, check it over good before you purchase. The possible stretch from some of these rifles could considerably reduce the case life.
"Brass life" and "303 British" are not words that should be used in the same sentence, unless "brass life" is preceded by "bad to non-existent".
When shooting full house loads, I get 2 or 3 firings out of virgin brass in my 303's. Reduced/low pressure loads and partial/neck-sizing improve this situation somewhat, but not so much as you might think.
Compare that to my 308 Winchester's - I have brass that's probably pushing 15+ firings, and still going strong.
So, in that light, truely "once-fired" 303 Brit brass should be worth a premium, because the market for it would be large.
And I have 303 brass that I have fired 5 times and still ready for another. All about how you hold your mouth, I guess. I don't go for max, and I dedicate rounds per rifle so I don't need to F/L resize, and I anneal every three loadings."Brass life" and "303 British" are not words that should be used in the same sentence, unless "brass life" is preceded by "bad to non-existent".
When shooting full house loads, I get 2 or 3 firings out of virgin brass in my 303's. Reduced/low pressure loads and partial/neck-sizing improve this situation somewhat, but not so much as you might think.
Compare that to my 308 Winchester's - I have brass that's probably pushing 15+ firings, and still going strong.
So, in that light, truely "once-fired" 303 Brit brass should be worth a premium, because the market for it would be large.
Depends a bit which rifle that is being fired in also. I have a P14 [2, actually, but one is an Epps] and they are not hard on brass at all. I have a couple of loads developed that I would not suggest be fired in a Lee-Enfield, and the brass life is stiull excellent. Regards, Eagleye.
Yeah, I've occasionally made 5 or 6 when using lower pressure loads and neck sizing (180's at 2200FPS using Win 760). But still - compare that with 15+ in my 308's, and it doesn't look all that good to me.
Or, to put it another way - other that in one rifle I used to have that had a headspace problem, I have NEVER worn out any 308 brass, but I am always scrounging 303 brass because my last batch is half gone or more.
Well, that is true, however, being that most of mine are #4's or #5's, I don't have a headspace problem. I replaced all the bold heads, adn had my #1 barrel set back. I apologize for not reading your response deep enough. I am unsure, though,why anyone would want to continue to shoot a firearm with a known headspace problem. Yeah, that'll be hard on brass.Yeah, I've occasionally made 5 or 6 when using lower pressure loads and neck sizing (180's at 2200FPS using Win 760). But still - compare that with 15+ in my 308's, and it doesn't look all that good to me.
Or, to put it another way - other that in one rifle I used to have that had a headspace problem, I have NEVER worn out any 308 brass, but I am always scrounging 303 brass because my last batch is half gone or more.
For a jungle carbine 303,my buddy bought Winchester silver boxs,fired them then reloaded and threw them out. Once fired 303 is usually over priced,even when free. For my P-14 ,I bought Winchester brass,it lasted a couple of dozen full house loading.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
"Brass life" and "303 British" are not words that should be used in the same sentence, unless "brass life" is preceded by "bad to non-existent".
When shooting full house loads, I get 2 or 3 firings out of virgin brass in my 303's. Reduced/low pressure loads and partial/neck-sizing improve this situation somewhat, but not so much as you might think.
Compare that to my 308 Winchester's - I have brass that's probably pushing 15+ firings, and still going strong.
So, in that light, truely "once-fired" 303 Brit brass should be worth a premium, because the market for it would be large.
I can't recall where or which site I posted concerning this topic, so I'll do it again.
There are a number of factors that can enhance the life of 303Br. brass. The Lee Enfield action isn't the strongest designed action around and because of the 'give' in it, they are notorious for stretching brass. There are a couple of 'things' that can help improve the brass life with acceptable 'power' reloads;
1/ Check/guage the headspace and as there are a variety of about three different bolt head sizes, go for one to minimize any headspace excess.
2/ Neck size after the initial firing in your particular rifle. When I started reloading, one of the 1st set of dies I bought were 303Br., and I happened to get the neck sizing die as well. Admittedly, I haven't used it, but with my latest Jungle Carbine acquisition, I will soon.
3/ Keep loads within acceptable power levels.
With or rather shortly after getting my latest Jungle Carbine, I lucked into a quantity of new Herter's brass. A shooting buddy checked and changed my bolt head so, with each reloading, I'll keep closer than usual track of measurements and see what I get for brass life.
