Enfield-Rifles.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Reloading > Reloading .303 British
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - You're going to do what!?!?  Update.
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

You're going to do what!?!? Update.

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Goosic View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 12 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 8792
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: You're going to do what!?!? Update.
    Posted: January 09 2020 at 9:44am
I must preface this by stating that I do not recommend that anyone attempt to duplicate  my findings.  I went to the range yesterday and ran my test of firing .308 diameter, 180grn Norma Vulkan bullets through a .303 two groove barrel,comparing those with .312 diameter 174grn Hornady BTHP bullets. 
The specifics are: 
All tests were done at a distance of 100 yards!!!
Rifle: 1942 No4MkI* Long Branch with new barrel. Headspaced correctly, using a Forster  .070" field gauge 
Bore diameter between the lands are .3035"
Hornady 303B cases trimmed to 2.212" with an average rim thickness of .0585"
Test batch #1: .308 180grn Norma Vulkan bullets loaded with 40.0grns of Norma 202,primed with WLRM primers with a C.O.L. of 2.992"
Test batch #2: .312 174grn BTHP Hornady bullets loaded with 40.0grns of Norma 202,primed with WLRM primers with a C.O.L. of 2.933"
The results show a very minimal tighter grouping with the .308 Vulkan and they hit higher on the target then the lighter 174grn BTHP bullets.  I did not include the two extreme outside shots in the measurements because those were my allowed sight in shots per test batch.  The overall comparison between the two rounds show no discernible differences when firing a .308 caliber bullet through a. 303 British Enfield rifle. Hug

Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2020 at 10:36am
Interesting!
How well did they sit in the larger ID neck?
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
Goosic View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 12 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 8792
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2020 at 10:59am
I ran .020"- .0230" of the opening into my .308 die and then used a .303 factory crimping tool to finalize the process. 
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2020 at 1:46pm
Ahh I don't crimp.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
philtno View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 04 2019
Location: Blenheim, NZ
Status: Offline
Points: 261
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote philtno Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2020 at 1:55pm
Nice shooting Goosic!! Thumbs Up
Question:
Could the lack of significant difference in the groupings between the two rounds come from the fact that it's a new barrel??
Back to Top
Pukka Bundook View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 02 2015
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1369
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2020 at 2:22pm
Goosic,
 
I have been doing the same with .308" in the Finn M/24 Mosin Nagant, and have the same results.
I'd love you to try the Lapua D-46, (185 gr) Or the D-166, (200 gr) in the .303.
 
I have a bit of advantage in that the RCBS dies for my rifle come with two neck expanders, for .308" or .311/12"
 
Very nice shooting by the way!  
Very interesting topic to me as well!!
 
 
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2020 at 3:41pm
Even if you include the two "fliers" in the groups, the results are still very good.
I see the .308 bullets look spread more vertical.  Or were these the first two shots with sight adjustments made after each?  Any thoughts on this behavior? 
This might explain why some barrels still group well even after lands are worn to .305, or more! 
 
Although you suggested we don't "attempt to duplicate" your findings, I might have to see how the .308 bullets shoot in my LB No. 4 five groove, but I don't think I could shoot 1 MOA groups (maybe for 8/10 shots on some groups if I got lucky). 
 
 
Back to Top
Goosic View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 12 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 8792
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2020 at 3:42pm
I have yet to locate a supplier of the D 166.
Back to Top
Goosic View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 12 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 8792
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2020 at 3:50pm
The very first shot for the Vulkan is the one at the very top. I held to the six o'clock and that was the placement.  I tried to compensate and aimed farther south and placed the second shot in the black at the six o'clock.  The remaining  shots, I aimed at the second shot .
Back to Top
Stanforth View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 08 2017
Location: Oxford England
Status: Offline
Points: 773
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 10 2020 at 2:42am
I bet you could get a MOA group using only your bayonet..LOL
Life.. a sexually transmitted condition that is invariably fatal.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd.