[jeeptim]

I'm loading about 300 303 cases about 200 were fired from 2 of my Enfields and about 50 are new Norma and 50 once fired from an unknowen gun.
ran all through the actions of my Enfields all chambered bolt closed good to go so I only neck sized. As i started filling and seating I noticed the shoulders are different on the new Norma and the o/f from the unknowen are all the same a nice smooth sloping shoulder like a 30-06 but the O/F from my guns and the unfired loaded surplus i have are more squared at the shoulder. Like I said I'm loading up 300 and want to get it right, I have loaded 100s of these in the past but all were my o/f. Any ideas? or should i just run with it and all are under max size.
I attached pix first time so lets see. the two cases on the left are my o/f
#3 is unknowen gun fired #4 is unfired norma/

[rcmodel]

Hmmmm?

The two on the left look like Ackley Improved shoulders!!
The two on the right look right.

But Enfields are not known for having precise, exact dimension SAAMI chambers.
So it's probably normal.

rc

[rondog]

Enfields are known for having very loose chambers and shoulders. They were made to function in combat under all kinds of nasty, dirty conditions, and more emphasis was placed on rounds Chambering and firing no matter how dirty the ammo or chamber got. They only cared if each round fired one time, reloading and snug fitting chambers for sport shooting wasn't a concern.

I'm tempted to decide which of my Enfields I really want to use as a target rifle and have a new barrel fitted to it, with a tight, well-made chamber to eliminate all the nonsense of stretching, bulging, shoulder reforming, etc. I'd like to have a nice target shooter, I don't intend to crawl around in the mud or jungles shooting Germans or Japanese soldiers.

[jeeptim]

Hey RC
Yeah the two on the left were shot from my guns and the shoulders look the same as the unfired surplus i have and the nickel case on the left was one on 200 new un primed cases i loaded and it had the same shoulder, Only the ones i got from this fellow are different my thoughts maybe he sized them with??????
Gonna load shoot and repeat.

[JLDickmon]

Hmmmm?

The two on the left look like Ackley Improved shoulders!!
The two on the right look right.

But Enfields are not known for having precise, exact dimension SAAMI chambers.
So it's probably normal.

rc

that's weird, all of my Enfield's use/produce a shoulder like the ones on the left..

[jjjitters]

Perhaps the ones you got from the other guy were fired out of a non-standard chamber? What kind of shoulder is on factory boughten ammo or in saami drawings?



edit; I just looked up the drawing in quickload and it shows a 33.56 degree(combined) shoulder, or almost 17deg per side. The sample case looks like the ones on the left in your picture and those on the right appear to be more drawn out.

[jeeptim]

I agree DL I think I'm gonna bite the bullet be safe and FL resize just hate to get lube on em oh well better to be safe then sorry.

[SlamFire1]

My No 4 MKII produces shoulders like the ones on the right and my WW2 era No 4's produces shoulders similiar to the left.

I don't think the Brits cared about the shoulder shape since the cartridge was headspaced off the rim.

[rcmodel]

If they will chamber in your rifle, there is no need to FL size them.

The .303 headspaces off the rim, so the shoulder shape is immaterial, as long as they will chamber.

They will fire-form to your chamber when you shoot them.

rc

[gamestalker]

Enfields are made to a rather loose spec.. As long as they will chamber, don't fret about it, they will obviously form out to your chambers anyway.

GS

[Carl N. Brown]

My No1MkIII* gives fired shells like the first two.

I have been told that the shoulder of military .303 chambers are very roomy to allow for the dirty and debris present in combat. Doen't matter much as the cartridge headspaces on the rim and the critical support is the case body and neck.

I use the classical Lee Loader (slam bam necksize only with a mallet) and only reload and shoot cases fired in my gun.

[jeeptim]

Well did some resizing no change think I'm being a lil anal. I just like to play it safe and the reloaders here (R.C. mostly) are a wealth of information that I feel fortunate to have.

[243winxb]

Factory & fire formed. http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/Firearms%20%20and%20%20Reloading/303.jpg

[rcmodel]

think I'm being a lil analI think you are too! :D

Fuggedaboutit it!

If the gloves don't fit, you must acquit!

Never mind, that was something else!
My mind wanders sometimes! :banghead:

rc