Strength Of Lee Enfield Action

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I've never heard of any sort of Enfield failure that didn't involve the word "hand load"......

As a novice I place my trust in my local gunsmith to once over my new acquisitions to check headspace etc..
As to hand loading I have not done any in many years but am considering getting back into the hobby as my collection grows and ammo prices spiral out of sight. I have watched several videos recently (youtube etc..)that show some pretty poor practices that could cause double charging a case. Example (loading a full tray of primed cases without transfering the loaded cases to a new tray or seating the projectile after charging. Reloading requires a great deal of orginazation and concentration to do safely. Saftey first!

[jrswanson1]

I would love to know how you can put a double charge of powder in a .303 case without spillover. Unless you are doing something stupid with reduced loads and lead bullets.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I would love to know how you can put a double charge of powder in a .303 case without spillover. Unless you are doing something stupid with reduced loads and lead bullets.

I was speeking in general terms about double loading. Just an encouragement to be safe and treat the reloading process with the care and attention it deserves given the potential hazards involved.

[Rumpelhardt]

Some people seem bent on doing stupid things with firearms.
There was a fellow who frequented the same gun shop I did who had a very nice little rifle chambered in .222 Magnum. I can't remember the brand but it was a bolt action with double set triggers and very nice full length wood. Because he thought 222 Magnum ammunition was just to darn expensive he fed this rifle a steady diet of .223 in spite of the continued warnings from the gunsmith. Predictably he had a case failure that resulted in powder burns on his left arm. Of Course he blamed the rifle.
How many others have done similar things then blamed the firearm after its inevitable failure.

[arkshooter]

I agree with jrs.. Usually not a big danger since a normal charge nearly fills the case. Real risk is in loading pistol rounds. A little dab will do you on them.

[ROCK]

I guess it would be safe to say that catastropic failures of Enfield receivers are just about non existant. Nothing that resembles something like this.........



Another receiver that usually stays intact is the Garand type. That is if it is constructed with the correct steel and is properly heat treated. I don't think that the pictured receiver was. This one looks as if it shattered like a brittle, low number 1903 Springfield receiver.

OUT OF BATTERY EXPLOSION M14 - Sniper's Hide Forums

[MKV111Z]

To spare a dear friends blushes he shall remain nameless, once in error he loaded a batch of .303 with 41 grains of Unigue rather than N140 for use in his SMLE it was a friday evening he was rushing and he was shooting with us the following day. On the morrow I was shooting next to him,the firing point was covered with a concrete floor; there was a very load bang and a cloud of dust and it could be said he emerged somewhat shaken rather than stirred. The rifle was intact but the bolt had to be opened with a sledge hammer, so draw your own conclusions as to the strength of the action.

H

[bigduke6]

41 grains of Unigue rather than N140 for use in his SMLE it was a friday evening he was rushing

Patience, plenty of time and no distractions are the main key in handloading, I use Unique in my downloads (12 grns), but I dread to think what 41 grns would of been like, think the underpants would of suffered badly.

[ROCK]

there was a very load bang and a cloud of dust and it could be said he emerged somewhat shaken rather than stirred. The rifle was intact but the bolt had to be opened with a sledge hammer, so draw your own conclusions as to the strength of the action.

Remaining intact after 41 grains of Unique speaks for itself. I would guess that you would have to search for the fragments of many other rifles, after the visit to the hospital.