Sizing die for the .303 Enfield

[ptf18]

I'll be reloading for a No4 Mk2 Enfield soon. I understand that these rifles had "generous" chambers and if one reloads for them case life is... not so good.

From what I gather neck sizing is recomended to increase case life but I would like to know if having the sizing die custom cut for my rifles chamber would increase case life.

Thoughts?

Information

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[Parashooter]

All that's really needed is to back off a regular F.L. sizer a turn and adjust it down gradually until the empty, sized case will chamber with zero end-play, easily felt if you practice closing the bolt on test cases while you screw in the die about 1/16 turn at a time. Holding the trigger back helps feeling closing resistance without having to overcome the mainspring.



The ROF No.4 Mk.2 rifles, made carefully during peacetime, don't normally have particularly oversize chambers (or bores). Next to adjusting the sizer carefully, the greatest enhancement to case longevity comes from avoiding higher pressure than is actually needed for whatever kind of shooting you're about.

[MKV111Z]

Hi

I believe ROF Maltrby had the worst record of oversize chambers dies I use Lee collet dies for neck sizing really good and leave my Lyman dies in the box set up for when a full length rezise is required.

Hope this helps.

H

[rugersworld]

+1 on the Lee collet dies. I have found in the past, and is shown in the picture, that FL sizing or allowing a FL die the touch the shoulder results in a shoulder of a different shape. On my cases the shoulder never matched the factory chamber shoulder. One reason I went to neck sizing only, so the shoulder didnt get work hardened.

[MK Wheelie]

Another solution to help extend case life due to looser chambers, is o-ringing your new cases to fireform. Then neck size the cases from there. The o-ring holds the case tight to the bolt face, the case expands to the shape of your chamber.

[Johnny Peppers]

For many years I reloaded everything I shot with the die set just as Parashooter described with no problems. Back the die out a couple of turns, lubricate the case generously, and start trying the case as you turn the die back down in about quarter turn increments. You can see your progress in the lubricant on the case neck, and when you feel the body of the case touch the die back off just slightly. You will have plenty of sized neck surface to hold the bullet. I loaded the .22-250 this way before it was a commercial cartridge, and even with the short neck I had no problems.