303 brass?

[TrxR]

What do you think of this once fired 303 brass? It has been fired out of my Enfield No1 MK3. I dont plan on reloading for this rifle but am wondering if I should have the headspace checked and fixed or will it be alright ?

 

[TrxR]

Here are 5 more pics.

Thanks

 

[jonbearman]

I have seen way worse after firing some of the enfields.Have the headspace checked and if it is off the brits made different bolt heads for replacement to tighten the headspace back up when rebuilding.The bolt head should have a number stamped in it which correlates to headspace and there are dealers out there who can sell you a new bolt head to correct it if need be.

 

[Ggmac]

I think the bolt heads that are # are for the # 4 enfields . The brits made the chambers LARGE . Your headspace should be checked , but dont be suprised if its within specs . If you do reload , do not full length , resize just enough to chamber and hold your bullet .

 

[Bindi2]

These are battle rifles not target rifles. The chambers are generous used with a just spec case or under spec case you get that bulge because the case is lying in the bottom of the chamber. If you reload use a Oring to centre the case then use a Lee neck collet die. Only use a Full Length Die if you have to. When head spacing use the right guages not SAAMI. Dont make the headspace to tight that is as bad or worse than to loose. The bolt should close on .064 and not close on .074. That measurement allows for different thickness rims and they do vary even in the same batch. If you have head case separation it is more to do with the quality of the brass used in the case manufacture not head space or to much FLS.

 

[Clark]

I have lots of 303B brass and a number of Enfields.
I have in the past searched for new bolt heads, but there are none left.
In the past I have soldered shims on the bolt face to lower the headspace, but the firing pin hole tapers are hard to re cut.
The SAAMI range for rims and headspace in 303 Brit is so wide that it almost has no meaning.

I have ordered a 250 Krag Ackley reamer and dies, and I am going to use my reloaded. 303 Brass in a way that will make it live longer.

 

[BoydAllen]

I saw something clever that addresses this in a post. The fellow had put a small, thin O ring in front of the rim, to hold the head against the bolt face for the first firing. The shoulder would be blown forward, and then he could be careful how he sized from that point. I have a candidate, for this, and I think that I will pick up a set of Lee collet dies for it. The brass is thin in the neck and shoulder, and I do not plan on shooting overly hot loads, so I may be able to get quite a few firings without FL sizing.

 

[rozinc]

If you log into Milsurps.com, you will find more info on .303 British than you care to know. The subforum is the Lee Enfield knowledge library.

 

[akajun]

I saw something clever that addresses this in a post. The fellow had put a small, thin O ring in front of the rim, to hold the head against the bolt face for the first firing. The shoulder would be blown forward, and then he could be careful how he sized from that point. I have a candidate, for this, and I think that I will pick up a set of Lee collet dies for it. The brass is thin in the neck and shoulder, and I do not plan on shooting overly hot loads, so I may be able to get quite a few firings without FL sizing.

I have done this, it works very well,