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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Brass undersized by .020” :(
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<blockquote data-quote="Dean2" data-source="post: 1893334" data-attributes="member: 26077"><p>So it seems really clear that you don't understand what you are reading. The difference between a .073 gauge and a .063 gauge is .010 , whereas most modern guns have a head space of .004 to .006. Thus these rifles had acceptable head space that is at least .004 larger than is now common. In fact most field gauges, longer than a no-go and the maximum allowed head space, only tolerate about .007-.008 as MAX head space on modern speced cartridges. With respect to not shooting oiled cartridges, I agree and that has nothing to do with head space, only with excess thrust at any head space.</p><p></p><p>The Lee Enfield 303 was a superbly designed BATTLE rifle. It was intentionally made with large head space to accommodate variations in wartime produced ammo and to tolerate mud, water and the like better than tightly head spaced rifles. Military ammo was never made to be reloaded, they didn't care about case stretch. Also, that rifles' lug system allows more case stretch but also is far easier to clean and less prone to gumming up. The gun was designed for ultimate reliability in a battle situation and it is one of the best designed battle rifles ever built. If you ever did much reloading for the 303 you would know you have to be very careful about shoulder bump if you are going to FL size or you will get case head separation in 3 or 4 firings.The fact that they made 4 different bolt heads that could be easily swapped as the gun wore is just more proof of the great design. You are confusing the gauge designations with actual head space.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dean2, post: 1893334, member: 26077"] So it seems really clear that you don't understand what you are reading. The difference between a .073 gauge and a .063 gauge is .010 , whereas most modern guns have a head space of .004 to .006. Thus these rifles had acceptable head space that is at least .004 larger than is now common. In fact most field gauges, longer than a no-go and the maximum allowed head space, only tolerate about .007-.008 as MAX head space on modern speced cartridges. With respect to not shooting oiled cartridges, I agree and that has nothing to do with head space, only with excess thrust at any head space. The Lee Enfield 303 was a superbly designed BATTLE rifle. It was intentionally made with large head space to accommodate variations in wartime produced ammo and to tolerate mud, water and the like better than tightly head spaced rifles. Military ammo was never made to be reloaded, they didn't care about case stretch. Also, that rifles' lug system allows more case stretch but also is far easier to clean and less prone to gumming up. The gun was designed for ultimate reliability in a battle situation and it is one of the best designed battle rifles ever built. If you ever did much reloading for the 303 you would know you have to be very careful about shoulder bump if you are going to FL size or you will get case head separation in 3 or 4 firings.The fact that they made 4 different bolt heads that could be easily swapped as the gun wore is just more proof of the great design. You are confusing the gauge designations with actual head space. [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Brass undersized by .020” :(
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