Well That Went GREAT!

Greetings and Salutations!
Last nights absence was due to Gretchen’s last second realization that today we were supposed to be getting the Nookular-Redhead for the pre-Christmas/Early Christmas here at the Casa. That involves her being here until late on Christmas Eve, and then back to the other Grans.

It also means we normally decorate the tree, do the cookie baking thing, and do OUR Christmas with her. The realization was that we hadn’t done ANYTHING in preparation for this!

The tree was still buried in the garage, as was ALL the decorations. NONE of the lights had been tested and on and on and on.

Guess who ended up at Walmart, as well as CVS AND Home Depot chasing new strings of lights?

Then home to start getting everything put together to some semblance of Christmas Cheer.

Only to gat a call around 10/10:30 P.M. that Red has a case of Influenza A and is sick-sick. So no Red until maybe after Christmas? Total Bummer man.

BUT
This did give me a chance to move up my timeframe.
Namely to Test Fire the Lee Enfield

Sapper and I went out to Cowboy’s place as it’s the only place we could do this, outside of an hour-and-a-half ride to another good outdoor rifle range. Indoor ranges around here are relatively plentiful, however they tend to be a bit overly-stifling regarding saaaaaafety and whatnot. I mean I appreciate good safety habits, but at Shoot Straight (a bunch of fucking thieves IMO) they make you LITERALLY case your rifle/pistol/shotgun whenever you move it on and off the actual firing line. As in WTF? A totally unnecessary pain in the ass.

So anyways… the test?

And here’s a close-up of the rig:

As you can see in the vidya, the kick pushed back pretty hard and knocked the cinderblock over. That was shot #2, as we did 3 Bench Test Shots, and then I figured “What The Hell?” and each one of us threw one round each.

Now the first test shot looked like an 1860’s Springfield Musket going off. HUUUGE cloud of smoke, as there was still an impressive amount of Cosmo built up that I just could NOT get scrubbed out. That shot appeared to have ‘blown out’ the majority of the crap. Now it DID have a minor affect, in that the ass end of the brass showed a wee bit of swelling, which I attributed to the overpressure from the Cosmo.

But then, I looked at all six rounds and ALL of them have the same funky color change:

So this was a wee bit worrisome.
Not sure if it was headspace (even though it passed the gauging) or what? SO I measured -everything- and found that in fact No, this is -not- a bulging. In fact at the discoloration line? They’re ALL 11.62mm according to my two calipers. Yeah I use two to make sure that I’m getting accurate measurements.

I then check the specifications, and OK… the shoulder spec for the .303 Brit is 11.68. And this is PPU ammo, which according to the various Lee Enfield boards I’ve been cross referencing, the PPU brass is a teeny bit smaller than the standard ‘stuff’ out there, as every country has minor variations.

In fact one of the posters on the board said specifically “(a bit of swelling) …is fairly normal in Enfields as the chamber shape does not follow the factory case shape. This was done on purpose to be able to chamber ammunition from different sources that was slightly out of spec.”

So, good. NOT a headspacing issue per se, more of a ‘sloppy chamber’ that I’ve been reading a LOT about on these boards. Either way, no head separation (both MINE nor the shell casing) and it’s uniform all around.

There’s also the other thing I discovered here back at the house. When I got home, I of course tore it down as far as I felt it needed for an inspection. The first this I did was recheck the chamber and bore (all good!) and well… the barrel itself?

I’ll try to get a picture. It’s hard to get the camera to focus down the length of it. The rifling is pristine. Crisp and HIGHLY clean lands and grooves! My own opinion is that if this thing even had 50 rounds through it since it was made in 1939, I’ll eat my hat. I mean it’s like brand new. Sooooooo… very impressed with it, especially on how lucky I was to get what I did get, as it was a $99 special…

And as far as being at Cowboys?

He’s doing a lot better
As you can see, he seemed to really dig the Enfield, and as you can see, I have a reproduction 1907 Model Pigsticker for it, which maaaan… it adds about 18in in overall length and the blade, while dull AF, is still one serious stabby-mcstabby tool.

So yeah, not a bad day
Would have liked to have the gran over to kickstart Christmas, but it is what it is. Let me know what you think in the comments
More Later
Big Country

42 thoughts on “Well That Went GREAT!”

  3. Enfield brass is generally speaking non-reloadable. That oversized chamber leads to case failures after resizing.

    1. Not at all true, who on God’s green Earth ever told you that? Cartridge brass is annealed and very malleable. I have loaded many, many rounds of .303 British for/from multiple SMLE sources with no issue, EVER. Once brass is fireformed to a specific chamber, there is no need to do anything but neck size if you only want to roll for that weapon anyway.

      BC, yer magic casing color change is probably just an impression of the chamber during obturation, (swelling and relaxing on fire forming) might be a bit rough in there but don’t sweat it. Also, .410 shotgun brass can be made out of .303 by blowing the shoulders out, I also load .45 bullets in ’em for my Contender. Ye-Haw!

      Delta Mike

      1. I second that motion. All you did was fireform the brass for easier reloading. Brass just expanded. You’re good to go as long as they still spec out. BT/DT. It’s a cool ass gun and you did a great job. Thank Crom you got a good one underneath the crud.

