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303 Hunter View Drop Down
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Joined: December 14 2019
Location: Alberta, Canada
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Points: 316 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 303 Hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2020 at 9:54am
I have thought about getting a black powder rifle but the money to get in to it and loyalty to the .303 for hunting has kept me from doing so.
Have yet to draw a elk or moose tag yet but so far 174 and 180 grain bullets from Ross and Lee Enfield rifles has dropped 75% of the deer I have shot right were they stood. The other one did not get very far.
The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west.   Cal Bablitz
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Shamu View Drop Down
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Points: 20510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2020 at 10:00am
If you have a .303 Enfield you already have a B/P rifle!
You can safely load 215 gr bullets ahead of a full & I mean 100% full charge of 2F!
Do clean for corrosive afterwards though.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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303 Hunter View Drop Down
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Points: 316 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 303 Hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2020 at 10:08am
I was thinking of a muzzel loader.
The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west.   Cal Bablitz
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hoadie View Drop Down
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Originally posted by 303 Hunter 303 Hunter wrote:

I was thinking of a muzzel loader.


AH! a fellow smoke-poler!!

I have a pattern '53. Love to play with it.

Cant hunt Elk with tho...I cant hit squat wiv it...& the Loyal Order of Elk get on my case
Loose wimmen tightened here
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Goosic View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Shamu Shamu wrote:

If you have a .303 Enfield you already have a B/P rifle!
You can safely load 215 gr bullets ahead of a full & I mean 100% full charge of 2F!
Do clean for corrosive afterwards though.
I have a pound of Pyrodex P, the FFFG equivalent.  I can use that correct? I want to try it and chronograph it...
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britrifles View Drop Down
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Points: 8404 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2020 at 12:17pm
The .303 black powder round was loaded with a compressed pellet, 71 grains.  I would stick with 2F grain size black powder powder, fill case to capacity.  Some compression is probably fine.  

I spent a lot of time loading and shooting the Martini Henry, cast my bullets, 85 gr Fg black powder.  I never trusted that modern substitute, not with a 1870s Martini. 

Make sure you clean the bore and cases well (wash in hot soapy water with splash of white vinegar (kind without ammonia).   
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Pukka Bundook View Drop Down
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Points: 1369 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2020 at 3:27pm
Pyrodex burns like  a garden fire......have some here I was given, and never will use it!
 
Black in the .303 shoots awfully low compared to proper ammo.  ( Loose, not the pellet with the hole through it and case formed around it.)
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Points: 20510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2020 at 5:20pm
Pyrodex tends to have larger grains in any given formulation than "Holy Black". You can't physically overload a .303 case with B/P, its about 1 1/10th the power of modern smokeless.
I don't know with pyrodex.
The original B/P 215 Gr loads with the wet pellet load ran about 1800 FPS.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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The Armourer View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Travis Travis wrote:

Some years ago I took my one and only elk with my Enfield No. 1 Mark IV.  I was shooting 150 grain spire points ahead of 43 grains of BLC-(2).  I took my shot at about 60 yards.  I hit him in the neck just below his chin and he dropped like a rock.  The 150 grain is probably a little light for elk but, as my father would say, "it's more in placement than mass".



Just wondering if you meant a No4 Mk1 as a No1 Mk4 would be EXTREMELY rare
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Travis View Drop Down
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Points: 22 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Travis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 12 2020 at 12:32pm
I'll double check (and get photos if possible but I believe those were the markings.  It is also stamped 1944 and as near as I can find, it came from an English plant.  
Travis98146
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Points: 8842 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 12 2020 at 12:52pm
That narrows it down to three plants based on the date.
A serial number will determine who made it. 1944 more likely then not has it as a No4Mk1.  Post photos  please. As The Armourer stated.  If it is a No1MkVI, you have have a very iconic piece of British Weaponry.
Look for a serial number with a prefix A, e.g. A0001-A1000 along with a 1929 or 1930 date,both on the left side of the receiver at the buttsocket. It will have a magazine cutoff as well.
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Travis View Drop Down
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Points: 22 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Travis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 29 2020 at 6:31pm
It's probably a No4Mk1.  It has a serial number of I-7205.  I tried to get photos but had too much glare for good ID.  I'll give it another try.
Travis98146
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