Old Age Comes To Us All....

[harry mac]

...and I suppose rifles aren't immune to it. About two years ago I had my SMLE restocked, as the draws had become compressed and it started spreading its shots all over the target; this seemed to sort it out and normal grouping was restored.
I took it to the range yesterday and not only were the bullets spread all over the target, but not all the holes were round. Some were decidedly oval. I strongly suspect the barrel has had it, but I'll try it again next time I'm out with some flat bottomed bullets to see if that has any effect.
I've had the rifle since 1996 and I haven't got a clue how many rounds I've put through it in that time, it's got to be a few thousand, and there's no way of telling how many rounds it had through it in its previous life.
So, the options are;
a) Rebarrel
b) Deactivate and sell on, or
c) Scrap the barreled action and bolt and strip the rest for spares.
I may be in the market for a "new" SMLE shortly.
In any event I'll be sorry to see it go.

Information

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[mmppres]

Harry do you have access to cast bullets. I have a smle that has a sewer pipe bore that can not shoot jacket bullets but with cast I get great groups. So that way it keeps the old war horse in actions an they are so fun to shoot.

[Brian Dick]

Are you shooting boat tail projectiles Harry? Try some flat base if so and see if it improves.

[CINDERS]

Hornady 150gn Spire points (lead tipped) Flat base at .312" where as you 174 SMK's are around the .310 mark the Hornady's fly still accurate to 400yds I did not try them any further than this distance swapped to 174gn SMK's think I was using AR 2208, RP case, Fed 210M (Match primer)

[bigduke6]

Harry,

Dont deac, its the last resort and a bit OTT if its just the barrel, I have a barrel if you need one.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

A large part of the problem is that these rifles made after about 1912, were BUILT around the Mk7 cartridge, new sights, magazine and stock/barrel bedding arrangements. Changing from Mk7 ball to anything else will have you chasing your tail.

Any commercial, flat-based, soft or hollow-pointed bullet will NOT come close to sealing the bore.

The open-based Mk7 only partially seals the bore on launch because 40 thousand-plus PSI up the rear tends to "upset" the last 4mm of the bullet and sort-of expand it into the grooves, which, as per SPECIFICATION can run out to .321" in diameter in some cases.

All of this is consistent with the thinking that followed on from the original, soft-lead Minie Ball that started out at just under bore diameter before being rammed down over a charge of charcoal, and then, on launch, had it "skirts" pushed out to groove diameter to "engage" the rifling.

The problem with "bore-riding" a hard-jacketed bullet driven by hot-burning Cordite is that the incomplete seal allows some gas blow-by at launch, thus contributing to accelerated throat erosion.

Short of stumbling upon a secret stash of Mk7 bullets, find the thinnest-jacketed commercial bullet in the 168-175gn range.

Then, find the FASTEST-burning propellant recommended for that bullet and do a little experimentation.

If the barrel is "shabby", it probably will not shoot well with cast bullets, and there's the added misery of fouling.

The other long-shot is bullets originally meant for the 7.62 x 54R Russian job. These are the "correct" diameter, however, all I have seen here in Oz is FMJ BOAT-TAILS, not quite what you want. "Barnaul" in Russia used to list a flat-based bullet that seemed to be the ticket, but I have never seen any in the flesh. See also our friends in Serbia.

Or, find a "better" barrel.

[muffett.2008]

Harry, what you haven't told us is what ammo you are using, Milsurp or reloads.
If reloads you may find they are not being punched fast enough, use a cronograph and check, even check the Milsurp velocity.
You need them moving at 2440 fps or slightly quicker.

[harry mac]

Tahnks for all the replies so far. I've had a couple of concrete offers of help from people on here and I'm grateful for that. Between us, we should be able to get my old faithful shooting again.
The ammo I was using is a previously proven load of N140 under a PPU 174 grn FMJ BT (previously chrono'ed at 2370fps). I've got some 180grn Pro-Hunters (flat based), and some 180 grn S&B FMJ (boat tailed, but "flatter" than the PPU offering) I can try in it, but I think I'll take up the offer of having the barrel guaged first; there's no sense in wasting bullets and powder if it still wont shoot.

[Peter Laidler]

Harry, I feel the same way. I have a 1969 Mini Cooper S in my garage. There's no radio, no heater - so I don't drive it in the cold, it's sooooo uncomfortable and........., well, in short, it's crap. But people wave when you're driving it and when it's parked up, those that remember them in their macho heydays don't stop talking about them. If only I had a few pence for every nostalgic ooooh and ahhhhh I heard I'd be rich. It really deserves better than my ownership but I love it to bits. Probably a bit like your SMLE, I know that my Cooper S ain't going to set the world on fire with its prize winning but I enjoy it, love it and know every little nuance and foible that it can throw at me (which it does, regularly!). I'll keep it and enjoy it as it is and use it occasionally. Just like I hope you do with your No1 rifle.

Since a couple of forumers have asked, just put SKD220G into the search thinggy and there's a picture!

[harry mac]

Too right Peter, "there are many like it, but this one is mine".