.303 British Muzzle Wear Gauge

[Boom-Boom]

What tool(s) were used by the armorers to determine muzzle wear on the No4 rifles.

For US rifles in .30-06 and .308 as well, the set of Troat erosion and muzzle wear gauges can help rapidly someone to make a first assessment of barrel condition.

What is the common way of doing that evaluation beside looking down the tube and stating: Oh yes, there's nice sharp rifling in that barrel.

I also know about using a loaded round inserted down the muzzle end.

I have looked on the Internet and I have found only about .30 cal. tools.

Thank you in advance,

BB

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Edward Horton]

Below is a Canadian .303 bore gauge that fits my 1950 Long Branch perfectly, it does not fit British made barrels.
(silly barrels must be metric)

The bullet test is meaningless unless you know the exact size of your bore and the exact size of your bullet and place it in base first.

[Boom-Boom]

Hi EH,

Tks for quick reply:

Where can I find/buy such a tool?

Is it graduated like the US gages for .30 cal. barrels.

What is the spec value for LB barrels bore size?

Is this the technique/tool used by armorers?

regards,

BB

Below is a Canadian .303 bore gauge that fits my 1950 Long Branch perfectly, it does not fit British made barrels.
(silly barrels must be metric)

The bullet test is meaningless unless you know the exact size of your bore and the exact size of your bullet and place it in base first.

[louthepou]

Hey Salut Boom Boom!

Thanks Ed, that's a new tool I've never seen before.

Boom Boom, I wonder, if we get the specs, if we could get someone like "Gairlochian" to fabricate a few...

Lou

[Edward Horton]

Boom-Boom

1. I bought this bore gauge at a British website along with a firing pin protrusion gauge and a stock collar (trigger guard bushing) measuring gauge and filing jig, they are no longer available.
2. It is not a throat erosion gauge and graduated for throat wear.
3. The Canadian bore specifications are listed below, this gauge is .303 diameter and fits the Long Branch bore, it does not fit in a British 2 or 5 groove barrel.
4. All the tools and gauges mentioned above are Canadian military manufacture and were used by Canadian Armourers.

All the information below is from Badgers “Lee Enfield On-line Knowledge Libraries (Index of Articles)” at the top of this web page. I donated all these Enfield manuals that NO ONE READS, the gauges are pictured in illustrations in: 2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Manuals (Complete Set)
2002 No.4 (All Marks) .303 Rifle Data Summary

http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...%20Summary.pdf


Bore Diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.65 to 7.72 mm (0.301 to 0.304 in.)
Number of Grooves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 5 or 6
Rifling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 turn in 25.4 cm (10 in.)
Direction of Twist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 and 5 grooves - left hand - 6 grooves - right hand.


Barrel

Plug Gauge, GO 0.3009 in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shall run through the bore.

Plug Gauge, NOT GO 0.307 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shall not run through the bore.

Plug Gauge, NOT GO 0.308 in. . . . . . . . . . (1) Shall not enter the bore at the muzzle end
more than 6.35 mm (1/4 in.); and (2) Shall not completely enter the chamber at the breech end.

Plug Gauge, NOT GO 0.310 in. . . . . . . . Shall not enter the chamber more than 6.35 mm
(1/4 in.) beyond the etched line.

Tapered Plug Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shall not enter the chamber more than 19.05 mm (3/4 in.).

[Edward Horton]

Please note my .303 diameter gauge is not listed in the manual above and could have been used for the .308/7.62 barrels.

Also note what you are looking for on the .303 British Enfield Rifle is a .308 diameter bullet to check bore muzzle wear.

Plug Gauge, NOT GO 0.308 in. . . . . . . . . . (1) Shall not enter the bore at the muzzle end more than 6.35 mm (1/4 in.)

NOTE: Gauge requirements may differ in country of barrel manufacture.
(which side of car the steering wheel is on)

[louthepou]

Hey! I've read a few! And refer to the 1931 instructions on a weekly basis!

[Peter Laidler]

Just a minute Ed......, I WROTE huge parts of the L2A3 Sterling and L4 Bren EMER............!

As for the No4 muzzle wear, then we say the GAUGE, Armourers, plug No2 .308" diameter No2 MUST NOT enter the muzzle by more than .25". If it does, then the barrel will be rejected and condemned. Even when the barrel rejects the gauge, where it (the barrel) is suspect, it will be range tested for accuracy and rejected if it fails.

The long and short is it will be rejected if it fails the accuracy test and/or the No2 .308" gauge

Next question............

[Edward Horton]

Just a minute Ed......, I WROTE huge parts of the L2A3 Sterling and L4 Bren EMER............!

As for the No4 muzzle wear, then we say the GAUGE, Armourers, plug No2 .308" diameter No2 MUST NOT enter the muzzle by more than .25". If it does, then the barrel will be rejected and condemned. Even when the barrel rejects the gauge, where it (the barrel) is suspect, it will be range tested for accuracy and rejected if it fails.

The long and short is it will be rejected if it fails the accuracy test and/or the No2 .308" gauge

Next question............

No insult intended Mr. Laidler, I didn't bring you into this because real Armourers don't use bullets to check muzzle wear.

I also left you out of my posting because rumor has it you also helped write the Ten Commandments and have connections in high places.

Signed
Ed (not yet old as dirt)

[Boom-Boom]

Salut Lou.....

I would take the MWG and go, no-go gauges as well.

I've seen Gairlochian post on repro gauges and will buy these.

Can you find drawings for the MWG and do the contacts??

BB

Hey Salut Boom Boom!

Thanks Ed, that's a new tool I've never seen before.

Boom Boom, I wonder, if we get the specs, if we could get someone like "Gairlochian" to fabricate a few...

Lou