Lead Projectiles for 303 lee enfield Mk1/Mk1*

I have two Mk1* lee enfields in pretty good nick with good , early deep rifling in both barrels . I have shot commericial jacketed ammu . [150 and 175? gr ] with 06 and 08 and feel I can do better . Since these rifle barrels were originally shot with a 210 gr prog. I was wondering if anyone out there had already experimented along these lines and possiblely get a 210 gr mold ?! Lee only make a 185 gr and I found another at 195 gr . Im talking about cast bullets of course . Appriaciate all advice - thanks

If you use a reasonably hard alloy like linotype you will be off to a good start.

Go for a 220-ish grain round-nosed design.

See if you can get a mould that will provide a .312-.313" diameter; this will provide a better gas seal / "ride" in the lands. If you want to push the velocity, look at gas checks. The longer / heavier bullets will quite happily stabilize in the 1:10" twist rifling, except at very low velocities. They will also feed better from the "vintage" magazines that were designed to shoot long, round-nosed bullets.

You can co with "traditional" lube or you can go all "modern" and wrap the bullet in Teflon plumber's tape; the pale yellow or pink stuff will give an interesting look to your ammo.

The heavier bullets are not really a disadvantage down-range. Sure, you can whip up a batch of 100 grain specials, but you will not be able to drive them much faster than the 220 grain jobs, simply because the bullet material will not handle the stress and temperature. "Grey Mist" is a term used to describe the fate of cast bullets that have been driven too hard. So, energy-wise, a 200-ish grain bullet at "max" safe velocity will be a lot more useful than a 100gn job at the same muzzle velocity. Also, a long, round-nosed bullet, whilst not being particularly sleek, has a better ballistic coefficient than a short, round-nosed bullet. Why not cast them "pointy"? Well, it is possible, but the tiniest deviation of the "point" caused by the casting process will play havoc with the dynamic stability of the bullet. A thinner nose section may also distort in the process of feeding from the magazine and shoot all over the place.

Watch carefully for leading, even with the best of lubes. The Teflon tape caper is good, but not perfect. NEVER fire jacketed ammo of any sort in a barrel that has been using cast bullets, until you have COMPLETELY de-leaded the barrel. Failure to "de-lead" may lead (so to speak) to serious damage to your barrel. The nice, hard, fast-stepping jacketed bullet simply engages tightly into the rifling and "scoops" up all the residual lead fouling in the bore / grooves. At some point near the muzzle, it all gets too much and the jacketed bullet simply pushes the accumulated metal fouling aside and Hey! Presto! A "ringed" barrel. NOT a good look in a near mint, 110+ year old collector's piece.

Ok, sounds good - any idea where I can get a 210 gr .313" dia. round nose mold ?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...01314299-1.jpg

Midway: Lyman 2-Cavity Bullet Mold #314299 303 Caliber (314 Diameter) 200 Grain Round Nose Gas Check Product #: 530266 Lyman #: 2660299 UPC #: 00011516202994

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3/530266-1.jpg
$68.99
Status: Out of Stock, Backorder OK
Date expected in stock: 05/15/2013

Graf: LYMAN 303cal 200g #314299 (.314d) MOULD DBL CAVITY
Item #:LY2660299
Price:$67.99
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...y2660299-1.jpg
Availability: Out of stock Login to be notified when it's back in stock
Vendor:Lyman Reloading / Black Powder Equipment
Product Information
Lyman molds are made from solid steel and heat-cured to oxidize the metal. This blues the mould and minimizes the time required for the breaking-in process. A steel sprue cutter is included. Accepts Lyman double-cavity mold handles, sold separately.

eBay: Lyman 2 Cavity Mould 303 British 314 Diam 200 GR 2660299 Gas Check | eBay

Mid South shows that mould to be in stock. $58.05
International shipping available too.

Reloading and Shooting Supplies, Tools and Equipment | Midsouth Shooters Supply

The 314299 is also good for the 7.62x54R. You really want it sized 1-2 thousndths over bore size for best accuracy so slug you barrel before getting a sizing die.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimb16

. . . You really want it sized 1-2 thousndths over bore size for best accuracy so slug you barrel before getting a sizing die.

