Thread: Factory ammo overcharge ?

And put a tight cleaning rod slowly through the barrel. I suspect the third shot wasnt the problem, it was a squib load on the second. And your third shot suffered the consequences. A tight cleaning rod may give some indication the barrel now has a bulge.

Originally Posted by No.3

That and weigh the empty cases, one might be thicker somewhere giving less capacity? Can't have been a major overcharge as the brass or rifle didn't let go, but do not shoot it until its been inspected by someone who knows Lee Enfields. They behave differently and fail in different places to a front locking action. Also quarantine the remaining ammo - it might need to go back for assessment by the factory. Take a photo or two of your brothers mug as well before it heels. Something is very much not right there, might not be the ammo at fault but lucky to not have had a catastrophic let go. Did you sight the target between shots to make sure you hit it or did you only pull it after the third round?

was a fresh target and we were watching only holes on paper were first 2 shots about 1.5 inch apart @ 100meter 3rd shot never made paper . and yes i plan i getting rifle checked out to by a gunsmith to make sure no damage was done before i shoot again

Originally Posted by Husky1600#2

And put a tight cleaning rod slowly through the barrel. I suspect the third shot wasnt the problem, it was a squib load on the second. And your third shot suffered the consequences. A tight cleaning rod may give some indication the barrel now has a bulge.

2nd shot hit target so i dont think it was that unless some part of projectile was left behind

Good plan, what was the bullet style? What used to happen at times like this when we were using the old metal FMJ and had clipped the tip off for a de-facto hollow point was that the core would sod off leaving the cup behind. Known issue which got a similar result to what you described - boot like a mule, loud boom and smoke everywhere if you were lucky. Obstructed bore effectively.

Originally Posted by No.3

Good plan, what was the bullet style? What used to happen at times like this when we were using the old metal FMJ and had clipped the tip off for a de-facto hollow point was that the core would sod off leaving the cup behind. Known issue which got a similar result to what you described - boot like a mule, loud boom and smoke everywhere if you were lucky. Obstructed bore effectively.

was using winchester 180grn soft points

Originally Posted by No.3

Good plan, what was the bullet style? What used to happen at times like this when we were using the old metal FMJ and had clipped the tip off for a de-facto hollow point was that the core would sod off leaving the cup behind. Known issue which got a similar result to what you described - boot like a mule, loud boom and smoke everywhere if you were lucky. Obstructed bore effectively.

A shooting magazine did a test on that, they cut back the bullet more and more until they were flush with the top of the neck and still the whole projectile launch out of the barrel.
So in the end they popped a cut-down projectile up the barrel with a length of rod then heated the barrel until the lead melted and ran out of the barrel leaving just the jacket behind.
They then fired a normal round and nothing happened - the empty jacket got swaged into the rifling.

Can’t recall what particular rifle was used but suspect a 30-06.

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

A shooting magazine did a test on that, they cut back the bullet more and more until they were flush with the top of the neck and still the whole projectile launch out of the barrel.
So in the end they popped a cut-down projectile up the barrel with a length of rod then heated the barrel until the lead melted and ran out of the barrel leaving just the jacket behind.
They then fired a normal round and nothing happened - the empty jacket got swaged into the rifling.

Can’t recall what particular rifle was used but suspect a 30-06.

relative WANTED a burst barrel for demonstrating at MSC firearms lectures......@10 ring MAY have even been party to this one????
they plugged SMLE barrel,tied to tree and fired..nothing,blew it out..tried it again..same result,in the end they THREADED a bolt into muzzle and finnaly managed to burst barrel..the old SMLE is such a loose action it just sort of let the pressure out in all previous attempts
dont try this at home folks....

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

A shooting magazine did a test on that, they cut back the bullet more and more until they were flush with the top of the neck and still the whole projectile launch out of the barrel.
So in the end they popped a cut-down projectile up the barrel with a length of rod then heated the barrel until the lead melted and ran out of the barrel leaving just the jacket behind.
They then fired a normal round and nothing happened - the empty jacket got swaged into the rifling.

Can’t recall what particular rifle was used but suspect a 30-06.

Ymmv... some round and rifle combos were tolerant, others not so much. Very common to find bulges in .243 barrels for some reason, found about 5 now. More than any other caliber!

Most likely he just didn't have the butt properly into his shoulder.
Or let it off before he meant to.

actually you have very good point there B..... held correctly a scoping wouldnt happen without disconnecting shoulder sort of deal....

Maybe ol mate didn't have him self sorted before the trigger pull and coped a scope to the eye socket?
I've shot lots of factory ammo and never had a random
Round go buck wild lol.

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

A shooting magazine did a test on that, they cut back the bullet more and more until they were flush with the top of the neck and still the whole projectile launch out of the barrel.
So in the end they popped a cut-down projectile up the barrel with a length of rod then heated the barrel until the lead melted and ran out of the barrel leaving just the jacket behind.
They then fired a normal round and nothing happened - the empty jacket got swaged into the rifling.

Can’t recall what particular rifle was used but suspect a 30-06.

That would be a test of your copper solvent !