303 Brit brass longevity.

[dachshund]

I'm going to start handloading for .303 British and I understand case life can be an issue with Lee-Enfields due to rear locking lugs. I've come up with a plan to try to minimize this and would like to see what some of you think of it.

First, I don't intend to load maximum loads, just some moderately loaded jacketed loads, i.e. approx 43.5 grs. of IMR 4350 under a Sierra 180 gr pointed bullet intended for target use.

Second, I intend to neck size only via an RCBS neck size only die, with the decapper/neck expander rod removed. The decapping will be accomplished with a Lyman Universal decapping die and the neck expanded with a Lyman "M" die and the bullet seated with no crimp. Does this sound like a viable plan? If not, I'm open to suggestions.

Thanx in advance...

 

[R.W.Dale]

This is hardly anything revolutinary with reguards to 303 British. I wiuld reccomend the lee collet neck die for this application, but even then I'd be suprised if you get 5 firings

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

It isn't the rear locking lugs that creates the problem. The Enfield rifles were designed with generous tolerances in the chambers to ensure that spent cartridges would extract easily even when the rifle was full of crud as in a battle situation.

If you full length size the case, it work hardens the entire cartridge as it then expands the same amount when fired. As mentioned, neck sizing only will increase case life quite a bit. Maybe 3 firings if you are lucky with full length sizing, and I've heard of people getting 10 or more with just neck sizing.

I get about 6 or 7 depending on how meticulous I am about doing the neck size. I'm using PrviPartizan brass.

I have the same situation in 7.62 X 54R loadings for the Mosin Nagant 91/30 and M44 as they were built with pretty generous chamber dimensions too. It's even more of a problem there as there is a scarcity of neck sizing dies and haven't been able to turn one up in over a year for that caliber.

The Lee collet die is actually much better than the RCBS neck sizer and it's quite a bit cheaper too. It does a more uniform job on the neck.

 

[Curator]

If you start with factory ammo you won't get the best brass life. Current factory ammo and brass is somewhat undersize for most Lee Enfiled chambers. If you start with new brass and fire-form cases with the case head held hard back against the bolt head, all of the case expansion will be foreward in the neck/shoulder area not near the case head where you get head separations. A thin rubber "O" ring under the rim, bullet seated way out to contact the rifling, or neck expanding then resizing to provide a "false shoulder" will keep the case in the right position to properly fireform. Properly done these cases sized with the Lee collet die will last 10 or more reloads even at full power, more if you keep the pressures down.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

Here is what was told me with my 303 Brit reloads:

1 - Dont' mix guns and brass. If you have (like me) many Enfields, segregate your brass and shoot it in the same gun
2- Neck size will make the brass last longer
3 - Mild loads will make your brass last longer
4 - If you shoot in multiple rifles, you will notice the brass lenghten less in some rifles than others when you trim it. The brass will last longer in those rifles, shoot those rifles more.

I am at my 8th iteration with one set of military brass in one of my Enfield and I did not feel yet the dreadful notch or got any split yet.

Thank you

 

[Clark]

The rim of a 303 case is .064" - .010"
The chamber rim of a 303 is .064" + .015"

That is .025" slop on the headspace of the rim.
The same story for the shoulder = .025" slop


The No 4 rifles have .19" firing pin holes and .58" OD putting the cross
sectional area at .23 sq. in and the compression length is 4.2"

movement = [Force] [ length]/[[area] modulus]
movement = [chamber pressure][case ID][length]/[[area][ modulus]
movement = [ 60 kpsi] [.107 sq. in][4.2 in]/[.236 sq. in[30 M lb/ sq.
in]
movement = .0041" @ 65k psi chamber pressure
movement = .0038" @ 60k psi chamber pressure
movement = .0029" @ 45k psi chamber pressure
movement = .0019" at 30k psi chamber pressure

So to compare case stretch caused by bolt springyness to chamber fit,
.004" max to .025" max.

What does it all mean?
A total of .028" for the brass to stretch?
Most other cartridges might be considered unshootable if over .005"

What can you do?
Neck size or partial full length resized.
Keep the brass dedicated to one rifle.
Shoot very low pressure loads with slow powder and light loads.
You may find the threshold of long brass life at ~ 25,000 psi.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

Clark, you said the same thing than me, but it looks soooooo better than me.

Seriously, great detailled info!!!

Thank you

 

[tactikel]

Two suggestions to add to the great posts above. Try annealing your brass to soften the neck, and prevent splitting. Consider reloading cast bullets with light powder charges (its great fun, cheap, and can give some terrific accuracy). My '03-A3 with 160 gr cast bullets and 16 gr of 2400 will shoot 3/4 inch groups at 50 yards all day long (cases last much, much longer with a load like this one).

 

[Maj Dad]

Cast Loads, Definitely

I get 1 loading from once fired Hornady brass (factory loads, not virgin brass) with jacketed bullets but cast loads go on for a while. I really enjoy shooting lead in my 2 Brits, and leave the hot loads to the 98-style actions (military and commercial). If you're going to make it your sole shooter, get the 303 Load book from Midway or whomever by the former Canadian Army armorer. He has a ton of good poop on it and you can maximize all your parameters selectively. I don't recall the guy's name but if you want it, I'll dig through my books in the shop. I got it from Midway a few years ago.

Cheers,
Maj Dad