.303 British

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[dangertree]

My Dad has some Pakistani or Indian, I don't remember, .303 British surplus he bought in the early 90's or something that is basically mine because he hates shooting it, about 400 rounds of it left IIRC.

I've shot about 200 rounds of it over the years, but none for quite some time now: Corrosive as hell, accuracy is alright at best and horrendous at worst (very inconsistent ammo despite being from the same crate), hangfires once every ten rounds and is generally crap. If it was 7.62x39, there'd probably five or more threads about it in this section about how you should avoid buying it at all costs, but since it's .303 British I could probably sell it for some stupid expensive price despite the fact that it basically sucks.

I'm keeping it, despite the performance it's fun to take the old Enfield out - the rifle is an absolute joy to shoot. I did buy a box of 20 180 grain Federal .303 British from Crappy tire a few months ago. After tax it came to 32 frigging bucks for the box, shot well, but still. Not the best round to shoot if you're looking for something thrifty and don't reload, which I don't. I remember seeing the footage of the Brits dumping spam can after spam can of .303 British into the ocean after WW2 and it still makes my blood boil! There probably wouldn't be much of it left even today if they had kept it and sold it all off as surplus considering the popularity of the Lee Enfield, and therefore the .303 British cartridge, in the commonwealth, but maybe it'd still be possible to find for a price that doesn't leave you feeling abused. Who knows.

It's probably Indian and Pakistani and god knows what else mixed in to its jumble of headstamps IIRC.

I laughed reading your description of shooting it. Totally. In the late 80's, as teenagers, me and my friends used to buy 25/$5(?) boxes of that ammo. It would have probably 20 different headstamps in the 25. I remember every experience you mention, especially the wild hangfires, which combined with the reasonable high total dud rate, would really keep you on your toes with misfire drills. Then the two shot powderpuff, third shot takes your shoulder out. Joy!

Never forget the first time I shot IVI 303 Ball. Bit of a revelation.

 

[Rocket Surgery]

Tumbling while I sleep, chamfering and deburring and seatign primers while watching tv, sizing bullets and seatign gas checks while in the tub....

I use the scale pan to make a floaty boat while I'm the the tub

YARRR HERE COMES THE LEE PRIMER POCKET CLEANER SHARK ON ITS WAY TO SINK YE

"QUICK! LOAD MY FLASH HOLE AND PREPARE TO FIRE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HIT IT SO USE TITEGROUP"

"BUT IT'S COMING IN FAST, WE NEED A WIDER PATTERN, BAD ACCURACY, AND HIGH PRICE!!!!1"

"OK FINE LOAD ME UP WITH SOME VV MATEYS"

3 2 1 *BOOOOOOM*

"YARRRR THAT POT METAL TOOL SHARK JUST BROKE IN HALF, AND IT WILL COST MORE TO SHIP BACK FOR WARRANTY THAN IT'S WORTH JUST LIKE ALL LEE PRODUCTS, GOOD WORK BOYS"

 

[mwjones]

Where did/do you get your brass? Is it accumulated over the years, or did you find a source for reasonably priced new?

I love the Enfield, but I missed the boat on the cheap ammo days, so I haven't added one to the collection yet.

Aah, i don't really figure the brass cost in cost per load because it's hard to do. I spent $60 on 200 once fired IVI 02 .303 british brass a while ago. With my cast loads, they don't stretch or need trimming after the initial full length size and fire form. Ho wmany reloads will i get out of them? Who knows! 5 reloads, 10, 30? The IVI brass is pretty much the best stuff i've reloaded. I've got some in .308 and .38 special, and haven't had to toss one yet

Some other brass i got with the rifle, some I accumulated from shooting some factory ammo, and some i got off of the EE for cheap. Every once in a while you see ads up with 20 pieces or 41 pieces, etc, for 10 bucks, and i pick those up and sort them by headstamo into the stuff i already have. I try to stay away from federal (FC headstamp) stuff as the primer pockets loosen up after the first or secodn firing unless you use federal primers.