Another Newbie from Adelaide SA

 

I discovered this forum by complete accident.

 

 

I don't own any Lee Enfields but have worked on them on and off from 1977-1999 when working with my father, and later when I had my own Gunshop and Gun Repair business. I still have a pile of L.E. spare parts, along with P14-M17 and M98. I nolonger "actively" repair firearms or sell parts due to the political and legal nature of the industry here in Australia. Scope and Mount fitting was my specialty, and fixing other gun repairers "stuff ups".

 

My father was Sid Churches (b1912-d1987) founder of Taipan Projectiles 1945-1981. The name Sid Churches Bullets-Taipan "Swift and Deadly" was used first in 1945 and later in about 1952-53 when the Orange and Blue projectile packet was first used, the name Taipan Projectiles "Swift and Deadly" made by S.Churches was used. 

 

As some of you maybe aware, Sid made 303 projectiles and these were some of the first projectiles to be produced in 1945-46. The first projectiles made were 45gr. 224"s made from RF cases in 1943-44. Then 50gr. 224"s followed by 70 gr. 228"s. 303's were made not long after (circa 1946) in 2 sizes intially .312 and .313. Over the years other sizes were made by special order. 309" being the smallest and .316" the largest as far as I am aware.

 

Sid kept worn form dies, relapped them to the next size up. Sid used the "Pope" principle of fitting a "bullet" to a barrel. He beleived and proved that provided you had some rifling in the last 6-12" of barrel and had a proper groove diameter bullet to suit, you could make a rifle shoot. May not be of Target accuracy, but back then (1940's-50's) after WW2, professional 'Roo and Croc' shooting was a good money earner for returned serviceman, farmers and blokes with "get up and go" looking to make a "buck".

 

Sid (and wife Elva) made over 100,000 projectiles in the first 2 years of business, all on home made hand presses before he bought ex-munitions machines from 1947-49. Then had to convert these machines to calibers other than 303.

 

As far as 303's are concerned, Sid made several weights over the years, 124gr. 130gr. 150gr. 174gr. and 215gr. in Soft points. Also 174 gr. 215gr. and 220 gr. in FMJ. Other weights were made to special order including Hollow Points. The larger projectiles were cannelured.

 

Taipan Projectiles ceased in 1980 when sold to Small Arms Company(SAC) in Sydney. As incorrectly pointed out in the post that I responded too earlier, I did not sell the company. Last production run of Taipan projectiles made by Sid (and myself at 16) was in 1974. These were 100gr.x .243 SP. But back to the story. SAC did not require the name (Taipan) and the machinery was onsold to the current owner some years later when SAC could not make a go of it with their Pistol Bullet venture.

 

I am currently writing a book on the Taipan History 1945-1981. and the years before about Sid and events leading up to founding Taipan Projectiles. Hopefully it will be ready for publication sometime later next year (2013). However I'm finding the more I dig the more I find.

 

Kindest regards to all.................Barry Churches

 

 

Cheers...........Barry