seek wisdom on a no4 enfeild

[georgemia]

no changes to bolt,no changes to the headspace....that was the first thing i checked out when this happened at the range...made sure the bolt head was were it had been....

i am looking for some new cases....after looking over the reload notes for anything i may have missed...these loads are just a hair under max.good call there.actually excellent call there....remote diag on a rifle from germany...the man knows his rifles for sure.

now for the next huge question...will it help to keep this load very mild?...four times reloaded and these cases are junk....it will cost a lot to feed this critter.and i really like this round.

[georgemia]

now on a side note....something that always struck me strange..five years ago when i bought this rifle after shooting my nephews`s my brother in law bought one....all together i have reloaded for four of these horses...

now all of them are no 4 mark 1 except for the jungle carbine my brother in law owns..#5..at the range years ago we noticed my rifle would shoot cases fired in my rifle only....my brother in law would shoot any reloaded cases....my nephew stuck to his own brass....while the other no 4 mk 1 would shoot anything...it struck me odd i could not use my brother in laws cases in my own.his being complete stock and original mine having been rebarreled once....simple solution.a couple coffee cans marked with the name and gun to keep brass seperated.

another side note...the 303 my nephew owns....has the words....U.S. Property stamped on the side of the receiver.he wont sell it.

[browningautorifle]

we noticed my rifle would shoot cases fired in my rifle only

I take it you're neck sizing only. That would sort of make sense with what you've said. Full length resize will work in any rifle...unless you haven't really full length re-sized.

[CINDERS]

U.S Property = Savage, I tumble, wipe clean, FLS every round, anneal the necks at least once in their life which is @7- 8 reloads (I run them at 2,440fps), trim, check for Head separation use a small piece of wire with a hook point on it.
I FLS as I run 5 303's and if all rounds are trimmed/fls 'ed then no probs, the 6th one the T I neck the rounds and keep a very close eye on the length and the tell tale signs of HS whilst the forum is a great place for information the Armourers here (I am not one) with out holding and looking at your weapon can only surmise through their experience what may be wrong.
We have no idea on your reloading practices, me I am pedantic about it to the point of ridiculous and why shouldn't I be with pressures between 40,000psi in the 303's to 60,000 with others in the brood so why wouldn't I.

The round was never meant to be reloaded as it was a weapon of war and whilst tolerances were kept within reason they were all different it is good practice to FLS as if you just NK them they stretch and the shoulder can move forward which also may force the case mouth into the lede and increase the crimp to dangerous pressure levels.
I think the Lee's were proofed at around 43-45,000psi and when you compare it to other rounds like the 7mmSAUM it pales as I heard a story that this round had to be respec'ed to SAAMI 63,000psi but that's just what I heard.

Another thing that can happen is the bolt head is not done right up leaving 1 turn out it should have 5 degrees of overturn when done up out of the rifle my advice is to go to a gunny that has a good knowledge of the 303 family and its spec's try Brian Dick it is only a suggestion but get it sorted pronto as you do not really know where the edge of the precipice is and failure maybe just around the corner.
I am not worried about the weapon as it will outlast all of us my concern is for your safety and that of others who may use the weapon or be beside you at the range. Just my 5c worth bloke.

[RobD]

I note you wrote;
"i phoned a friend who has a 303...he had a couple prvi factory rounds left...so i borrowed them.they will not chamber.the bolt will not fully lock down."
In my view, a rifle not accepting unfired factory ammo = very bad juju.
I would take the rifle along to a good gunsmith...

[georgemia]

well yall aint never gonna believe it...cause i still cant....got my new brass...found some winchester new unprimed yadda yadda....i had my fingers crossed when i inserted an empty case into said chamber....

it wouldnt close....again...well...again i walked away from this piece....finally a friend got hold of me and we got to talking about it....we traded thoughts and he looked at his and i looked at mine....he kept telling me something is broken in your bolt....hot load,70 plus year old gun...think about it.

so i did...and then it finally showed its ugly head...

the extractor claw...the very tip of that son of a gun broke and somehow lodged in the head space area not allowing the round to seat,thus not allowing the bolt to close....so of course i ordered one and then i removed it from the bolt...cleaned the snot out of her.it chambers rounds just fine...wont extract them until i get the new parts but it will chamber.i have never seen anything...not even remotely close to this....i know its stupid simple but never in my 22 years of owning firearms have i ever seen this.crazy as it maybe..