Correct Ammo for Lee-Metford MkII

BP isn't really magic, Pyrodex doesn't quite do it for replication. If you try a drop tube, you can probably do a decent job of replication. I wouldn't load a full service charge anyway. Don't go light either, just a bit less than full house. BP is one way to damage a rifle if you don't know anything about it.

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Originally Posted by Gpcooke

. The research that I have done suggests that the original cartridge for this example was the BP .303 MkI. I do not reload and have been trying to find an online source for a box or two of this ammo, as I would like to send a couple of rounds down range through the old girl, but have had no success. 'Greg

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The Lee Metfords were always intended for smokeless powder with the black powder cartridge just a stop-gap expedient waiting on British chemistry to catch up. The use of "cordite" was found to lead to short lives with metford rifling but Lee Metfords were used extensively with it. If you just want to fire a few rounds through your rifle to try it out I would suggest just buying a small supply of any decent military or commercial .303 and doing it. I have used a lot of Remington-UMC 174 grain, MC (full metal jacket) which you may be able to find. Your wish to use black powder rounds adds a lot of complication.

Ridolpho

Ridolpho, for the Long Lees, try to replicate the Mk II .303 round.
The Mk II .303 had a 215 grain jacketed bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1970 fps (quite similar to the Mk VI bullet (2060 fps)).
I was recommended this powder load which will give 1970 fps muzzle velocity from the Long Lee (barrel length: 30.2 inches): Vihtavuori N140 31.0 gn at a max pressure of 27720 psi, well below the CIP Pmax of 52939 psi, with 99.34% of propellant burnt.
I have used it with good results - the challenge is to find a 215 grain bullet. I use BES bullets, which are hand-swaged; not cheap but very good
email mseller208@aol.com in the UK for details of these, or another source in the USA would be these: Woodleigh Bullets 303 British 7.7mm Japanese (312 Diameter) 215 Grain

Rob

Barrel life using cordite in the metford rifling was 1/6th that of BP loads hence if they were good for 6,000 normally then they were shot out at 1,000

It's really time someone started loading MkVI commercially again.

I'm sure Prvi Partizan could do it, but they probably don't know anything about the round or its significance. I see they're making other odd stuff like 8mm Lebel and 7.65 Argentine so why not MkVI? Same case as MkVII or at least close enough for our purposes?

The 215Gr. is a damn good hunting round too and an open tipped bullet jacket would work just as well as a closed one for non-hunting purposes I assume.

If enough folks ask? office@prvipartizan.com