Enfield Worries.

[louthepou]

Just called up the local gun smith and they have a couple week back log. I think I will just fire the stupid thing anyways. If it blows up I will just say it was some Nazi who threw a potato masher at me, so I don't look like an oaf who shot his eye out.

What kind of gunsmith would say that. It takes about 30 seconds to check the headspace with a Go and No Go gauges. Non friendly gunsmith I say!

Lou

 

[Nonus]

I have brand expensive new Rem .303 brit, 180 grain.

Hmm I didn't even thing about trying it to a tire, there is one where I normally go plinking. What about holding it so the gun is on an angle (reverse gangster style) so the chamber faces towards the ground. Nothing looks worn or bad, probably just stupid worries I have.

As for the gun smith, yeah I know I could even remove the extractor and everything so all he would have to do is take a second to check it. It isn't like I asked for him to redo the headspace, I hope that isn't what he was thinking.

 

[Talquin]

tie to a fence post and have some string tied to the trigger. point it in a safe direction and pull.

 

[Gomer]

Your worries are not stupid,old milsurp can blow up.Where I live there are no gunsmiths other than gun-store hacks who would'nt know a no-go guage if it bit them on the bum.All the gun-blow up pictures I have seen showed the max. damage out the magazine well as well as a badly splintered forearm.A good reason to only chamber one round initially.Being your gun is from a good home and has been obviously shot as a sporter should signal a safe gun to shoot.I have always been leery of putting any unknown firearm in front of my face for the first shot.Make sure you carefully inspect said fired brass for a pushed out or missing primer and/or excess case length near the base.

 

[louthepou]

With these advices, seems you're ready to go and try it out Nonus.
(or, buy the gauges and check the rifle yourself )
Lou

 

[John Sukey]

And a lot of "blow ups" are the result of some guy trying to get a "hotter load" OR not paying attention and loading a double charge.

The reverse is someone forgetting to load powder in the case. The bullet doesn't make it out of the barrel, and the next round fired has spectacular results.

 

[cantom]

"...If so the headspace should be reasonable..." Matching serial numbers only means the bolt is original to the rifle, not the bolt head. Match serial numbers guarantees nothing. Neither does it having been used at some time in the past. Especially with a bubba'd rifle. However, the rifle's age is irrelevant. Clean it, get the headspace checked and if it's ok, go shooting.

Headspace Hysteria!!!!!!! We're all gonna die...

 

[Nonus]

Headspace Hysteria!!!!!!! We're all gonna die...

Heh, well at least I might die but that is life.

I should be going out this weekend, maybe if I am lucky sometime this week. I shall try to get pictures of me exploding cause I am certain that is what everyone wants.

 

[Gary D]

"...If so the headspace should be reasonable..." Matching serial numbers only means the bolt is original to the rifle, not the bolt head. Match serial numbers guarantees nothing. Neither does it having been used at some time in the past. Especially with a bubba'd rifle. However, the rifle's age is irrelevant. Clean it, get the headspace checked and if it's ok, go shooting.

Although you are technically correct, Under what circumstances would Bubba have any need to change the bolt head on a No1???? It's virtually impossible to tell one from another without calipers.

 

[ian_in_vic]

Don't 'gangsta' it these rifles are actually designed to blow out the magwell in the event of a catastrophic failure.

 

[Nonus]

Well I fired the thing, put about 10 rounds through it and I am still alive. Shot just fine however the sights were not sighted but it was more of a shooting experience more than anything.

Surprisingly the .303 has very little recoil, nothing like a 12 gauge.

 

[.Ben]

its prolly all good when i fire a new to me rifle or an old gun i usually shoot it from the hip while looking away jsut in case(make sure its pointed safely down range!!!!). but as long as the bore is good and the bolt locks good it should fire just as it did 30 years ago.

 

[Sly Old Fox]

Low tech headspace check for .303 SMLE

The proper answer is you should probably have the head space checked before you shoot it. But then I'm the idiot who's willing to give it a go, provided the barrel/action is clean, and the serial numbers are matching. I don't think there's an Enfield in history that has actually detonated in someone's face due to head space problems. If it's all clean and there is a good bore, and no rust etc. there's no reason for metal to deteriorate in thirty years if stored properly.

Take a empty .303 Br case, size it to be sure that it will chamber. Take a measurement to the closest 0.001" of the case from mouth to head. Then partially seat a live primer, chamber and carefully close the bolt. Now remove the primed case and measure again including the primer if not fully seated. My undersatnding is that if the difference in 0.006" or less, you are OK.