SMLE not chambering rounds

[happyal]

OK, thanks I will try the load data from H&N Sport.

They only list Unique and N110, I don't have any of that so I'll have to borrow some to test.

[Gaz]

2.9 inches is significantly shorter than the CIP max COAL of 3.075". Is that a Mk.VI repro bullet or just a really fat thing knocked up for comedy value by whoever made it?

[Hunter87]

Very nice rifle that

[25Pdr]

Hello, I hope someone can help me.

I recently purchased a 1918 SMLE that is in great condition

I have bought some H&N Sport 303 heads, and I have made some test rounds. The below picture, the one of the left is the H&N Sport round, the one on the right is a PPU head.



My problem is that the H&N Sport headed rounds will not chamber, they will go into the chamber but not all the way. By about half an inch. The ones made with PPU head go in no problem. I have used the same case preparation with both loads, and an empty case will go into the chamber fine.

Does anyone have any ideas? Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Good Quality Photo taken with a Camera Phone...Getting better all the time.



BTW Your phone is worth more than my car.. razz

[zanes]

On a similar vein, nice alienware. I've got a current AW15 and it's not a patch on the older ones.

[happyal]

:)

Thanks, I was surprised at how good the camera on the phone is, very good macro mode.

I must get a better picture of the SMLE, I was excited to get a picture of it when I first took it home, it wasn't the best lighting.

[saddler]

The PPU bullet ogive (curvy bit) is WAY lower down than where the H&N bullet ogive is located

From a quick glance you need to seat the H&N deeper

[Alpha1]

You need to get your cartridge overall length correct for the bullet you are using. A overall length gauge would come in useful. You will then need to work up your load as you are obviously going to be seating the bullet deeper and this will affect pressure.

[WelshShooter]

The PPU bullet ogive (curvy bit) is WAY lower down than where the H&N bullet ogive is located

From a quick glance you need to seat the H&N deeper

Came here to say the same thing.

The H&N bullets are contacting the lands much sooner, such that you cannot even get the entire case into the chamber. As the others have recommended try reducing the overall length. My suggestion would be to do this with dummy rounds first rather than wasting time loading up some bullets only to find they won't fit (you definitely don't want to use live rounds to test seating depth...).

[ovenpaa]

I agree, in the absence of an OAL gauge Build a dummy round and try to chamber it and keep shortening it by a few thou until it chambers. A couple of things to consider, you need to make sure that when the round does chamber you are not jamming the bullet slightly into the lands, this is easily determined by looking for score marks on the Ogive and to make them more apparent 'paint' the bullet with a black marker pen. Also when you unchamber the round keep a finger on the case as it is extracted to make sure it does not cant over and pick up false witness marks from the side of the chamber.