Welcome from Phoenix Arizona m 106.

If you are planning on reloading for your No4Mk2 and intend to mainly target shoot with it, it is totally fine to use 150grn FBSP/ flat based spire points. Do not worry about the lack of Sierra or Hornady bullets. Instead, locate PPU bullets. They range in weight from 150 through to 200, with the 174grn FMJBT mimicking the original MkVII ballistics identically...

As long as you aren't shooting above 300yds then this^^^^.

If you want to shoot long range with the issue sights then dig around & find something closer to the 174Gr MkVII ball as that's what the sights are set up for.

You can still use them with things like the 150 Gr, but the markings will be "off" so you'll have to record & set by using "clicks" (roughly 1/2MOA per click)

They also have .303 Prvi cases.  So you guys in the US wanting cases and bullets, you better jump on it. 

Case:  PPU

Primer:  WLR

Powder:  40.0 gr Varget

Bullet:  174 gr SMK and 174 gr PPU 

COAL: 3.05 in.

Shoot four groups of ten shots for each load at 200 yards (prone in sling), compare the total score on the SR target and record group center to center spread. 

I think this will be the minimum needed to determine if there is a significant difference in accuracy with the two bullets, for me anyway.  

I'd agree with everything except the prone slung.

Theses are tests of the bullet, so removing the human factor is one less variable?

I'd bench & bag it for this session myself.

I usually shoot better slung up prone than off the bench (I know, sounds crazy but it's true for me anyway, might have something to do with no forend back pressure from the sling or up pressure from the support hand when on the bench).  And to me, it's all about how well it shoots in position.  

Using my French Resistance No4Mk1 with the PH5C target sight, I tested out to 200 yards with the rifle benched and bagged as well with the results being nominal in regards to accuracy with no difference between the three bullets.

Your results will no doubt vary differently from mine due to differences in our shooting disciplines. 

Have fun testing though...

I actually had this same conversation with a fellow member of the Army club at Bisley this morning; Martin is a disabled Afghanistan vet who cannot use his right arm which he keeps strapped across his chest. We both agreed that the prone position provides a far more stable position due to the extra contact on the ground. 

I should add that the benches at Bisley at pretty crap anyway! 

Ultimately for me, it’s about how the PPU bullets compare to SMKs shooting the CMP 200 yard matches.  I understand that’s not what most of our members do here.  But, I’d wager most of us on the forum would be happy with a 1.5 MOA ten shot groups with iron sights regardless how we support the rifle.  And if the PPU is capable of that, I’ll be sold and will use them in matches. Besides, we may never see any more SMKs or Hornady BTHP Match bullets, and my own supply will run out one day. 

Just to clarify. I'm not suggesting going to a bench slung instead of prone slung.

I'm talking about the bags fore & aft on a bench.

174grn FMJBT PPU projectiles 

CCI #34 primers 

Winchester cases

40.0grns of VVN540 

OAL 3.075"

10 shots at 300 yards with a rolled up jacket for front support. 

All shots inside 3.55"

Yes, that’s what I understood.  

PPU    174.9 min, 175.4 max, .3108 min, .3116 max

SMK   All weighed 174.0, all measured .3114 diameter.

This doesn’t mean the PPU bullets wont shoot that good.  But, they don’t have the consistency in weight and diameter that the SMKs do, that is for sure. 

I may need to up my game, my Mitutoyo digital calipers only read to .000.5"thou. 

...so, in summary however. You can still enjoy shooting your venerable Lee-Enfield rifles at the range until such time that Sierra decides to offer up the MK's to the general public once again or, the hoarders decide to sell a portion of what they have at a substantially increased mark-up price...
 

Mick, 

A good micrometer is useful, however, I have no intention of sorting bullets by weight and diameter.  I doubt that bullet weight spread is all that significant, nor is the diameter variation.  However, this may be an indication of something more significant to accuracy.  Variation in bullet jacket thickness.  That can cause the bullet to have a center of gravity location not perfectly aligned to the geometric center of the bullet, a real accuracy killer.  

If nothing else, the PPU bullets will be fine for practice shooting, and I can save the SMKs for matches.  

Hopefully, Sierra will once again produce the .311 174 MatchKing, they shoot so well and are very tolerant to throat erosion and jump.  In the meantime, I have enough to last me a number of years.  

Geoff

My thoughts exactly Geoff, I have 368 SMK's squirreled away and they all came from a club member who died a few months back. 

I haven't done the mental arithmetic yet to work out how many comps they will cover.  

Thanks for the help.I tried the PPU 174 grainers with several powder combinations and the accuracy IMO is horrible. At 100 yards it will do about 7 inches. A friend gave me some 4 rounds of Greek Surplus and it shot about 2 inches. Is your opinion that PPU projectile components are good? The weight of the 174s i bought was very inconsistent in weight .To be fair Im a bench rest shooter so im after the best i can get out of this rifle.I just ordered son Hornady 150s like you suggested.Can you offer some insight from your obvious years of success with the Enfield.

Normally for an AS ISSUED new rifle, it was required to hit a 4 inch square 7 out of 9 times a 100 yards. You might think about getting a bore gauge and checking how worn the rifling is. I have been using the 174grn PPU FMJBT projectiles seated out to 3.110" on top of 40.0grns of VihtaVuori N540 in my No4Mk1/2 and it has been consistently producing MOA groups @100 yards. That particular rifle has a 12x scope on it but even using my No4Mk1 with iron sights, I can typically get a 10 shot group inside an official SR-1 target 10 ring. 

The No4Mk1/2 and my latest group...

That is horrible!

You should be getting under 3" at worst. I usually get under 2" which is about good for the L-E action.

To me that indicates something is wrong.

I'm not a benchrester, but I am a bullseye shooter.

What powders have you tried if I may ask. Not all powders work well with all bullet weights. I tried H335 some years back & it was an unmitigated disaster, everything from rubbish groups to incomplete combustion & lodged bullets!!

Yes, this. ^^^

I load 174 or 180 Gr for one of my SMLE's & my No5 Mk1.

The other SMLE & the No4 Mk2 prefer 150 Gr ones!

They are all individuals with individual preferences.

Find what works by experimenting & then stick with it.

I've also discovered that bullet shape matters a lot with the lighter bullets.

The Hornady #3120 beats the heck out of Speer's offering basically, I think because of profile & seating depth!