Lee Enfields and Boat Tailed Bullets

[David TS]

I've met many folks who insist on buying 174 grain Sierra Match Kings and other boat tail bullets to shoot in their well used Lees and the results are usually disappointing. Folks shooting the new ROF(F) Mk.2's and other rifles in exceptional condition are having good success with them. I always tell them to switch to 180 grain Sierra Pro Hunters or comparable flat base bullets from other manufacturers and there's always noticeable improvement in accuracy from average, well used rifles. Remember that the Mk.7 was the specified rifle ammunition and the Mk.8 designed for use in machine guns. I'm guessing the boat tails were preferred for long range fire from the Vickers MMG. A story about their use in Korea comes to mind not to mention all of the Mk.8 I've ever acquired over the years was cased and on Vickers belts.

I shot my newly acquired 1954 Faz Mk II for the first time last Saturday.

I know nothing about its past other than the fact it went into store after being built, was sold as surplus to the USA some years ago, bought at auction and repatriated to the UK in the wrap by EFD Rifles last year. They stripped and cleaned it, and then I acquired it.

I haven't shot an Enfield on range (nor any other full bore rifle) for 40 years. I had fitted it with an AJP Twin Zero aperture sight, and hadn't had the chance to zero it before going straight on the 600 yard range after lunch, so it hadn't fired a shot in my hands previously. With my shooting partner spotting for me I adjusted the aperture sight by guesswork as he spotted each shot on the first five shots fired; and with the second 5 shots I had (not in this order) a vbull, bull, inner and two outers!! I stopped fiddling with it after that......

I was using PRVI Partizan 174gn boat tail ammo (cheap and cheerful), so I reckon you can say this works well in a good barrel!

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[Beerhunter]

I was using PRVI Partizan 174gn boat tail ammo (cheap and cheerful),

Pray tell where you get it "cheap"

[David TS]

Pray tell where you get it "cheap"

All things being relative, I meant cheap at £61/100 (basically Krank's price, ordered from my local RFD), as opposed to the £100/100 Sako and Remington .308 factory deer loads I buy

[Carlo Di Falco]

I'm not sure what the situation is in England with regards to the price of prvi partizan ammunition or projectiles, but in Australia it is packaged and sold as "Highland" brand. It represents very good value for money. I shoot the combined services discipline here and have had no problems with boat tails. Prvi partizan projectiles sell for about the same as the bulk unpackaged Hornady projectiles at the moment.