Lee Enfield no. 4 mk. 1, casting, Lyman 314299, Hi-tek, bore rider, H335

[ammomiser]

Hi everyone. Couple of questions today,
But here is the base info for my inquiry. Have a Lee Enfield no. 4 mk. 1 with .314 grooves and .306 land diameters.

1.using rounds from the Lyman mold 314299 200 grain, would hi-tek coating be accpetable to increase the nose to .306?

2. What is a acceptable tolerance range for the neck of the bullet?

3. Should I size the bullet up to .316 or .315?

4. Will H335 be acceptable for reduced loads?

5. Would it be worth it to get a sizing die for the bullet nose?(not going to push the whole bullet through)

6. Given the dimensions, should I get the 314299 or a custom mold or other?

Thank you.

[sigep1764]

I would size to 315 or 316. The nose should do its job and ride the bore with the bearing surface of the boolit filling the grooves. I just went through the same thing with a 270 Win. Using a bore riding boolit, Lee 277-135 RF, lands of .271 and grooves at .277, sized .279, with the nose coming in at .272. As to H335, the Lyman Cast Bullet 3rd Edition does not show load data for it in 303 British nor does the Lyman 49th. Somebody else will have to chime in on it.

[ammomiser]

Thank you

[Outpost75]

I have not found H335 a suitable reduced-load powder. It requires that you be able to fill the case to about 85% of capacity.
It works fine in near case-capacity charges in the 7.62x39 and .30-30, but not in the .303 or larger cases.

You are much better off with about 26-30 grs. of 4895, 4064, RL15 or Varget.

[curator]

I concur with Outpost75 about H335 not working very well with reduced charges. I would recommend IMR3031, or AA5744 for best cast boolit accuracy wiht the .303BR. Increasing the bore ride section of Lyman #314299 to match your rifle's land diameter by powder coating will probably help with accuracy. Even dipping the bore ride section in liquid Alox will give improved accuracy if the nose is less than land diameter. You can also lap your mould for a better fit. Depending on how serious you are, Veral Smith of LBT can cut a custom mould to match your N04's bore/groove. and throat measurements from a throat slug. I have several of his moulds made for my rifles and they make boolits that are way more accurate than anything one can buy "off the shelf."

[JMax]

I have a Long Branch made in 1944 with a 5 groove bore that I shoot the NOE equivalent bullet sized to 314 and use 12.1 gr of Unique with 2 1/2" 10 shot groups at 100 yds. If you have a 2 groove bore then a larger bullet would be in order. I have had two Savage #4s with those barrels and could not get them to group well.

[Oily]

Hi Tek will not build your nose up enough or any. Powder coating will add 1-2 thousands to the entire boolit with 1 coat.

[Bigslug]

NOE offers the same bullet as a 316299 with a .305" nose. Might be a little closer to Nirvana for you. Plain bases and a GC hollow point currently available; waiting on a GC solid run myself.