I know this might belong in the reloading secton, But i figured the people here would be able to answer it best. I just got a really nice '43 LB with a mint, and I mean mint bore. I have a few Hornady 174g .312 bullets left over. I shoot these out on my older No1 which has a really worn bore and out of my dads which is in good shape, but not as good shape an mine. I was wondering if the .312 bullets would wear the bore down since the bore is really tight. I might sound paranoid, but I really do not want to do anything to this rifle to speed up wear.
.312 bullets
- Thread starter LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1
- Start date
I've seen Brit #4 new barrels at under.302, as well as early 1905 Ross. How do I know? Easy my .302 Go Bore Guage will not enter throat or muzzle.
On the other extream I made a sporter. I used an Aussy Mk III that looked really good but key holed. I pulled out some bore guages which I did not think would be needed in this pretty, new lookin barrel, and it failed miserably. I changed barrels.
Shoot with different loads and slugs. if your not satisfied change the barrel or sell.
On the other extream I made a sporter. I used an Aussy Mk III that looked really good but key holed. I pulled out some bore guages which I did not think would be needed in this pretty, new lookin barrel, and it failed miserably. I changed barrels.
Shoot with different loads and slugs. if your not satisfied change the barrel or sell.
My mint LB love 165 grain Hornady, .308 diameter bullets, which are actually more accurate with these .308 bullet than any 311-312 bullets.
If you reload with the smaller .308 bullets in your LB, it shoould take some worries of wearing your LB barrel out, and you will in most cases, not be able to tell the difference in accuracy as well as velocity when using .308 bullets in your LB
If you reload with the smaller .308 bullets in your LB, it shoould take some worries of wearing your LB barrel out, and you will in most cases, not be able to tell the difference in accuracy as well as velocity when using .308 bullets in your LB
Snowhunter, where do you get your information? I definitely think you need a new source.
I love your enthusiasm and please keep it up but be really careful with that type of information.
You obviously have a tight bored LB and though not unheard of, it's most definitely not the norm.
As for larger bullets causing more wear, it just isn't so. The jackets of the bullets are swaged to bore diameter at the throat/land juncture and are also much softer than the barrel steel. Most barrel erosion is caused by burning powder and the dirty residue it leaves behind in the bore.
I love your enthusiasm and please keep it up but be really careful with that type of information.
You obviously have a tight bored LB and though not unheard of, it's most definitely not the norm.
As for larger bullets causing more wear, it just isn't so. The jackets of the bullets are swaged to bore diameter at the throat/land juncture and are also much softer than the barrel steel. Most barrel erosion is caused by burning powder and the dirty residue it leaves behind in the bore.
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
And don't forget to try flat based bullets in your Enfields. They usually tend to like that shape.
See you on the "Reloading" forum, guys.
PP.
See you on the "Reloading" forum, guys.
PP.
Over the last several decades, I have come upon several other reloading individuals, who like myself used .308 bullets instead of .312 bullets in the .303 brit or 7.7 Arisaka, without any ill effects on the bore, velocity or accuracy.
Although my mint LB is the most accurate with .308 bullets, my other .303 brits, including JC, all shoots acceptable groups with the .308 bullets, often at par or better than when using .312 diameter bullets.
Although my mint LB is the most accurate with .308 bullets, my other .303 brits, including JC, all shoots acceptable groups with the .308 bullets, often at par or better than when using .312 diameter bullets.
In actual fact, the nominal "Groove" diameter for the 303 rifles is .313" [.303 + .005 = .005] Although there are some with slightly tighter groove diameters, most fall into the .311" - .313" area. If you are measuring "bore" diameter, unless it is under .300", it is a non-issue. I have 2 - P14's and one has a groove diameter of .3125, the other is .3130. Both have a bore diameter of .3028" Regards, Eagleye.
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
220 grain .308 Hornady's in the LE
I just shot a bunch of 220 .308 diameter Hornady's out of my No4Mk1 this morning, they were as accurate as the .312 in my rifle just a different point of impact which is to be expected.
I just shot a bunch of 220 .308 diameter Hornady's out of my No4Mk1 this morning, they were as accurate as the .312 in my rifle just a different point of impact which is to be expected.
My No4 Mk1 has a .311 bore (groove to groove), right on the money. I use 174grn Sierra Match Kings, and it shoots them quite well. At least that is the only bullet I've used so far with my No 4 other than commercial ammo. They are boat-tailed though, so I don't use them in anything with any muzzle wear, as a good deal of old Enfields are known for.
As for the thread question, I wouldn't worry about an extra thousandth of an inch... provided you have slugged your bore...
As for the thread question, I wouldn't worry about an extra thousandth of an inch... provided you have slugged your bore...
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
>312's
I ran some 150gr Hornady's through my newly acquired 1950 LB today. From the bench at 75 yards I was able to produce 3-shot 1-1.25 groups with ease and thats using the battle-sight. I've had good results with this bullet in my Lee's,P14's and Ross's. The 174gr Hornady's work just as well, but I prefer the 150's. Why mess with success.
Geoff
I ran some 150gr Hornady's through my newly acquired 1950 LB today. From the bench at 75 yards I was able to produce 3-shot 1-1.25 groups with ease and thats using the battle-sight. I've had good results with this bullet in my Lee's,P14's and Ross's. The 174gr Hornady's work just as well, but I prefer the 150's. Why mess with success.
Geoff
I never done that, since the accuracy of the "run of the mill" .308 bullet in a 303 brit Enfield can be very good, like 1.5 inch spread of tree bullet at hundred yards when I use the .308 diameter, 165 Hornady bullets in my mint and tight bored LB.
Try few different .308 bullet for your .303 britis Lee-Enfield, and compare the accuracy when using .312 bullet. At times, like when I use the .308 Hornady bullets, I get better accuracy
The difference in these two 30 caliber bullets is only 0.004 of an inch, and not enough to make much of a difference in accuracy and velocity in most Lee-Enfield rifles, but the selection of .308 is extreme large, including 220 grain bullets, as well as "wonder bullets" as the "Barnes Triple X" and "Winchester failsafe", to mention few.
Try few different .308 bullet for your .303 britis Lee-Enfield, and compare the accuracy when using .312 bullet. At times, like when I use the .308 Hornady bullets, I get better accuracy
The difference in these two 30 caliber bullets is only 0.004 of an inch, and not enough to make much of a difference in accuracy and velocity in most Lee-Enfield rifles, but the selection of .308 is extreme large, including 220 grain bullets, as well as "wonder bullets" as the "Barnes Triple X" and "Winchester failsafe", to mention few.