---

I believe you'll find it more satisfactory to size a bit over groove diameter. Sizing near bore diameter doesn't leave much for the rifling to engage.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3/6fxd37-1.jpg

Are there vendors that make these bullets or something close?

Yes, but the cheap ones ain't good and the good ones ain't cheap.

yeah, I feel Groove dia. is the go too ; i'm still chasing a 210 grain bullet mold 314 dia. though , and have been told about a bloke in Qld who custom makes stuff but before i spend $$ SOMEONE must have done all this already - ! why reinvent the wheel ? A mold and handles , oversize sizing die , freight etc . is'nt cheap.

If you're hung up on getting exactly 210 grains, all you have to do is adjust the alloy content when casting 314299. Throw in a bit less tin/antimony or add some pig lead and you can get 210 pretty easily. Of course you might find it shoots better cast harder/lighter, but that depends on your load and your barrel.

FWIW, the original bullet was nominally 215 grains, not 210.

Montana Bullet Works makes top quality bullets, which they offer in a number of diameters. I am in the process of trying different styles/diameters to determine the best shooter in my Enfield. Will order a mould once I settle on the bullet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by greenant

yeah, I feel Groove dia. is the go too ; i'm still chasing a 210 grain bullet mold 314 dia. though , and have been told about a bloke in Qld who custom makes stuff but before i spend $$ SOMEONE must have done all this already - ! why reinvent the wheel ? A mold and handles , oversize sizing die , freight etc . is'nt cheap.

---

These people make them in 4 and 5 cavity aluminum molds:
.314 -.316, NOE Bullet Moulds

Greenant,
I have good results with the gas checked Lyman 314299, sized .311 & 16-18 grains of 2400 powder. Shot My BSA 1916 SMLE today and got the usual good results. Shoots even better in my LSA 1918 SMLE, my Pattern '14 & my No. 4 Mk II.
Good luck,
DocBob

gday mate ,

all I shoot is ex military rifles with cast bullets .

I use wheel weights or shot gun pellets ,cast and dropped into water to quench.

I dry them off and put them in a baking tray with a squirt of liquid alox .

I use hornady 30 cal gas checks and I seat the projectiles so the bullet is just in the neck covering the gas check.

you can get a 210 mold in the size you want from cast bullet engineering in Australia look it up on the net ,nice bloke and excellent molds ,
you can slug you barrel send him the slug and get a custom size , considering the workmanship involved they are fairly priced .

I have one(several) .I put 9.5 grains of ap70 NO FILLER .
standard stocked 1925 Lithgow open sights shoots under an inch of the bench over 50 meters and opens up to 3"at 200.does the same in my eddystone p14.

for all my other enfields I use the same lead with a lee 185 mold with 11.5 grains of ap70 .

one of my rifles will punch the same hole at 50 and a 2 " group at 200.heavy barrel full wood . competition bedded (as per an excellent book by another forum member rnz) ,parker hale sights .

my isreali mauser in 7.62 ( 30cal ) uses a 180 grain lee mold with 11.5 of ap70 .

my 30 06 model of 1917 use the same mold but with 13.2 grains of red dot .

my second 30 06 model of 1917 uses the same mold but with 16 grains of 2400.

all shoot under the inch at 50. and a consistent inch at 100.

judging by my empty boxes of primers and the 3 jam tins of used primers I have shot over 8500 rounds with out a single misfire or mishap in my various rifles .

a friend at the range uses similar loads in a 7 mm08 and m44 omark.


by the way I also shoot a 310 cadet with the cast bullet engineering mold with 3.7 grains of ap70 .
same lead same results .

makes the benchrest mob with the million dollar plastic toys green with envy .

ps you should see my father shoot !!!!!!!

its not rocket science .

Garyohartnett, those are terrific results with your cast loads. I'll try some of your loads. My favorite cast bullet powder has been Unique, but I haven't got the results you are getting. AP70 is the equivalent of Hodgden Universal isn't it?
By the way, what are the prices of powders in Australia. I am paying $32 a pound here in my part of the US.