stretched chamber ? 303 lithgow

[burnt_servo]

just picked up a cheap .... really cheap 303 , i think it said 1944 , lithgow .

problem is it has a large ring the the chamber , deep enough to make it difficult to remove a spent shell .

the ring is about even with the end of the reciever and the barrel shoulder is pulled away from the reciver close to 100 thou , but the barrel it still very tight ( meaning i'll have to use the proper tools and use some force to twist it off ) .

anyone heard or have seen something similar to this , and any idea what might have caused it .

 

[bigedp51]

Post photo of fired case and closeup of chamber.

 

[burnt_servo]

i don't have any fired cases .

i just measured the headspace and it is around 66 thou .

looking at it closely and it seems stretched right at the parting line between the threads and the shoulder on the barrel tennon , almost like someone took a turn out of the barrel to adjust the headspace but dug into the barrel a bit too deep causing a weak spot ......

i need to find my bed , i'll play with it more on my day off .....