303 Epps Improved

got to go said:
Anyone here shoot or know anything about the 303 Epps Improved ??? Jack
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You get another 100 fps with top loads, but for me the Epps was a pain in an Enfield. The mags don't work well with the blown out design of the Epps, the dies are expensive and brass can be touchy when fire forming. I have had two Epps conversions, one on a No4 action, the other on a No5 action.
I prefer the original design of the .303 British and would not likely ever do another Epps conversion because of the hassle and money for minimal gains.
They look cool....that's about it.
 
Well, I was considering having it done. It was my understanding that it greatly improved case life. I emailed Elwood Epps last night and they told me that the #4 action isn't strong enough !!! :rolleyes: Well what about all the .308 #4's This feeding issue has me thinking that it's not worth the bother.
 
Seems to be lots of misinformation about the Epps. I've heard guys claim your 303 is suddenly equal to a 300 win mag - other say only 100 fps more than the original. Some guys say the #4 action is fine for it, others not. I looked into it a little myself and decided that the cost and lack of clear consensus on what the Epps Improved actually is or is not (in terms of performance) meant my money was better spent elsewhere.
 
I have a 303 Epps built on a P14 action [Remington] Leeper did the feed rails on it and it works just fine. The 303 Epps will approach "factory" 30-06 ballistics with 180 grain bullets, and that means you are getting about 125-150 fps over the factory round. My Epps is easy to load for and brass last a long time. Regards, Eagleye.
 
So is this something you do with an old beat up sporterised Enfield?

Ok, this is really only for P14's
 
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The Epps can be used in the #3, and the #4.
But to get the full use of the extended power possibilities, a stronger action, like the P14, or even the Ross, will serve better.
There are magazine issues that need to be dealt with.
A mag designed for the tapered 303 cartridge will generally suffer problems with the straight walled 303 Epps. If you load more than a few rounds, the cartridge Rims will not sit high enough in the mag for the bolt to strip them off.
 
You are correct. Straight-sided cases in a tapered magazine just don't work. :runaway:

There is a guy on here, Klondike Bob, who has a 375-303 Reamer.

Not blown out, uses the original body taper, and it can be made to feed with a bit of tinkering. It's a 38-55 on steroids in a Lee-Enfield.

Ted
 
Believe me too, I spent many hours messing with a Ros mag trying to make it work by putting wedges on top of the follower and such.
It just won't feed more than a few rounds, period.
Now if you want to invest in making a new mag, that's different.
There is also the possibility of getting an Lee Enfield that was designed for 308 with a box magazine designed for the straighter walled 308. The mag might be too narrow however.
I think they were India issue.
But then, if it fired 308, why mess with the Epps right?

(No, don't even think of modifying a standard SMLE to 308, the India guns are a tad different)
 
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