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Paper Patching for the 303

Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Reloading
Forum Name: Reloading .303 British
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URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6539
Printed Date: March 28 2024 at 3:23am
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Topic: Paper Patching for the 303
Posted By: 303Guy
Subject: Paper Patching for the 303
Date Posted: December 30 2013 at 10:37am
Just wondering if anyone is interested in this art.  I've successfully paper patched for two rifles, both with oversize bores.  One of those had a layer of rust scale coating the entire bore and the barrel was bent near the end by someone hammering the site ring onto a cut down muzzle!  I cut off more of the barrel and then straightened it - a bit tricky as the bore had zero shine and that layer of rust scale but I did it.  I then fire-lapped the bore which removed the rust and dulled the pitting edges and believe it or not there was a semblance of rifling!  By now the bore was somewhat oversize to say the least.

Anyway, I got this thing to shoot with paper patched bullets and that is my whole point - rust damaged and worn bores can be made to shoot pretty well by paper patching cast bullets.  The other rifle - a cavalry carbine barrelled 1896 MLE - must have seen many cordite MkVII rounds but it does still have a shadow of rifling in its now .314/.318 (or whatever) bore.  This one shot great from the get go with paper patched bullets.

My mint bore, No4 barrelled 1902 MLE, not so much.  The throat is just too fresh to use the methods that worked in the worn bores.



this is how I got the rusted barrel gun (a 1904 ShLE I***).  I've driven 194 gr paper patched bullets to 2000 fps with moderate pressure from it's 15½ inch barrel.  Accuracy was not so good at that velocity.  But with milder loads it's not too bad and with 148 gr PPCB's it's pretty accurate.


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303Guy



Replies:
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: December 30 2013 at 11:17am
Goes to show there can still be lots of life left in the old guns, you just need to do the right things. Good for you, 303Guy, good going.

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Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually


Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: December 31 2013 at 11:31am
Thanks.  Here is a loaded round.
http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/TWO-GROOVEBOOLIT2.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">

A patched bullet.
http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/TWO-GROOVEBOOLIT.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">

http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/214grIXTAILLESSFIRED.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">


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303Guy


Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: December 31 2013 at 11:37am
I should mention that velocities can equal jacketed bullet velocities and that with less powder and lower pressure because the paper patch has a lower friction/resistance than metal jackets.

This is a 256 gr plain cast bullet fired through that bore in my opening post.  It was smeared with a metal polishing compound before firing and was real slow which is why it could be captured in such condition.
http://s388.photobucket.com/user/303Guy/media/256grImoldAUTOSOL003.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">


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303Guy


Posted By: Flenzer
Date Posted: June 07 2019 at 6:05pm
Greetings 303Guy
Are you still out there 6 years on ?


Posted By: pisco
Date Posted: June 22 2019 at 11:35pm
hi if you can get a bigger mould try rolling the loaded bullets in baby it will stick to the lube then fire lap the barrel have done a bit of it with 303s 


Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: June 23 2019 at 8:23pm
i did this a while back and felt it was too much trouble for the results but i would never dissuade any purist from making the effort , im sure someone will benefit far beyond my abilities 



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