No.4 MK1 ammo

[irishvet]

I got a Enfield No.4 MK1 off AuctionArms afew weeks ago. Took a few weeks to just get the dirt and crude out of the thing so I could start cleaning it. (I guess it was well used during the war) I picked up some Sellier & Bellot 303 Brit. FMJ 180 Gr. rounds. I loaded it up today, first round in the black at 100 yards, Racked the next, and in the black again. This time the case is stuck and I needed to bang the bolt handle to get it out. Third round just miss's the bull but the case is stuck again. I banged on the bolt, but had to set it aside for a while and it opened up. Question, is this S & B ammo too hot for the rifle? Thanks for ya'lls help.

 

[DougW]

S&B ammo is fine. Get a cleaning brush (like a 20 gauge) and chuck it up to a cordless drill. Add some CLP and run the brush in and out of the chamber. It sounds like a dirty chamber, nothing more. But, that said, compare one of your fired cases with a new cartridge, looking at the neck, The fired round should be slightly larger diameter than the unfired. What you are looking for is a belled neck, which would show a blown chamber. Highly unlikely though.

The .303 is a tapered case, so I think the chamber is still crudded up. On another note, I would suggest that if you plan to reload (what I do for my .303's)only neck size the brass, andonly reload S&B one time. After second firing, trash the brass (ask me how I know and why!).

 

[irishvet]

Thanks. I checked the fired brass, and the only "rubbed" area was just above the base. I will hone out the chamber and find out if that was the problem.

 

[aka108]

Agree with Doug above. Chamber needs thorough cleaning. I've had several cases that have extracted with some difficulty but that is generally after the case has been reloaded 10 or more times. If you end up reloading 303 only neck size your cases and they will last quite awhile. Full length sizing works the brass excessively and really shortens case life.