SMLE Issue

lone-wolf

lone-wolf

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So I tried sighting in my No1 Mrk3 smle the other week and the bullets were impacting side on, on the target. I fired about half a dozen rounds, all hit side on. Was using 2 different boxes of winchester 303 brit ammo(170gr i think) that i recently purchased. Thought it was funny cause they all impacted in a wide group, figured they'd be all over the place but they weren't.
Anyways does anyone have a list of reasons this could be happening? I didn't really know how to search for this, so if there's is another thread already about my problem, a link to it would be great.
 
Check the rifling- some SMLEs had really heavy use with steel jacketed ammo, wich can result in making your 303 a smooth bore
good luck
 
Rifling looks crisp and clean, one of the main reasons I bought it. Figured a bit of cleaning the action and it'd be a decent rifle. Everything seems good until you check the target.
 
Keyholing indicates an oversized barrel or undersized bullets.
Lee-Enfield barrels can measure from .311" to .315" and still be considered ok. Over .315" the barrel is shot out, even with crisp rifling.
Slug the bore. Hammer a cast .30 calibre bullet or a suitably sized soft lead fishing sinker through the barrel and measure it(at the widest part) with a micrometer. That'll tell you its groove diameter.
Measure a bullet(they're 180's) just out of the case to find out what its actual diameter is too. Most factory ammo uses a .310" or .312" bullet. If your barrel is .313" or larger, the factory bullets are too small to grab the rifling properly and won't be stabilized.
 
To recrown a barrell

One post suggested that the rifle could be recrowned. By early this coming week, I will have a threat started in "Gunsmithing" and it will detail how to recrown, a very easy process.:redface:


SOF
 
Great. I'm looking forward to that info. I have an old Speed Lee with an oval shaped bore at the muzzle. It keyholes every round. If a rifle has been cleaned a lot, sometimes a groove is worn in one side of the muzzle from the cleaning rod. Some rifles were cleaned a LOT. Check this one out. A Martini Enfield I used to own. :)
Martinigroup1.jpg
 
Are you sure that was a Martini Enfield and not a Metford? I ask because I got similar results with my MM with cast bullets. I switched to jacketed and I got a 1" group at 50 yards. A fellow Gunnutter suggested the cast were the problem and he was right. I also have had some cast bullets made for me by Ben Hunchak which were .314" and they shot better from a worn bore. Dave
 
I'd bet the cause was undersized bullets, and/or worn bore, i have a 205gr. cast bullet that can be made .314" and I am soon to receive a 216gr.-.315" bullet mold from Australia, where they do alot of good work with various .303s. And Dave, I haven't forgotten about you, I have 2 new .303bullets for you, including the Aussie one and the .475" 480 gr. for big Martini-henrys...I'm about two weeks behind in my work......Ben
 
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