Lead Projectiles for 303 lee enfield Mk1/Mk1*

[Parashooter]

If you're hung up on getting exactly 210 grains, all you have to do is adjust the alloy content when casting 314299. Throw in a bit less tin/antimony or add some pig lead and you can get 210 pretty easily. Of course you might find it shoots better cast harder/lighter, but that depends on your load and your barrel.

FWIW, the original bullet was nominally 215 grains, not 210.

[Sawfish]

Montana Bullet Works makes top quality bullets, which they offer in a number of diameters. I am in the process of trying different styles/diameters to determine the best shooter in my Enfield. Will order a mould once I settle on the bullet.

[NuJudge]

yeah, I feel Groove dia. is the go too ; i'm still chasing a 210 grain bullet mold 314 dia. though , and have been told about a bloke in Qld who custom makes stuff but before i spend $$ SOMEONE must have done all this already - ! why reinvent the wheel ? A mold and handles , oversize sizing die , freight etc . is'nt cheap.

These people make them in 4 and 5 cavity aluminum molds:
.314 -.316, NOE Bullet Moulds

[docbob]

Greenant,
I have good results with the gas checked Lyman 314299, sized .311 & 16-18 grains of 2400 powder. Shot My BSA 1916 SMLE today and got the usual good results. Shoots even better in my LSA 1918 SMLE, my Pattern '14 & my No. 4 Mk II.
Good luck,
DocBob

[garyohartnett]

gday mate ,

all I shoot is ex military rifles with cast bullets .

I use wheel weights or shot gun pellets ,cast and dropped into water to quench.

I dry them off and put them in a baking tray with a squirt of liquid alox .

I use hornady 30 cal gas checks and I seat the projectiles so the bullet is just in the neck covering the gas check.

you can get a 210 mold in the size you want from cast bullet engineering in Australia look it up on the net ,nice bloke and excellent molds ,
you can slug you barrel send him the slug and get a custom size , considering the workmanship involved they are fairly priced .

I have one(several) .I put 9.5 grains of ap70 NO FILLER .
standard stocked 1925 Lithgow open sights shoots under an inch of the bench over 50 meters and opens up to 3"at 200.does the same in my eddystone p14.

for all my other enfields I use the same lead with a lee 185 mold with 11.5 grains of ap70 .

one of my rifles will punch the same hole at 50 and a 2 " group at 200.heavy barrel full wood . competition bedded (as per an excellent book by another forum member rnz) ,parker hale sights .

my isreali mauser in 7.62 ( 30cal ) uses a 180 grain lee mold with 11.5 of ap70 .

my 30 06 model of 1917 use the same mold but with 13.2 grains of red dot .

my second 30 06 model of 1917 uses the same mold but with 16 grains of 2400.

all shoot under the inch at 50. and a consistent inch at 100.

judging by my empty boxes of primers and the 3 jam tins of used primers I have shot over 8500 rounds with out a single misfire or mishap in my various rifles .

a friend at the range uses similar loads in a 7 mm08 and m44 omark.


by the way I also shoot a 310 cadet with the cast bullet engineering mold with 3.7 grains of ap70 .
same lead same results .

makes the benchrest mob with the million dollar plastic toys green with envy .

ps you should see my father shoot !!!!!!!

its not rocket science .

[seabot2]

Garyohartnett, those are terrific results with your cast loads. I'll try some of your loads. My favorite cast bullet powder has been Unique, but I haven't got the results you are getting. AP70 is the equivalent of Hodgden Universal isn't it?
By the way, what are the prices of powders in Australia. I am paying $32 a pound here in my part of the US.