More Bad Press For The Enfield

[Mk VII]

They DO shoot high when they get wet (usually about five minutes high) and it is a fair criticism of a rifle which can reasonably expect to be used in a variety of weather. And the author is referring to the 7.62 ones, so knock off all this stuff about the Somme. A combination of oily cartridge plus strong rain WILL run up pressures and people who think they can repeatedly develop something approaching proof pressure without consequences are fooling themselves.

Geez, anyone would think someone had just spat on the flag. Lighten up.

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[Thunderbox]

They DO shoot high when they get wet (usually about five minutes high) and it is a fair criticism of a rifle which can reasonably expect to be used in a variety of weather. And the author is referring to the 7.62 ones, so knock off all this stuff about the Somme. A combination of oily cartridge plus strong rain WILL run up pressures and people who think they can repeatedly develop something approaching proof pressure without consequences are fooling themselves.

Geez, anyone would think someone had just spat on the flag. Lighten up.

Yes, but there is no evidence that oil and/or rain cause a pressure to develop that is anywhere near the elastic limit of the action.

There is not the slightest evidence that, in 40 or so years of 7.62mm Enfield use, there exists any kind of problem related to the use of the round. Show me a "stretched action" - I haven't yet found anyone in the gun trade who can.

Sorry, but publications and the UK NRA should not be perpetuating internet myth without providing some evidence in support.

[Strangely Brown]

I agree with MkVII on this one; rain will up the pressure and it's only sensible house keeping to keep ammunition as dry as possible, I have shot at Bisley in pouring rain next to another club who were using converted No4's and not taking the slighest interest in keeping ammunition dry, and that is not a comfortable feeling!

LERA's take on this is that club 7.62mm converted No 4's will only be used with 144 Grn ammunition, and as TR Captain I believe that this is a sensible course to take. I have reloaded 150 Grn Sierra Match Kings for No 4 actions but would not (my choice) use 155 Grn bullets.

We have to be accountable for our actions when sharing range space with other people, however it does not mean that I agree entirely with the NRA statement which I think was badly researched and worded.

[Beerhunter]

I agree with MkVII on this one; rain will up the pressure and it's only sensible house keeping to keep ammunition as dry as possible.

I agree as well and I even try to keep my .303 dry, for accuracy reasons. It is the hysteria that I object to.

[Edward Horton]

A wet or oily chamber and or cartridge does NOT increase chamber pressure, oil or water in the chamber prevents the cartridge case from gripping the chamber walls and increases rearward "bolt thrust" or force on the bolt.

The highest the "bolt thrust" can be is equal to is the chamber pressure of the fired cartridge. On the .308/7.62 cartridge this is 50,000 CUP or 60,000 PSI.

Below is from Jim Sweets book "Competitive Rifle Shooting" first printed in 1946 and these pressures were from laboratory testing, the pressures listed are for the .303 cartridge.



Item "a" should always be done before shooting.



In simple terms if "ALL" your fired ammunition is oily or wet the life expectancy of your rifles action is cut in half. The first indications you will see from repeated shooting of oiled or wet cartridges is a increase in rifle head space.

As the head space increases on the rifle from excess bolt thrust the pounding the bolt lug recesses in the receiver, bolt lugs, bolt body and bolt head increases dramatical. AFTER your rifles maximum head space has occurred the possibility of the action body stretching and cracks and fractures occurring increases.

Oil or water in the chamber has the same effect on ALL rifles not just the Enfield Rifle. Our new American short "magnum" cartridges because the cases have much less surface area to grip the chamber walls are pounding these new rifles into early retirement.



Know thy rifle. And read the books and manuals on the subject before you go off half cocked and write gun articles on subjects you haven't researched.

[ireload2]

Oil or water in the chamber has the same effect on ALL rifles not just the Enfield Rifle. Our new American short "magnum" cartridges because the cases have much less surface area to grip the chamber walls are pounding these new rifles into early retirement.



Know thy rifle. And read the books and manuals on the subject before you go off half cocked and write gun articles on subjects you haven't researched.

All rifle designs are not the same. Therefore oil or water in the chamber does lead not to the same reaction in all designs. Muzzle loaders must really be dangerous since they have no brass at all. You need some background in math and physics to filter the stuff you read or you will just repeat information you BELIEVE but do not KNOW to be true. Try understanding Hooke's Law and the use of Young's Modulus.