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1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 11:35 am
by ovenpaa
This is a chamber section from a BSA No1 Mk3 SMLE chambered in .303
No doubt it could of continued to lay down harassing fire...
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 11:47 am
by dromia
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 11:50 am
by Swamp Donkey
[THUMBS UP SIGN]
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 11:53 am
by Alpha1
Interesting.
Do you have chamber reamers I would like to see a picture out of interest. They don't have to be .303. what's the difference between a roughing and finishing reamer. How many reamers would you use to cut a average chamber.
Hmmm
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 12:02 pm
by ovenpaa
Good idea, I will post some pictures of new and used reamers.
No used is entirely down to the person doing the job, you can part bore and use a finishing reamer or part bore and use roughing and finish reamers or just go straight in with a finishing reamer. I prefer to part bore leaving enough to still align the pilot pushing followed by roughing and finish however that is just me and if it is an obscure cartridge such as a wildcat I would invariably only have the one finishing reamer.
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 12:03 pm
by Dougan
Interesting picture.
I don't know if it's the same with all SMLEs, but my cases end up with 'rounded' shoulders; pretty much like the shape in the picture...
...which brings a couple of questions to mind - Did new SMLEs start with that shape chamber (with the rounded shoulder bit), or does it happen with time?...and if they are like that from the start, then why...as the .303 cartridge has a fairly straight taper to the shoulder?
Btw: it'll make a cool paperweight
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:07 am
by Alpha1
Ovenpaa reamers is it possible for you to buy them in the UK or do you buy them from the USA.
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:20 am
by bradaz11
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:02 am
by ovenpaa
Alpha1, there are no UK based manufacturers of chamber reamers/reams so the alternatives are Triebel in Germany or the usual suspects in the USA.
Re: 1913 SMLE Chamber Section
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:43 am
by huntervixen
Dougan wrote:Interesting picture.
I don't know if it's the same with all SMLEs, but my cases end up with 'rounded' shoulders; pretty much like the shape in the picture...
...which brings a couple of questions to mind - Did new SMLEs start with that shape chamber (with the rounded shoulder bit), or does it happen with time?...and if they are like that from the start, then why...as the .303 cartridge has a fairly straight taper to the shoulder?
Btw: it'll make a cool paperweight
I think the later MK3* had a very slightly larger chamber to allow for easier extraction when up to your neck in mud and bullets!
I only heard this secondhand though, now were is our resident Enfield expert Rearlugs, love to know if this is a fact.
