Lee Enfield First Timer

[bigedp51]

If you use a standard commercial full length resizing die you will over resize any type cartridge case fired in the British military chamber. The European CIP is the counter part to the American SAAMI states that the .303 British has "problematic headspace problems" with its depth of rim recess. The .303 British was developed long before the American SAAMI or European CIP came into existence and started setting standards. This is "why" the .303 military Enfield is so hard to reload for, it doesn't follow later American standards. Once you understand how diffrent the military chamber is from our American reloading dies your case life when reloading will be much longer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_L_problem

The best way to reload the .303 British is with a Lee Collet neck sizing die and when the cases become hard to chamber here is a Little secret.

Buy a RCBS case forming die for the .303 British and what you will have is a shoulder bump die that only pushes the shoulder back and not size anything else.

Below a RCBS case forming die and a .303 case pushed in just using a finger, just adjust this die to push the shoulder back .001 to .002 and start neck sizing as usual.

 

[goon]

One thing in favor of the .303 when reloading is the speed that you can reload it with. Since you're only neck-sizing no lube is necessary. I think the .303 British is probably the easiest round I've ever reloaded.

 

[dbb1776]

BigEd I have not recieved a more detailed and easy to understand answer to any question about any subject in a LOONG time. I appreciate you sharing your expertise and experience.
So I need a Lee collet neck sizing die.
Bullet seating die.
Lee Factory Crimp Die.
Prvi Partizan brass.

 

[RabidAlien]

Ball3006, thanks for the answer! I'll take a gander at the range, hopefully one of these days the wife and I will be able to get out and shoot with more regularity.

After reading this thread...I'm thinkin I'm gonna love this site!

 

[Curator]

Great stuff bigedp51! I suggest we get the moderator to make a "sticky" of this information.

 

[bigedp51]

dbb1776

So I need a Lee collet neck sizing die.
Bullet seating die.
Lee Factory Crimp Die.
Prvi Partizan brass.

1. Any neck sizing die will work but the Lee Collet die will have less run-out.
2. I never crimp any rifle calibers except for my 30-30 Winchester.

NOTE: Factory ammunition is loaded below the "rated" chamber pressure of military .303 of 45,000 cup or 49,000 psi. The factory loads its .303 ammunition to below 43,000 cup because of all the older .303 British rifles still being used today.

Because of the lower factory loadings when you load your .303 British with American commercial factory cartridge cases they do not last long when loaded above 43,000 cup. The exception to this are the Serbian made Prvi Partizan cartridge cases that are in my opinion are made to military standards and built Ford tough.