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  1. #1
    Legacy Member mausernut's Avatar
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    Acceptable Groups

    Not sure if this is where to ask this. Am currently reloading for sporterised BSA No 1 Mk 111 That has a Parker - Hale barrel on it.
    Best groups so far are 2 " or slightly less. My question is should I keep trying for a better load or is this as good as it will ever be?
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    There are a couple dozen variable here that need to be considered. If the rifle is stock and your ammo is good quality reloads, without us being there then those groups are decent... We have to guess at the range and your shooting position, weather conditions...so very many things. Factors in the firer's control and factors outside the firer's control...see?
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member mausernut's Avatar
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    Scope off of bags at a shooting bench. 100 yards sporterised rifle. Have been reloading for awhile now. Have had good luck loading for other rifles. Just wondering how accurate a Lee Enfield can be.

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    Contributing Member mmppres's Avatar
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    2" to some shooters is acceptable as a group. Most hand loaders keep tring till the shots are touching. each firearm is different. small change could be just the grain or two in powder or even shape of bullet.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mausernut View Post
    Just wondering how accurate a Lee Enfield can be.
    Well, I know the man that had the record 1000 yd kill in Korea with a #4T rifle...in our regiment. So they can do a great deal.

    There's lots of guys here that shoot them for competition in Australiaicon for instance, they'll be along shortly I should think.
    Regards, Jim

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    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    I can hold an inch at a hundred with my T a friend shot it as well and clover leafed a 3 shotter, as Jim said lots of variables here as you just say scope we do not know how it is mounted or type of scope is it one of those "No drill mounts".
    Have you had the rifle for a while or is it just a recent addition, what is the condition of the bore, cond of the draws, are all the screws tight meaning the front trigger guard screw including the inner barrel band, butt screw as well, head space is this correct etc.
    Have you walked the scope round the target to see if it is tracking correctly or is it a brand new scope just purchased or came with the rifle.
    What load are you using most of us here use the 174SMK's as with any rifle they can show preference how many loads have you tried with it I used to use 2208 (Varget) but get better results with 2209 (H4350) as it burns more progressively, primers, cases used do you crimp the rounds some do some don't.

    Have you let someone else shoot the rifle and if they did what were their results!
    Cheers.

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    Legacy Member ireload2's Avatar
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    If you test the resolving ability of the human eye at 100 yards (100 meters is close enough too) you will find that a healty normal human eye can barely resolve alternating 1 inch wide back and white bars.
    That means 1" is about the best you can manage to align sights with a target without using a scope sight.
    I watched 2 world class women shooters testing Eley ammo lots with Anschutz rifles many years ago. Their 10 shot groups hovered around 1 inch at 100 yards. If you put aperture sights on your Lee Enfield you would be able to hold that type of precision with a quality barrel and quality ammo. Given that your groups are larger at 2", the extra 1 inch dispersion is a combination of your vision, less that the best sights, less than a perfect barrel and less than perfect ammo fired in less than perfect conditions.
    I would say compared to most iron sighted rifles yours is very good.
    Rather than blame your rifle or ammo I would expect that 2 things would improve your groups. Add a quality set of aperture sights and shoot off of a quality bench rest.
    I bought a high quality bench rest and leather bags about 30 years ago. The result was instant accuracy improvement for all of my ammo and all of my rifles.
    Expensive yes, but I think mine has paid for itself several times over by the components saved while performing load development.


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    Legacy Member mausernut's Avatar
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    The rifle had a Parker Hale mount with it when I bought it. Scope is a Bushnell Elite 3200. I shoot off of bags at a bench. The loads are with H4895 running from 36 to 39.5 grains. Federal 210 Match primers 150 grain Hornady bullets. I am using 150 grain bullets and a little faster burning powders because this gun has had a 20.75 " barrel put on by Parker Hale. Thought I had better groups with this gun using the same recipe with 210 primers but the info was lost during renovations. Was trying the match primers because of 70 to 80 fps velocity variations. Just for information here is a group from my 6.5 x 55 1899 Oberndorf with iron sights and PMC target ammunitiiion.


    Attachment 82954

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    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    I checked Nick Harveys 9th Ed and he lists IMR 4895 with a 150gn at 38 ~ 42gns so going by that info you supplied your on the low side I did look at the 06H (supposedly 4895's equivalent) info from ADI but you cannot cross reference between burn rates to any real degree.
    I have used the Hornady 150gn Spire points in my No.4's and they go really well being .312" all I can say to you is to start at 38gns go up in .2's up to max till you hit the sweet spot all the while checking for pressure, I have used BR-4's and 210's and 210 Match all with good results.
    So its range time till you get there the 6.5 x 55's are good shooters

    I also run a file on my computer with all loads and jumps for the 12 rifles I use along with a thumb drive which I load the data onto every time I update the info on the computer usually barrel counts, scores and weather conditions

  12. #10
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ireload2 View Post
    I bought a high quality bench rest and leather bags about 30 years ago.
    I on the other hand use two shotgun shot bags filled with a plastic bag and sand. As stated, the difference between using what happens to be on the rage, freehand and a proper rest are vast. There are so many other variables, we'd need to be there with you to see what's happening.
    Regards, Jim

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