I got a 30/303 RCBS FL die about 30 years ago in a trade and with one thing leading to another I decided I needed a reamer and a rifle to go with them. Basically it is a 303 FL die but neck reduced to size and hold 30 cal bullets.
I got a Elliott 303 Brit reamer on ebay and had the neck/throat reworked for 30 cal bullets with a 2 1/2 deg throat so the loaded round will be at the rifling on bolt close rather than the bullet having to map out a course of action between the case and the start of the rifling.
Built a rifle on P14 action using an No 7 contour 30 cal barrel and I headspaced it to just close on a Winchester 303 unfired case as I did not want the shoulder moving forward on firing and shortening the case life in the process. It shot 3/4" with first load I tried using Sierra 168 MKs.
Thusly I can set my FL die to just touch shell holder and the shoulder is only moved about .002" back to "unfired" position which will increase the case life tremendously.
In the process now of doing the same thing to a No 4 I obtained that was suffering from an extreme case of Corditus and lack of TLC.
I read a print article written in 80s wherein it describes a heavy barrel "under the wood" configuration for the No 4. Anybody ever seen such? If so how heavy or oversize was it "under the wood"?
To be sure I am fully aware of the fact that should I chamber a milsurp 303 with .311+ bullets things can get exciting but I have enough brass to keep me going for years if I don't lose it to big chambers and massive shoulder movement shortening their life span due to oversizing.
I took this into consideration with my configuration and thusly a milsurp 303 round won't chamber either as the bullet hits the shorter new cut .3085 throat bringing things to a quick halt before the bolt starts to turn. Thusly a 303 won't even chamber.
As well a couple months ago I picked up a P14 that someone had made into a 303 Epps and did a spiffy little job of sporterizing it removing the ears and cutting barrel back to about 20" and shortening the stock and a very nice job of installing a recoil pad and it fits me perfectly.
With 303 Epps FL dies being a mint I think I will just rebarrel it and make it into a Scout Rifle configuration which in all liklihood will shoot as well as the first rifle I built utilizing a new barrel rather than the military barrel which were never known for good accuracy.
I got a Elliott 303 Brit reamer on ebay and had the neck/throat reworked for 30 cal bullets with a 2 1/2 deg throat so the loaded round will be at the rifling on bolt close rather than the bullet having to map out a course of action between the case and the start of the rifling.
Built a rifle on P14 action using an No 7 contour 30 cal barrel and I headspaced it to just close on a Winchester 303 unfired case as I did not want the shoulder moving forward on firing and shortening the case life in the process. It shot 3/4" with first load I tried using Sierra 168 MKs.
Thusly I can set my FL die to just touch shell holder and the shoulder is only moved about .002" back to "unfired" position which will increase the case life tremendously.
In the process now of doing the same thing to a No 4 I obtained that was suffering from an extreme case of Corditus and lack of TLC.
I read a print article written in 80s wherein it describes a heavy barrel "under the wood" configuration for the No 4. Anybody ever seen such? If so how heavy or oversize was it "under the wood"?
To be sure I am fully aware of the fact that should I chamber a milsurp 303 with .311+ bullets things can get exciting but I have enough brass to keep me going for years if I don't lose it to big chambers and massive shoulder movement shortening their life span due to oversizing.
I took this into consideration with my configuration and thusly a milsurp 303 round won't chamber either as the bullet hits the shorter new cut .3085 throat bringing things to a quick halt before the bolt starts to turn. Thusly a 303 won't even chamber.
As well a couple months ago I picked up a P14 that someone had made into a 303 Epps and did a spiffy little job of sporterizing it removing the ears and cutting barrel back to about 20" and shortening the stock and a very nice job of installing a recoil pad and it fits me perfectly.
With 303 Epps FL dies being a mint I think I will just rebarrel it and make it into a Scout Rifle configuration which in all liklihood will shoot as well as the first rifle I built utilizing a new barrel rather than the military barrel which were never known for good accuracy.
