Head space issue or normal Enfield fired brass

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mrbieler

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Topic: Head space issue or normal Enfield fired brass
Posted: December 11 2025 at 5:51pm

1944 No4 Mk1 Long Branch. Shooting Greek HTP. Extraction is sticky. Takes more than a fair bit of effort. Bolt is over 1/4 short of closing on Forster .070 Field Gauge.

Two fired cases on the left. Unfired on the right. Is this normal or do I have a head space issue? What else to look at or fix on the extraction issue?

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Posted: December 11 2025 at 7:24pm

No headspace issue if the bolt does not close on a 0.070 gage. The line between the shiny brass and the “dull” area forward of this is normal. The shiny section is the solid case head that does not expand to fill the chamber.

I’ve found by chrono measurements, some of the HXP is a bit on the hot side, velocities over 2500 fps, some have complained about sticky bolt lift.

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Posted: December 11 2025 at 8:12pm

Thank you. I assumed I was OK headspace wise, but assumptions being what they are…

The brass isn’t showing any bizarre scratches or markings. I did see some comments online about folks knocking down the sharp edge of the extractor, but I don’t know enough about that solution to know if that’s where I need to go.

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Posted: December 11 2025 at 10:42pm

I suggest trying the rifle with some PPU ammunition to compare.

Also, as Geoff suggested, try and chronograph the rounds.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

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Posted: December 12 2025 at 3:44am

My No1 MK3 DOES close on the Forster .070 gauge, but NOT on the .074 gauge. Fired brass on mine looks similar to yours and others opined here that it looked normal. I'm using Sellier&Bellot 150gr softpoints. I'm not having any extraction issues though.

Best,

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Posted: December 12 2025 at 3:59am

As Geoff said, the Greek HXP MkVIIz ammo that was recently released is giving approximately 75 to 100 fps more than the standard MkVII. Further, the first spam can I recently opened found the cases to feel tacky to the touch....not verdigris but perhaps some sort of treatment to prevent it? Anyway, I now buff all my HXP ammo with brass wool and that helps somewhat with the sticky extraction. I'll be reloading a bunch of the HXP once-fired brass in the New Year and I'll see how it performs then.

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Posted: December 12 2025 at 4:16am

Also, would not hurt to give the chamber a good clean with a chamber brush if you don’t regularly do this. I use a chamber cleaning rod (Dewey) with a fixed handle that does not turn like a regular cleaning rod. That way you can rotate the brush in the chamber. Wrap a patch around the brush and apply your favorite bore solvent.

Good suggestions by Derek and Shaun.

I’ve only fired 20 rounds of this recent batch of HXP coming out. Mine was HXP-71 Lot 26. Max of the 20 rounds was 2559 fps, MV was 2537 and 2533 fps. I don’t recall encountering stiff bolt lift but others have.

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Posted: December 12 2025 at 6:18pm

The ammo above was 75 dated HXP. Today we shot 70 and 71 dated HXP with mixed results on extraction. Some FN ammo from the 80's as well as a bunch of 1940's Kynoch Mk7 ammo all went though it fine. A couple of clips of MEN ammo was also a bit sticky.

On a side note, the semi-auto Vickers we were shooting loved the old Egyptian ammo.

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mrbieler Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: November 22 2025 Location: Lost Angeles Status: Offline Points: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote mrbieler Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Head space issue or normal Enfield fired brass Posted: December 11 2025 at 5:51pm
	1944 No4 Mk1 Long Branch. Shooting Greek HTP. Extraction is sticky. Takes more than a fair bit of effort. Bolt is over 1/4 short of closing on Forster .070 Field Gauge. Two fired cases on the left. Unfired on the right. Is this normal or do I have a head space issue? What else to look at or fix on the extraction issue?

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Online Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 11 2025 at 7:24pm
	No headspace issue if the bolt does not close on a 0.070 gage. The line between the shiny brass and the “dull” area forward of this is normal. The shiny section is the solid case head that does not expand to fill the chamber. I’ve found by chrono measurements, some of the HXP is a bit on the hot side, velocities over 2500 fps, some have complained about sticky bolt lift.

mrbieler Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: November 22 2025 Location: Lost Angeles Status: Offline Points: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote mrbieler Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 11 2025 at 8:12pm
	Thank you. I assumed I was OK headspace wise, but assumptions being what they are… The brass isn’t showing any bizarre scratches or markings. I did see some comments online about folks knocking down the sharp edge of the extractor, but I don’t know enough about that solution to know if that’s where I need to go.

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 11 2025 at 10:42pm
	I suggest trying the rifle with some PPU ammunition to compare. Also, as Geoff suggested, try and chronograph the rounds.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Sauron Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: November 30 2025 Location: Virginia, USA Status: Offline Points: 90	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sauron Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 12 2025 at 3:44am
	My No1 MK3 DOES close on the Forster .070 gauge, but NOT on the .074 gauge. Fired brass on mine looks similar to yours and others opined here that it looked normal. I'm using Sellier&Bellot 150gr softpoints. I'm not having any extraction issues though. Best,

Sapper740 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sapper740 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 12 2025 at 3:59am
	As Geoff said, the Greek HXP MkVIIz ammo that was recently released is giving approximately 75 to 100 fps more than the standard MkVII. Further, the first spam can I recently opened found the cases to feel tacky to the touch....not verdigris but perhaps some sort of treatment to prevent it? Anyway, I now buff all my HXP ammo with brass wool and that helps somewhat with the sticky extraction. I'll be reloading a bunch of the HXP once-fired brass in the New Year and I'll see how it performs then.

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Online Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 12 2025 at 4:16am
	Also, would not hurt to give the chamber a good clean with a chamber brush if you don’t regularly do this. I use a chamber cleaning rod (Dewey) with a fixed handle that does not turn like a regular cleaning rod. That way you can rotate the brush in the chamber. Wrap a patch around the brush and apply your favorite bore solvent. Good suggestions by Derek and Shaun. I’ve only fired 20 rounds of this recent batch of HXP coming out. Mine was HXP-71 Lot 26. Max of the 20 rounds was 2559 fps, MV was 2537 and 2533 fps. I don’t recall encountering stiff bolt lift but others have.

mrbieler Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: November 22 2025 Location: Lost Angeles Status: Offline Points: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote mrbieler Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 12 2025 at 6:18pm
	The ammo above was 75 dated HXP. Today we shot 70 and 71 dated HXP with mixed results on extraction. Some FN ammo from the 80's as well as a bunch of 1940's Kynoch Mk7 ammo all went though it fine. A couple of clips of MEN ammo was also a bit sticky. On a side note, the semi-auto Vickers we were shooting loved the old Egyptian ammo.