Bullets tumble upon exit from barrel.

[Flying10uk]

You could contact the vendor and ask for a "Partial Refund" after politely explaining what the problem is with the rifle. The worst possible outcome, in a worse case scenario, of doing this is that the vendor will tell you to "f*** off" and tell you where to stick your Lee Enfield. Hopefully, the vendor will offer you something back or suggest some other solution that is acceptable to you.

[CINDERS]

Hornady make a .312 FBSP which fly very will out to 400M I used them in comps out of my 303's both No.4's and my MkIII and won matches but I feel in all reality bloke your just wasting your time if your a member of a club ask around who may have a half decent tube for sale.
If not then its a case of a new barrel and a competent gunsmith who has worked on the Lee lineage to change it.

I say an experienced gunsmith as many an action has been twised due to incorrect barrel removal procedures done by them and once that happens old bean all you have is a tomato stake Brian Dick is the go to chap here but its up to you how far you want to go with splashing the cash.
Pretty sorry you got a bum deal I got one years ago with a MkIII and a very pitted chamber more fool me in not getting my gunsmith to check it pre sale.

[browningautorifle]

If I don’t have any success there I will look into Criterion or Lothar Walther for a new barrel.

You should be able to find an issue NOS barrel for cheaper, I had one for years and sold it here. I was never going to use it...meaning there are others here that will have a pipe for you. Place a WTB and see...after the ammo test.

[pisco]

Could a recrown fix the problem

[browningautorifle]

Could a recrown fix the problem

His own suggestion post one.

2. Re-crown the barrel (which doesn’t look terrible to my amateur eye).

[bombdoc]

If it were a case of just large groups, then a poor muzzle may be a contributing factor.. and a re-crown would be worth trying. Unfortunately tumbling bullets are symptomatic of more serious problems, particularly with factory ammunition! This is usually down to a lack of spin, which is usually caused by weak engraving of the rifling on the bullet.

As other have mentioned, you may be able to get better results by using Mk7 flat based bullets or cast gas-checked bullets. This is because Privi uses boat tail bullets which have a tapered base and hence have a reduced area of contact between the bullet and the bore. This will however be only a partial fix.. worn bore is worn bore, and as Enfield rifling is usually quite good at dealing with wear, then the wear on your gun seems to be pretty severe..!

That said, it will be worth having the gun looked at and tried with different ammunition! If you can find a gunsmith with the correct wear gauges that would be the best way forward, but better to do it face to face.. diagnosing gun faults via the internet is probably as sensible as diagnosing pregnancy by the same means!

[Brian Dick]

The problem is probably throat erosion caused by cordite ammo combined with Mk.8 boat tail projectiles which is what PPU and S&B ball ammo is loaded with. If you need a replacement barrel, get one of the nos RFI mfg. replacements from Sarco, send it here and I’ll install it for you. I’ve done more than I can count. They are excellent, reasonably priced and will solve your problem.

---------- Post added at 01:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:32 PM ----------

Crap, I was thinking SMLE not No.4. I think they’re out of No.4 replacement barrels. Sorry about that.

[ZT1995]

The problem is probably throat erosion caused by cordite ammo combined with Mk.8 boat tail projectiles which is what PPU and S&B ball ammo is loaded with. If you need a replacement barrel, get one of the nos RFI mfg. replacements from Sarco, send it here and I’ll install it for you. I’ve done more than I can count. They are excellent, reasonably priced and will solve your problem.

---------- Post added at 01:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:32 PM ----------

Crap, I was thinking SMLE not No.4. I think they’re out of No.4 replacement barrels. Sorry about that.

I did check on Sarco’s website just in case, but did not find a barrel for the No. 4. I will likely go the Criterion route, I’ll send you an email with some further questions.

[CINDERS]

As subtle as I am your going to the right bloke to get the rig sorted as I am pretty sure if Brian gets his hands on it he will check it over so it it will come back as good if not better than FTR.