paper patching

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antiqueguy

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anyone patching for .30 cal my old lee Enfield MLE has a groove diameter of .316 at the muzzle and a rather worn throat from cordite ammo was thinking about patching for it to get her shooting good enough for big game.

I haven't shot this much in fact I've only put 10rd down the bore so can't really speak how jacketed bullets shoot
 
Ross Seyfried had good articles in Handloader magazine about the process - like you are thinking to do. Might also want to consider cast bullets - can get Lee sizers at .314" - easy enough to roll out with fine emory cloth to .315" or so - also have had very good luck simply ordering a specific custom size directly from Lee Precision. Worn muzzle does not really tell you much - easy enough to be cleaning rod or cleaning string wear - should probably consider a slug pushed all the way through to come up with a "bore size".
 
Potashminer said:
Ross Seyfried had good articles in Handloader magazine about the process - like you are thinking to do. Might also want to consider cast bullets - can get Lee sizers at .314" - easy enough to roll out with fine emory cloth to .315" or so - also have had very good luck simply ordering a specific custom size directly from Lee Precision. Worn muzzle does not really tell you much - easy enough to be cleaning rod or cleaning string wear - should probably consider a slug pushed all the way through to come up with a "bore size".
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the muzzle is not worn surprisingly its the throat that is and I haven't slugged that yet and I should. my idea is being able to use a soft alloy and patch it rather than using up all my harder stuff the wheel weights I get are mostly stick on and a lot of the other lead I get is pure or near pure.
 
I paper patch for 303s. A worn throat will work to your favour.
Two wraps of onion skin on a .308" - .309" cast bullet should get you started if .316" is what will fit in your chamber.
 
Boolitcaster said:
I paper patch for 303s. A worn throat will work to your favour.
Two wraps of onion skin on a .308" - .309" cast bullet should get you started if .316" is what will fit in your chamber.
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I will go later and remeasure a fired case and see. nice thing I just looked at lee and they have a 200gr .309" mold. just ahead of the chamber there's very little trace of rifling I'm guessing this gun seen lots of cordite fired in rapid succession.
 
Might want to consider looking at Accuratemolds.com They have a plethora of dies catalogued, and from acquaintances, they are very easy to work with to order a one-of-a-kind die for size, alloy, etc. I think proper paper patch cast bullets are actually smooth - no grooves - many had a little divot or dimple in the rear end to tuck in the twisted tail of the patch - your research will tell you more. My only experience to paper patch was to try to make a conical for a 50 cal muzzle loader from a .501 Lee mould for the 500 S&W - 440 grain, I believe - actually fired a number of them - Lee makes, or at least made, a .501 lube and sizer kit that worked well after paper patching, for inserting down a 50 caliber Thompson Centre bore. I used Strathmore brand parchment Tracing Paper - came in 9" x 12" sheets; 40 sheets to a pad. 25 lb. rating.
 
Potashminer said:
Might want to consider looking at Accuratemolds.com They have a plethora of dies catalogued, and from acquaintances, they are very easy to work with to order a one-of-a-kind die for size, alloy, etc. I think proper paper patch cast bullets are actually smooth - no grooves - many had a little divot or dimple in the rear end to tuck in the twisted tail of the patch - your research will tell you more. My only experience to paper patch was to try to make a conical for a 50 cal muzzle loader from a .501 Lee mould for the 500 S&W - 440 grain, I believe - actually fired a number of them - Lee makes, or at least made, a .501 lube and sizer kit that worked well after paper patching, for inserting down a 50 caliber Thompson Centre bore. I used Strathmore brand parchment Tracing Paper - came in 9" x 12" sheets; 40 sheets to a pad. 25 lb. rating.
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I have paper patched for the martini henry with a grease groove mold so have many others Lyman "paper patch" molds have small grooves. if I 100% needed a smooth sided paper patch mold I could make an ideal style mold with a plunger to eject the cast lead with nothing more than some steel bar stock and a few drill bits ground to shape and it could be made adjustable for weight.
 
I have that mold and don't use it. Lee 200 grain.
If you pay the postage and a small donation that you think is fair, I can send it to you.
I would send you some bullets patched from it, but they have all been sized to .314".
 
Don't forget powder coating can bump up your bullet size quite easily.
I have a nice SMLE with a bit of a worn throat. I used diamond paste for about 10 lapping shots, and then bullets coated to.316 and it shoots into an inch and a half at 50 yards.
I haven't done anything with this rifle since.
 
slug said:
Don't forget powder coating can bump up your bullet size quite easily.
I have a nice SMLE with a bit of a worn throat. I used diamond paste for about 10 lapping shots, and then bullets coated to.316 and it shoots into an inch and a half at 50 yards.
I haven't done anything with this rifle since.
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yeah not something I really want to get into since id only use the equipment for bullets not really worth it for me.
 
antiqueguy said:
yeah not something I really want to get into since id only use the equipment for bullets not really worth it for me.
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DIY powder coating is cheap for an initial setup. A used toaster oven, a baking tray and parchment paper or silicone baking sheet, a fine screen for shaking off excess powder , the powder itself and some used plastic containers gloves and your good to go.
 
G_Alan said:
DIY powder coating is cheap for an initial setup. A used toaster oven, a baking tray and parchment paper or silicone baking sheet, a fine screen for shaking off excess powder , the powder itself and some used plastic containers gloves and your good to go.
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think I will stick to paper not a fan of powder coat in general
 
I keep it simple. I use masking tape, just like some of the old kynoch loads I have for the 577-450.

Paper patching is very forgiving, especially with worn throats.

Usually one complete wrap of tape is perfect for the job.

Give it a try, what have you got to lose??
 
Jacketed bullets need to be roughed up with a bastard file by rolling the bullet under a file pressed down firmly on a hard surface like a metal plate or anvil.Wrap the paper so it is tightening when shot/direction of twist is important.You could also swage down .318/8mm jacketed bullets.
 
mbogo3 said:
Jacketed bullets need to be roughed up with a bastard file by rolling the bullet under a file pressed down firmly on a hard surface like a metal plate or anvil.Wrap the paper so it is tightening when shot/direction of twist is important.You could also swage down .318/8mm jacketed bullets.
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thought about drawing down some .323 jacketed bullets but I'm worried about the jacket and core separating. if not done right the jacket will want to spring back slightly you really need something like corbins draw dies to do it properly.
 
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