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Thread: Handloading for the SMLE Mk5 #1 Jungle Carbine

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  1. #11
    Legacy Member Cobbershot's Avatar
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    Thanks Cinders. I have emailed Taipan about a week and a half ago requesting info, but have not had an answer yet...they must be busy catching up with production. I used Taipan projies in my 30.30 pistol some years ago and they were great. I certainly want to give the new production a run. Are the Taipan 174gr HPFB a Match or Hunting bullet? I’m not really interested in target shooting...just plinking and hunting. If I was to join the fox hunts down around Albany and those areas, I’d use my .223 or .243Win rather than my .303 rifle.

    I haven’t considered 2209, because I have very little of it and plenty of the 06 and 08, and they are both listed prominently on the ADI website. I thought about 8208 but I agree...too fast. Recoil is not an issue as I won’t fire anymore than about 50 rounds in a session and have a slip on recoil pad that tames recoil nicely.

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  3. #12
    Contributing Member smle addict's Avatar
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    Hello Cobbershot,

    I have a mild target/fun load I run through my No5. I pulled this from the Hornady #10 manual: 150 gr Hornady Softpoints (.312 diameter) over 30.0 grains of IMR 3031. I'm afraid I don't know what the Australianicon equivalent is for the IMR powders. It's a mild-mannered load that is fairly accurate at 100 yards. I also have a Trailboss load that is very light; 11.5 grains trailboss over the same 150 Hornady. However, I find I have to set the rear sight to 600 yards in order to hit center of bull at 100.

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  5. #13
    Legacy Member Cobbershot's Avatar
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    As an aside to my reloading questions...

    This afternoon I sat down to measure and trim the cases I have been loading (PPU new). I expected a little bit of stretching after two loads so no problems there as max stretch seemed to by around 10 thou - 15 thou. What has got me scratching my head a bit is the change in the shoulder of the cases after firing. Again, I expected some minor changes from “fire forming”, but the shape of the shoulder seems way out of spec to me.

    In the pic, the case on the bottom is a new unfired component case, whereas the case on the top is a once fired component case from the same pack.

    Is this indicative of a headspace problem, or is it typical of “war time” tolerances or wear on tooling?

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    Legacy Member Daan Kemp's Avatar
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    Looks like a 303 "Improved" chamber - reamed chamber, moved shoulder and expanded case, no more taper. Provides more volume for more propellant. Hardly necessary for a No5 I would think.

    Need other dies for that.

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    Advisory Panel Parashooter's Avatar
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    CS's photo shows a completely normal fired case - unlikely from an "improved" chamber.



    Since a new .303 case "headspaces" on its rim, the forward location of the chamber's shoulder is irrelevant to headspace. Handloaders may extend case life by adjusting die to avoid sizing shoulder more than necessary for smooth chambering ("neck sizing"). See https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...101-for-.303-s

    Photo below compares standard .303 Britishicon to .303 Epps Improved -


  8. #16
    Legacy Member Cobbershot's Avatar
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    Ok, that eases my mind...I thought I would have to start searching for a bolt head or two.

    I’m not seeing any case issues, other than a mild stretch which I expected, so I’ll adopt the old adage of, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

    Parashooter...I use the LEE Neck Size Collet Dies, so the shoulder it left alone, although I think I may have to get a FLS eventually.
    SMLE Addict...the ADI equivalent (within 5%) is Benchmark 2.
    http://www.adi-powders.com.au/powder-equivalents/
    unfortunately I think 3031 is a bit fast for my needs. I intend loading some cast loads (around Brinell 16 hardness) that I intend to try powder coating, and using LEE’s cast load formulae, Trailboss will be excellent for subsonic loads. My mate and I experimented with this in .223, .243, 30.30, .308 and 8mm Mauser with pretty reasonable success, although we didn’t powder coat our cast bullets, we used LEE Liquid Alex lube.

    Thank you to all for your knowledge and assistance...although I’ve been a shooter and reloaded for 40 years, the .303 is very new to me. I’ve always been an advocate of “the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask”, so I’d rather ask than blunder along and make a silly mistake.
    Last edited by Cobbershot; 09-19-2020 at 07:25 PM.

  9. #17
    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    303 Epps

    I looked through one of my books on reloading actually got caned by an individual here with "How many reloading books do you need!" well this is why as you may not be able to find the information on the web.
    They suggest the No 1 MkIII and No.4's can handle the Epps but its more for the P-14 or say a custom Mauser build I would load these down till you get the best grouping and stick with that a ladder test is the easiest way plenty of info on how to on the net.
    As far as making a silly mistake that some reloaders have you've gone the right course been at this game about the same as you and had a couple of hic ups but 40 years ago there was no web nor a forum like this.
    People do not appreciate the actual event that is taking place scant inches in front of their nose and eyes where we are talking about 0000's Lbs/Psi in a fraction of a second and if you get it wrong well the human body cannot take those kind of pressures.
    Hope this helps Cobbershot, keep us up dated on your progress and targets.
    Last edited by CINDERS; 09-19-2020 at 09:39 PM.

  10. #18
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CINDERS View Post
    "How many reloading books do you need!"
    I personally have a half dozen major books plus cartridges of the world publications and all manner of small soft cover comic book types...lots of them. How else do you cross check? Then there's my record book...
    Regards, Jim

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  12. #19
    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    In my room there are 15 dedicated reloading & ballistic manuals plus Litz, Manns book, Elmer Keith's books and probably another dozen or so squirelled away in boxes they are a great source for long lost information that you cannot find on the web or have gone to the grave with the original publisher of their works.

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  14. #20
    Legacy Member Cobbershot's Avatar
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    Once again, thanks Cinders. I will cross check data with the small number of reference books I have and take it from there.

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