303 wore out barrel what to do

custom chopper

custom chopper

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I have and old 303 british, it looks like the #'s are matching. The bullets are hitting the paper sideways, and not all of them hit the paper. I would really like to restore this old gun, what to do where to go, what are some options?
any response would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Mike
 
keyholing is not necesserily because of worn out bore. I would re-crown and remove copper deposits with benchrest cleaner first. And then again, if all numbers are matching and if that is important to you - why bother how it shoots? It will be rotting in your cabinet anyway.
 
I spoke to my gunsmith about this same sort of thing. He told me to switch to larger cast bullets once I was sure that the bore was nice and clean and the crown was good etc.
 
custom chopper said:
I have and old 303 british, it looks like the #'s are matching. The bullets are hitting the paper sideways, and not all of them hit the paper....
Click to expand...

Hitting sideways at what range? How does the bore (and crown) look? If the bore doesn't look hopeless, a very thorough cleaning might be in order, as others have suggested. I'd try WipeOut first - maybe two or even three times - then a copper removing cleaner like Barnes CR-10. You'll likely go through a couple of bronze brushes and a lot of patches before you get to the bottom of things, as it were.

:) Stuart
 
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I bought a rifle (not an Enfield) that keyholed at 25 yards (and couldn't put anything on the paper at 100.) It turned out to be copper-fouling. I cleaned it with Barnes CR-10 and it was a good shooter. Try that before you spend on any gunsmithing or a replacement barrel.
 
wow awsome response guys, thaks for all the input, not what I was expecting i'd have to do. Well off to the local store to try to find the above listed cleaners. that sounds like the cheapest easiest, first thing to try. in response I usually only shoot this one at 50 or 100 yrds, it key holes at both, and no increase in accuracy for 50yrds. thanks again.
mk
 
Clean it first, then slug the bore. Hammer a cast .30 cal bullet or a suitably sized lead fishing sinker through the barrel with a brass rod and a plastic mallet and measure it with a micrometer. That'll tell you the diameter of the barrel. Lee-Enfield barrels can measure from .311" to .315" and still be considered ok. Larger than .315" the barrel is shot out.
Steve, at .303british.com, is or was making .313" and .314" 200 grain jacketed bullets for large diameter barrels.
Most commercial ammo uses .312" bullets(Hornady uses .3105" for their 174 grain FMJ's). Some uses .311" bullets(Federal, for one). If the barrel is .315, the bullets won't be in the rifling enough for proper stability.
That's likely what is causing the key holing. The bullet isn't big enough for the barrel.
 
M.T. Chambers makes and markets all manner of .303 cast bullets including a 210gr. bullet avail. in sizes to .317", plus more std. bullets in .314" or smaller. The .317" bullets is from an Australian mold, from the land where they do alot with the .303 to make it work good.
 
A keyhole pattern on a target usually indicates a bullet that was not stabilized. And I would tend to guess that because of your barrel condition, the bullet is not getting the rotational speed required to stabilize it.

My first check in a case like this is to visually check for throat erosion and to test the wear at the muzzle by inserting a bullet to see how deep it will penetrate. You can compare the depth of penetration by doing the same thing on another rifle that you have and is shooting correctly.

If the wear is not excessive at the muzzle, I would follow the advise given here for cleaning, etc.

Good luck!

Duke1

PS. I do have a new Enfield 303 barrel but have been holding on to it - just in case. New ones are getting harder and harder to find.
 
I had a 2 groove Long Branch sporter I got for $100 that shot more than a minute of moose. 4/5 rounds in a 2 foot sighting in target at 100yds. I cleaned the barrel and it was filthy. It brought all five on the target but still wandering all over. I found a new in wrap Dominion Arsenals barrel and bought for $100 it cost me another $100 to have it installed. I now shoot 150gr Barnes TSX on 49.2 gr of IMR 4350 and can get all 5 into a 1" patch. I spent more money on the rifle but it is still 100% Canadian and I save on targets, now I just buy patches!
PS Dropped a bear like he was poleaxed this fall.
 
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