My first Lithgow

[Ro-bert]

Nice photo collection, Ro-bert. Good details in the montage. (See his link in post #1.)

Thanks. I took these photos at the first inspection and cleaning - so some detail are not photographed so well. I have only flash on Camera and i could not expose indirectly - so some pictures are glaring.. later I had to degrease even the camera

You seem to have experimented with the o-rings on the base of the cartridge to minimze case wall stretching during the first firing.

SMLE has about 0,0138" of excessive Headspace (No4MkII has 0,0059") - I've measured it provisionally, with a full sized case and i stacked Feeler gauge tape, cut in pieces.
Is almost no difference to see with the naked eye on the fired brass. But i could observe on cartridges without O-Ring was several times primer a bit pushed out of pocket. So - i think - with the O-Ring method could my SMLE cases live longer.
What do you think - is it reasonable to use O-Rings also on my No4?

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[user1]

Great photos mate,Nice smle to have as your first.

[jmoore]

Is almost no difference to see with the naked eye on the fired brass. But i could observe on cartridges without O-Ring was several times primer a bit pushed out of pocket. So - i think - with the O-Ring method could my SMLE cases live longer. What do you think - is it reasonable to use O-Rings also on my No4?

The o-rings of either monofilament or rubber seem to negate any headspace dramas if used on the first firing. Not needed afterwards if cases are resized only to the point where they will JUST chamber without undue resistance. However, these rounds MUST be only used in the rifle from which they were fired.

[Ro-bert]

.. Not needed afterwards if cases are resized only to the point where they will JUST chamber without undue resistance. However, these rounds MUST be only used in the rifle from which they were fired.

Of course - i agree with You. To be sure about - I have a very simple method : HXP cases are used for SMLE, Federal & Winchester are used for No4MKII