Quote Originally Posted by jmoore View Post
It's not fair to compare the Springfields and Garands to the axis powers' rifles, nor the Sovieticon turnbolts. Mostly because they weren't used after their respective wars to any great degree. SMLEs are generally rebuilt and very often rebarreled much like their US counterparts. No.4 rifles as well, but to a somewhat lesser degree.
I use the comparison simply to get to an answer which you guys are giving. It's not metal quality or the primers themselves so much, just that they were used much more extensively over their lifespan. That makes perfect sense. I'm not familiar with the Britishicon rebarreling situation. I have three and they all appear to have original barrels but I wouldn't know what to look for to be sure. My 1917 Eddystone has been rebarreled but my 03A3 has not. I don't own a Garandicon but almost every one I've seen has been rebarreled as have most of the Springfields and 1917's I've run across.