      2. Totally agree with Delta, people keep spewing dis-info instead of actual experience with these things. If you don’t reload, don’t tell us what you DON’T know.
        Your brass looks normal, like you said, they cut sloppy chambers for dirty ammo, having experienced filthy trenches for 4 yrs of WW1. .mil does not worry about pristine brass for reloading. The bottom of your cases did not expand far enough to swell into the oversize chamber, hence the shiny factory finish you see. Happens to me too.
        Get a piece of stout stiff wire, bend a L shape into the bottom 1/4″ and put a sharp edge on it, like a chisel. Stick it down INSIDE the case and slowly pull upwards, if the case is cracking inside you should feel the crack right about where your chamber ring is. Look inside with your borescope, your brass will likely be fine. Save it for someone who reloads. Same with stripper clips, they are becoming unobtanium, like 2/$10, used to a dime ea.
        Last year I bought about 200 cleaned .303 cases, 1944 D/Z (India), every one was in good shape for reloading. A friend gave me 8 boxes of Aussie reloads, I’m shooting .303 made around the world, haven’t found any bad brass yet.
        And yes, occasionally you will find that oversize chamber that blows up brass, those guns used to get re-barreled. There are some original SMLE barrels still to be found out there but getting extremely scarce. I have a mint BSA N0. 4 bbl I’m saving for a shot out one that someone is unloading cheap.

          1. Will not do business with that company. They used to be InterOrdnance in NC, changed their name and went to FL, 2 brothers that screwed over a lot of people.
            I bought about 10 FAL mags 15 yrs ago, they sent me POS junk, I returned for refund or replacement, never heard from them or their secretary again, lost about $80 while ordering these for a friend.
            I won’t pay those kinds of prices for that junk, I bought Enfields when they were much cheaper, $60-200 for nice rifles, I got my mint ’41 Lithgow for $175 and thought it was way too much. RT is importing bottom of the barrel junk from Africa/Asia and charging collector prices that are insane. Those beat up mis-matched guns used to be sold for parts. Now the market has dried up and you’re getting the bottom of the barrel.

  4. Glad that went well, with nobody losing any body parts. Looks like you’ve got a good deal on that rifle. I wonder if it’s possible to get reloading dies custom made for your chamber size.

  5. Enfield amm IS reloadable… but you have to watch your brass like a hawk. They are famous for their springy actions which stretches the hell out of the brass.

    Tiny have you ever made weasel piss? One of my buddies made it from naphtha and ammonia and 11 other secret herbs and spices…and the shite will literally burn your sinus out… but NOTHING I’ve seen since will get copper fowling out like Skinbag’s weasel piss! I think I see formulas for it on the gun boards from time to time…

    Never seen colour change like that, though. Did you get any case stretch?

    1. Weasel Piss… got to research that… sounds like a Pree-vert Canoehead Golden-Shower Plot of some kind… LOL!

      As far as stretch? ZERO. Like the brass is fully within spec on all diameters, and yeah EVERYONE said you need to be very watchful/careful on reloading it.

      I’ve been doing the retard-happy-dance allll day/night long!

      The only thing that I’m waiting on now is a repro-1944 BritSling to finish it off, and then I’ll needs some hooks to wall-mount it as IS worthy of being placed in a place of Honor in the ‘Museum of Mayhem’ (my version of the Reclusium) I’ll probably put it over the H&K sign, but under the original “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster as that would be most appropriate

  6. Sweeeeeet.
    Now need to zero it and “reach out and touch some” (thing).
    See how far you can shoot it accurately.
    A prize well earned, and well deserved.

    A sick Nooclear Redhead is something neither of you need right now. Especially with Gretchen’s health status. So count your blessings. Besides the break will give you time to prep better without exhausting yourselves. (and if Nooclear Redhead arrives after Christmas, mebee you can pick up some post Christmas sale gifts?)

  7. When/if reloading just neck size. If expanded to your chamber should still chamber and not overwork the brass. Makes them specific to your rifle ony but how much sharing of 303 ammo would one expect any way.

  8. Those long bayonets were needed back in the day to hit a horse’s vitals, when the cavalry was still cool.

    2. Form square and prepare to receive a charge. First row kneeling with bayonets pointed forward. Second row with rifles grounded and braced against your foot, but bayonet pointing out and up between 1st row. Third row rifles up on the shoulder pointed out.

      Cavalry horses do not like walls of pikes, or walls of any pointy things.

  10. With my .308 Mauser I have a Lee hand loader set. As Delta Mike said, the brass is already sized for the chamber and since I don’t use them for anything else I can check out different loadings to find the “sweet puppy” that the rifle likes to eat. It isn’t fast but it is handy because you can set up and use it right there at the range to try the powder/boolit combos. A .303 set is $33.99 at Titan reloading. (on sale right now. Usual price is 46.98)

    1. What kind of .308 Mauser do you have? Years ago I picked up a Spanish FR-8; it’s a cool little rifle!

      1. Large ring German M98 that I had re-barreled to .308. I had been looking into the Argentine .308 Mausers but apparently they are dicey with hot loads. Mine likes 165 grain over 49.0 grains of Alliant best. A couple of years ago I ran into a guy selling the Spanish .308 CETME ammunition with the aluminum core and bought everything that he had. Stuff makes appalling wound channels. Has been banned from import for years. The FR-8 does look like a nice little rifle. How is the muzzle blast with it?

