Am I expecting to much from my Enfield?

[dmclark523]

I'm trying to take this thing deer hunting this fall, with cast boolits, but it's not looking so hot.

I'm loading up my SMLE mk3 (303 Brit), with 27gn of IMR4064. Getting 1675fps, but grouping within 4 inches. at about 25 yards, however, I group about an 1 inch.
I settled on that after extensive testing from 21gns (1300fps) to 31gns (1950fps).

I'm frustrated to the max with this darn thing, and can't seem to wrap my head around what I'm doing wrong.

For those interested, its a 1941 Lithgow, barrel is about 85%, very little pitting, quite shiny. Handles PPU ammo very
well, grouping about 3/4 to 1 inch at the same distance (50yds), at 2400fps, appox.

Barrel is sized to 3.125, bullet is an 180gn from Accurate mold at 3.14. Water dropping straight wheel weights,
which comes out to a 23-24bhn, according to my Cabin Tree tester. I know it's a little hard, but air-cooling the same
boolits results in a 13bhn, but I'm developing leading at the end of the barrel after about 20 rounds.

Lube is from LSstuff, 50/50 beeswax/alox. Pan-dipped, gas-checked.

Anything i'm missing? I mean, with cast boolits is this about as good as I'm gonna get it? Should I change alloy? Change powder? I'm about ready to trash this whole project....
Lyman Cast handbook advises AA5744, but I couldn't even hit paper with the loads suggest there. I am probably going to try IMR4198 next.

[PAT303]

I used a similar powder in my enfield,AR2208 but with COW over the powder and my rifle shot as good as it could,AR2207 which is sold as H4198 in the US is my go to powder for the 303,start low,20grns for practise and up to 28grns for power and I've yet to find an LE that didn't like it.Any load over 25grns will shoot through deer size game from any angle.With your cases are you sizing them too tight?,use a Lee collet sizer with about .002 of boolit pinch for hunting,if your using dies designed for jacketed your cast will size down to .310 or smaller in the neck and won't shoot worth a damn. Pat

[Gtek]

I am with PAT303. If you have any still loaded, pull a couple and very carefully MICROMETER bases. If not load a couple using previous set up for duplication. You very well may be losing it in neck. 50/50- Javelina / NRA? Leading at the end usually an indicator of lube failure (run out of), but that could be caused by boolit failure. If you lose your seal early, you blow all the lube out before you get to the end of the pipe. I just made up some of Dr. Fryxell's Beeswax/Moly grease I am dying to try. If you quit it wins! SAY NEVER and figure it out, there is a 6x out there hoping you give up. Gtek

[docone31]

With that Lithgow, the casting is a little small for the bore. Mine likes .317. Two wraps around a .309 sized casting and let dry. The charge seems a little light also.
With bedding and a tight fit, it should do real well at 100yds.

[Boz330]

Another thing you may look at is to just slug the chamber end and push back out the breach. The barrel may be eroded just in front of the chamber. Cream of wheat will help if that is the case. A lot of these guns saw a lot of Cordite ammo and it is tough on the barrel.

Bob

[nhrifle]

My Enfield gave me fits until I started using boolits cast from the Lyman 314299. With gas check and lube, they weigh in between 208 and 210 grains. I size them to .314. My target loads are a light charge of Red Dot, and for full power I like IMR 3031, either of the 4350s, and Varget.

Be sure to look at your muzzle very carefully. Mine was dinged up pretty bad so I cut .100" off and recrowned.