1916 Lee Enfield

[filric48]

Took the Enfield to the range today, Livermore the m48 was way off but the Enfield was spot on. This was my first reload 150gr. 36grs 4895 2" group at 50 yards. Got my new Lyman tumbler it is working as we speak. Now my reloading stuff is complete that is what I tell the wife...LOL

[rspar]

Nice I shoot the same stuff I load for my Garand. That would be 1917 wouldn't it?

[Mssr. Eleganté]

Nice I shoot the same stuff I load for my Garand. That would be 1917 wouldn't it?

A Lee Enfield from 1916 would be an SMLE in .303 British.

[bruceflinch]

IIRC the M1917 was designed for a 173 gr bullet, the Garand for a 150.

But hey, nice results!

[Dr.Mauser]

Shootin nice I see

[rojocorsa]

IIRC the M1917 was designed for a 173 gr bullet, the Garand for a 150.

But hey, nice results!

Bruce, M-1 ball for the M-1 rifles were 175gr, I think on 4895 as well. Originally the M-2 150gr was lightened down and intended for practice use but then they realized M-2 ball was actually just good enough. That's how it stuck.

The Garand ammo conundrum has to do with powder pressures, not bullet weight, for that match grade 30/06 (M-72 I think?) also has a bullet in the 170s range weight.

[smle-man]

Bruce, M-1 ball for the M-1 rifles were 175gr, I think on 4895 as well. Originally the M-2 150gr was lightened down and intended for practice use but then they realized M-2 ball was actually just good enough. That's how it stuck.

The Garand ammo conundrum has to do with powder pressures, not bullet weight, for that match grade 30/06 (M-72 I think?) also has a bullet in the 170s range weight.

The cartridge .30 M1 ball was a 173gr FMJ boat tail bullet. It was issued until the 1930s when it was decided that the extra range of the boat tail bullet was a liability as fired projectiles were exceeding the maximim range of some National Guard rifle ranges. The M2 ball with a 150gr flat base bullet was adopted which had a shorter range and and was less expensive to produce. The same 173gr BT bullet was continued in use in the M72 match round.

[bruceflinch]

^ So either wt bullet is good?

[TheExpertish]

No pics?

[rojocorsa]

The cartridge .30 M1 ball was a 173gr FMJ boat tail bullet. It was issued until the 1930s when it was decided that the extra range of the boat tail bullet was a liability as fired projectiles were exceeding the maximim range of some National Guard rifle ranges. The M2 ball with a 150gr flat base bullet was adopted which had a shorter range and and was less expensive to produce. The same 173gr BT bullet was continued in use in the M72 match round.

Thanks for the correction, SMLE-Man.

All I knew is that the original load was over 150, and then they switched to 150 because it was good enough, more or less.

I shall know know the details.



Bruce, well the M-1 cartridge used to be shot in Garands, so yeah. It all comes down to the powder and pressure, that I do know.

Worse comes to worse, invest in one of those Schuster plugs, and then you can shoot whatever...

[Mssr. Eleganté]

And the funny thing is they ended up mostly issuing M2AP 168gr ammo during the war.

[rojocorsa]

I thought the black tip stuff was 180gr...

[bruceflinch]

Cool so all the stash of 168's I have will work. No longer neccessary to buy 2 different bullet weights.