        1. I have a custom 1909 Argentine Mauser built into a British 1920’s safari rifle in .416 Taylor (.458 WinMag necked down). The 1909 Argentine is considered one of the finest strongest Mauser actions you can buy, they are the Rolex of Mausers. They were originally chambered in 7.65 Argentine.
          I also have an 1891 Argentine Mauser in 7.65 Arg (on par with .308 Win)., they have the weaker action and don’t have the beautiful lines of the 98 series. These were also some of the most beautiful Mausers made, all of them were mfg in Germany to the highest levels of fit and finish, the rust bluing and case hardening was exquisite..

        2. Not bad at all; the flash hider does the trick. I’ve only shot Austrian M80 ball through it.
          I’m tempted to pull the FH off and put a can on it; but that Euro threading probably isn’t concentric to the bore, and I don’t want to chop and re-thread.
          It’s a fun rifle. I would love to find CETME ammo for it.

          1. Well bro maybe I need to ship you some. If I can remember which ammo box it is in. Hey Big! Please send me Berg’s email.

  11. That’s so sweet that everything worked out for you. I’m still trying to get my grade “C” Jungle Carbine to pass headspace. No joy yet. Broke an extractor screw off in the #2 bolt face (which wasn’t passing headspace). New parts in transit from Sarco to hopefully fix the issue with different sized bolt faces. Merry Christmas and enjoy your beautiful reborn baby.

  12. That video certainly brings back some memories. Bought my Trapdoor Springfield in an old gun shop in Oakland, CA in the early 70’s. My dad’s house was in the Oakland hills and so was multi level. There was no back wall to the “basement”, just the bare soil of the hill. I set that rifle up on the work bench with butt against the wall, a padded chair back supporting the front end, and pointed at the dirt. I installed some little screw-in eyes in the studs so I could route a string around the corner out of harms way. When I was home alone, I loaded a handload (385 gr. cast over 30 gr. IMR 4198) and let ‘er rip. Still have that rifle, and AFAIK, that test bullet is still buried there.

    1. Got an 1873 and an 1884 from my dad recently. Found some 405 grain cavalry loads. Can’t wait to go shoot them!

      1. If you make it up this way, I’ve got a bunch of 55 gr/405 blackpowder carbine loads.
        70 gr/500 was for rifles. I used to have 2 rifles and a carbine ages ago.

  13. Very cool! Old school bayos are supposed to be stabby not cutty. If they were cutty AND 18″ long, the squaddies would be fucking up everything in sight, including (especially) themselves.
    I think it was WWll that short bayos doubled as as utility/fighting knives.

  14. Bayonets are not sharpened so as to crush and splinter bone rather than dig in and stick and break. Excellent work!

    1. Then why do you see pictures of soldiers sitting at grinding wheels sharpening their Enfield bayonets before going into the trenches?
      We were trained to stab AND SLASH down from the neck with the M-14, you can’t slash with a dull bayonet, it will hurt but not injure your enemy. Won’t even cut thru clothing and web gear.
      The M-16A1 comic book manual says to cut down .30 patches USING YOUR M-16 BAYONET, try that with a dull bayonet.
      You’re just repeating a myth.

        1. And I still have 1 new in the plastic wrapper. 🙂 I was unit armorer (4th Tank Bn.) in early 80’s , 10 yrs after I was active duty, I don’t think they issued them anymore.
          Just found a P-38 new in wrapper too, for some reason I kept one un-opened.

          2. LOL
            We used to go to Kadena AFB and stand in the hallways just to watch the round eyes walk by.

      2. Parry and slash- it’s right there in the M1 Garand Army training film too. That M1 (and ’03 Springfield) bayonet is damn fine steel, even though it’s thick it can be made breathtakingly sharp and holds an edge.

    2. How the f…k does a sharp blade dig in and stick? Crush and splinter? Have you ever used a friggin blade for anything but cutting butter? A bay0net is a instrument of war and by Odin anything that goes into battle best be able to send an enemy to the Other Side quick, fast and in a f….king hurry. This ain’t no G…damned Al Queda rusty knife bullshit. Haysus Christo that’s some ignorant shit.

  15. A Rite of Passage for my kids was the first time they got to shoot my Mk III* (1917). Once they had mastered the .22 they got to shoot the Enfield. Middle son got knocked on his ass. Taught them all to respect the kick. Good times!

    1. Ours was Grandad’s double barrel 12 gauge. Once Jr. squeeze both barrels without a flinch, he could take out the 03 Springfield and blast coyotes with open sights. Nothing like a full size cartridge for that pleasant feeling in the shoulder. The Old Man called the AR platform a toy gun, and growing up in the West we couldn’t argue with him.

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