Thread: What the hell is going on here then???

Hey team,

May be one for the SMLE guys here, but check the brass out.



Was shot from this using factory 150gr ammo

Some of the casings are showing a bit of bulging around the case head, other look like the ones above, being bulged on one side and appearing out of square to the eye.

Excess head space? Ir anything to worry about? Brass trashed?

Any questions fire away

Thanks

Normal - not desirable at all, but normal for the Lee Enfield. Remember - this is a military rifle and there wasn't any plan to reload cases back in the trench days, the biggest consideration was being able to jam the round into the thing despite any mud or crap getting in the way. The cases are designed to headspace on the rim, i.e. the case rim is sandwiched between the bolt face and the barrel shank - and then held over to the left hand side of the chamber by the extractor. This is likely why you are seeing the bulge on one side of the case, with the generous chamber dimensions. allowing the thinner case wall to expand over to the RHS of the chamber where the case head section is too thick and strong to expand.

Not desirable in any way if you plan to reload, every time you resize you in some way have to squeeze that bulge back in which works the brass a lot.

Greetings,
Yes undersize brass in an oversize chamber. Unless you are wanting to load full power ammo for some reason light loads should allow you to just neck size. Full length sizing will kill the brass in only a few loads. I can provide some of the loads I use if you are interested.
GPM.

A new wild cat. 303 weird bum

Typical tomato stake rifle with a sloppy chamber

Greetings All,
I was sorting through some of my fired .303 brass to see if any looked like those in the opening post. Some did a little and then I spotted this.

The bright line not far up from the case head is called an incipient head separation. It is where the brass cracks from the inside due to repeated stretching. If the case was loaded again the case would snap in two leaving the front portion in the chamber. It is caused by repeated full length resizing the case after full power loads. It is one reason why .303 shooters often only neck size, keep the loads at the lighter end and check cases carefully inside and out at each load. The case is a CAC likely close to 50 years old. Should really through them out.
Regards Grandpamac.