.223 No.4 Revisiting

[newcastle]

it willbe incoming if I gte around to sendi9ng a check. Work somewhat busy right now and I really want to get hold of the donor rifle also (this provides me an excuse to go check out gun stores and shows).

[englishman_ca]

A current project amongst many other projects.
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Sht.22 Mk.IV* with chamber modified for .222 Remington.

It will be a single loader.

I'll let you know how this works out.

[Surpmil]

7.62x39 seems like a better and easier option, unless one has a rich uncle who provides 5.56x45 for free.

[martins8589]

7.62x39 seems like a better and easier option, unless one has a rich uncle who provides 5.56x45 for free.

I have a junk 1921 Lithgow that was converted to a 10 shot 7.62x39 in No6 exp guise by Rob Spittles for my then 12yo son to shoot. Shot chinese surplus MOA with it! Just like shooting a .22. No wonder I am not allowed to use it in comps.
A bit like the "Tanker " project.

[englishman_ca]

7.62x39 seems like a better and easier option, unless one has a rich uncle who provides 5.56x45 for free.

The rifle is a well beat sporter, drilled and tapped, but a genuine Mk.IV* with a full length solid .22rf barrel.

Simple task of reaming out the chamber and fitting a centerfire bolt head with the original .22 extractor. Seemed a lot easier to me than converting to 7.62 x 39.

No probs with extruding primers so far, the loads are mild.

It extracts and most times, the empty case just falls through the mag well. If it hangs on the bolt face, a nudge with the loading hand makes it drop.

I will be hand loading 45gr spitzers. I will see how the rim fire barrel stabilises the bullet and see how fast I can push them and still have accuracy.

Just doing it because I can. Not sure as to what form the finished rifle will take.

[Bindi2]

I was under the impression that 22rf barrels were of a smaller dia than 22 CF. I am aware that the Europeans have two sized barrels in 22hornet which unless you know can cause terrible pressure issues. That issue caused more than a little head scratching in the reloading room.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

.22RF uses a nominal .223" groove diameter with a nominal .217" bore. The very early .22 centrefire wildcats (early Hornet, .22Lovell etc.), used .223 barrels for want of anything else. The .22 Hornet started out as a black-powder cartridge (.22WCF)many years earlier and is suspiciously similar to several European rounds of the late 19th Century. The clever chaps at Winchester simply picked up (again) on the work of wildcatters and went commercial. They had to use the rather large (.30-06 sized) Model 54 action because suddenly they had a little hot-rod that would potentially do evil things to many of the "small" actions (designed in black powder days) that were around at the time.

The other factor is twist rate. If you stick to short, light bullets, no problem. Trying to shoot any of the modern "slinky" bullets will result in VERY poor grouping because the slow twist of the "standard" Hornet will not stabilize them, especially at the sort of velocities obtainable from heavy bullets in a tiny case like the .22 Hornet or even the larger .218 Bee.

In a Lee Enfield action, I doubt you will have any problems with either the chamber pressure or the back-thrust from these minuscule cartridges.

I owned one of the Lithgow-built, SMLE-based, .22 Hornet repeaters for several years. NOT very pretty, but it shot very nice little groups. Excellent for keeping the crows off the new-born lambs on the relatives farm. The ammo I was using was Australian "Riverbrand" stuff assembled on Sako brass.

The magazines appeared to be the "Savage" design from the old Model 340, but I can't be sure. BIGGEST problem with the Lithgow Hornet was that the large exposed lead "soft-point" would occasionally snag during feeding. Being built on a SMLE action, it was quite a heavy rifle for its calibre, but very pleasant to shoot.

[newcastle]

Update from me - I received a bolt head from a forummer here (thank you sir) and have ordered a barrel. Won't be seeing the smith who (may be) doing this work until Easter. Quick question looking for a measurement if possible. The No.4 Sight base has slots which slide over the two lugs are not machined away on the issue barrel. Can anyone please measure for me (accurately) the diameter of the barrel at this point ACROSS THE LUGS. Ie from outside of lug to outside of lug as if that was the external diameter of the barrel.
Attachment 70275

[Sentryduty]

If you do not get an answer in the next 6 hours, I can take the measurement from my No.4 project rifle which is currently stripped and easy to measure. I can also sample another No.4 that I have just to verify.

[Sentryduty]

Actual measurement is 0.731" on the front of the lug and it widens to 0.736" at the rear.

Does that answer your question?