Odds of finding an MK3 charger bridge?

[Roy]

Years ago I remember one of the parts stores online in the US had charger bridges advertised. They had a barrel full of cut through SMLE receivers.

[obsidian8]

Probably about the same as when this post started.... Slim to none

Heh Had to try, someone from the forum might have some that needs finding 1st. Keeping my fingers crossed so I can do a restoration. She shoots good though when I slid the tip of a 303 round it went all the way to the brass @ 25m I got MOA of 7/8" but I wasnt really supported since I recently aquired it, just wanted to see if it would blow up or something. Hopefully I can get a year out of it before I get her re barreled, plus I reload 303. I have a no4 that the bullet doesnt go all the way in the muzzle and keyholes (thinking needs to be recrowned as not even reloads fly strait).

Roy-Keeping my eyes peeled

[Brian Dick]

I have lots of cut bodies here if you want to tackle removing a charger bridge and reinstalling it. It's not a job for the faint of heart.

Your No.4 has throat erosion from cordite which is causing the keyholing. It's not the muzzle. I'd take a wild *** guess you're using boat tail projectiles. Switch to flat base and that should cure it.

---------- Post added at 10:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 AM ----------

Almost forgot. Go to Sarco and get one of the RFI SMLE barrels while they still have them. They are excellent. I've installed a ton of them with nary a complaint.

[obsidian8]

I have lots of cut bodies here if you want to tackle removing a charger bridge and reinstalling it. It's not a job for the faint of heart.

Your No.4 has throat erosion from cordite which is causing the keyholing. It's not the muzzle. I'd take a wild *** guess you're using boat tail projectiles. Switch to flat base and that should cure it.

---------- Post added at 10:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 AM ----------

Almost forgot. Go to Sarco and get one of the RFI SMLE barrels while they still have them. They are excellent. I've installed a ton of them with nary a complaint.

Oh Hey Brian! I'm the guy who email ya last month or so about installing a newer barrel on a no4 and how sarco no longer had em and maybe getting a T mount on it Any-who, you are right, the rifle has throat erosion as I made a casting several years ago at .314 i believe and I tried using Hornady's .312 150 gr and 174 gr with no luck (which both have a flat base). I was using min. powder loads and I dont believe I was crimping them. I was actually thinking of crimping some older reloads and see how they fly. Part of the reason I was thinking it might be the rifling at muzzle is b.c the rifling seems very faint on the cast and doesnt seem to really go to the very end. Even when I shine the light doesnt seem there's very lil to no definition to the groove. Since the barrel might be trash already and it's only 2 groove, what if just touched up the grooves in the muzzle end all the way from where there's little definition to the crown to see if I notice much of a difference? So I guess another question i could ask before I spend time doing that is "If the bullet is traveling down the barrel normally and the crown if frakked up, would that make the bullet keyhole or just shoot inaccurately OR if the bullet has a bad start from the start and every thing down the barrel is fine, would bullet keyholing still be the end result? Anywho I'll give you a call about the bridges as I'll have some ?s and might be faster to speak. Yea I was eyeballing them barrels on Sarco just for near future replacement now that I go some Tax $ back Thanks again Brian!