Basic die questions for C&R calibers.

[deadcoyote]

I haven't done much releoading in along time. I used to reload a lot of 7x57 and 6.5x55 years ago with a simple Lee loader and lee priming tool etc. I stopped due to marriage, kids, etc cutting down on my time. Now that i've gotten a little older wouldn't mind getting back into it specifically for .303 enfield and 7.62x54r for my Finnish M39.

Two questions:
1) Bore diameters on the enfields and finn M39s are .311? Is there a lot of variance in different rifles? These are both really nice rifles hence my hesitation to shoot a lot of corrosive stuf through them. additionally, I'd really like to see what they can do with good ammo.
2) Dies? I've only used Hornady dies before. Not so much any preferance over anything else, just live in the boondocks and that's the only brand of dies my local shop sold. Any recommendations as to brand of dies for these rounds? Remember, need to work with my Lee loader.

Gonna buy some PRVI 7.62x54r to harvest the brass after I shoot em, already have a lot of .303 commercial brass. Any suggestions from you pro reloaders?

[bruceflinch]

I load .312 jacketed bullets for my .303's 150 grn. H4895 powder of 41 grn.

RCBS dies. I initially full-size & reload. Subsequent reloads get necksized.

I think the Lee uses the standard 7/8 x 14 thread dies like most presses.

[Flyin Brian]

I load .312 jacketed bullets for my .303's 150 grn. H4895 powder of 41 grn.

RCBS dies. I initially full-size & reload. Subsequent reloads get necksized.

I think the Lee uses the standard 7/8 x 14 thread dies like most presses.

^^^^^^ pretty much the same for 7.62x54r but I use 44g of H4895.

[Bupkus]

It wouldn't hurt to slug the barrels on those two to see exactly what you have. I recently slugged the barrels on some of my Mosins. The 9130 and the 9159 slugged at .312. Both of my M 91's were .311. My M 39 slugged at .310. Have fun, Bupkus.

[gorblimey]

Definitely slug the barrels. I've had the occasion to to slug a Finn that came up as .3085, if memory serves, and a Russkie sewer pipe that was .314. It's all over the place with these 54R boat oars, and the .303 I hear is similarly afflicted.

The variability isn't great if you're stuck with a single size of jacketed bullet, but if you step up to casting, the possibilities multiply -- a favorite mold that drops undersized for one sewer pipe can work great for another.

One equipment tip is that these things come in handy if you're rockin' a single stage:

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Conversion-Kit/

Another tip is that Lee collet neck dies perform better than their low price would suggest. They don't have near the finish of a Redding S die, granted, but the collet-over-mandrel idea is a good one. The finish can be improved with some 3000 grit paper and the like. Lee will make custom mandrels for their neck dies, if needed, or indeed mandrels may be swappable between similar calibers. This comes into play if the standard mandrel is not providing the correct neck tension for your application.

But that's just one dabbler's opinion, worth 0.02 of rapidly inflating FRN.