2-groove barrels

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Just unpacked a couple of "pre-loved" 2-groove No4 barrels.Internally, both are excelleny . They have not bee "bobbed".

Both appear to have been pulled off their actions by the Village plumber; "relief" grooves that look like they were cut with a hacksaw, Stillson "tooth-marks"; the usual.
The cosmetically better-looking of the pair appears to have Long Branch stamped and is dated '42.

They are both destined for rebuilding "bitza" rifles for service match shooting. Now, who is making / selling Mk Vll equivalent bullets, these days?

Any thoughts?

[CINDERS]

Hi Bruce,
I'm not sure on whether the Sellier Bellot projie is the Highland by another name these though being a FMJBT have and open rear so would I surmise upset a bit I shot the Highlands in my comp No.4's they fly very well.
Sadly as you know the chap who tried to resurrect Taipan Projectiles closed it down due to thieves and break ins and damaged equipment.

They were the best projies I came across being .312" 174gn HPFB they shot beautifully I managed to have an original 100 from Malcolm Bones day and squirrelled another 400 odd before the bust just could not afford to buy 2000 of them.
I also lucked onto 400 174gn FMJBT's Highlands a little while ago (3 years) so have @500 of them tucked away for a rainy day but the bulk of my 303 are Sierra's which can be fickle depending on load.

I have had good success with the Hornady .312" SPFB 150gn they fly very well indeed I've only shot them to 500m out of my 2 groove No.4's they go pretty good.
Have a look at the Projectile Warehouse in S.A speak to Rusty (08) 7325 0390 they helped me out and have a large selection of projies on hand I was told Hornady were not making the 168gn .308 A Max anymore by my G/S.
This proved to be a fib as I got 500 from Rusty and they had plenty more in stock it's what my APRS shoots although I tried the 168gn FMJ and luckily it is the same POA, pretty disappointed in my G/S saying they could not get them!

See pic how I load them with a medium crimping into the cannular.

[Bindi2]

Bruce in Oz
Hornady FMJBT 174 gn projectiles are Mk8.
I use a pointing die and a nib to open the BT up turning the Mk8 into a Mk7.

[Sapper740]

This probably won't help you guys in Oz but Midway has Hornady 168 gr. .308" A-Max bullets in stock. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010720565?pid=437736
I haven't heard that Hornady will stop production of these bullets or if Midway is just selling the last of their stock. I never cease to be surprised that with all the milsurp rifles shooting 7.7 mm bullets that we don't have greater variety in finding bullets for reloading. Two of my favorite bullets for reloading .303 British are no longer available: the Hornady 150 gr. SST and the Berger 180 gr. copper solid, thank God Sierra is still making SMK's.

[browningautorifle]

I use a pointing die and a nib to open the BT up turning the Mk8 into a Mk7.

I'd like to watch that. I can imagine how it works but we have no such toys around here, or we'd have made use.