anyone handload for Ishapore Enfield?

[bluebayou]

I was thinking about starting with Remington 150 grain Core Lokts.  I have 150 grain NBT's onhand for SKS project too.  Other than that, I KNOW that I will use H4895 and CCI Large. 

Does anyone have experience with handloading for these rifles?  Rate of twist?  Best bullet weights?  I expect that I will NOT be full length resizing cases.  I am skeptical that the chamber is sized correctly.

Also, how fast do you go?  (Without a 308 vs 7.62 NATO debate)

If anyone has any advice please let me know.

[Mikey]

blue:  45 gns of 4895 is a listed accuracy load that should get the 150 gn bullet moving at about 2770'/sec, at 50k cup.  That's a max loading for 4895. 

If you are concerned about an oversized chamber then get some Cerrosafe (er whatever) and mic out your chamber. 

I seem to recall 7.62x51mm Match/Sniper loadings using a 173 gn slug at 2550'/sec, so you're not looking to set any speed records but rather develop safe, accurate loads. 

HTH.  Mikey.

[bluebayou]

I am hesitant to go to 50000CUP/62000 PSI with this rifle.  I know that others shoot 308 loads in theirs, but I don't feel comfortable doing it.  Why not stay safe since I handload anyway? 

I was looking at Hodgdon youth load of 125 Nosler BT with 38.0 H4895 at 2592 with 31000CUP, this seems really low.

Hodgdon manual shows start load of 150 Nosler BT with 43.0 H4895 at 2742 with 43200 CUP this is roughly 47500 PSI (I think).

The M118 round is listed in Army TM 43-0001-27 as 44.0 grains of IMR4895 at 2640 fps and 50000 PSI.  This is 173gr load that you are probably talking about. 

Must do more reading.  Interesting to see that 10000 CUP difference only gets you about 100 fps on some loads in the Hodgdon manual.
 

[bluebayou]

Going to try chambering some once fired brass and to see if it closes on it.

[Mikey]

blue:  my load data came from an older Lyman manual that used a bolt rifle for load testing.  The data did not include or specify load data for semi-autos or older rifles, except in their cautionary notes. 

I will readily agree with you on keeping your pressure limits down and I have read that you rarely get much more velocity from noticeable pressure increases, so more research is in order. 

Good luck and let us know what you find.  Mikey.

[blackpowderbill]

I used to own one and held it in high esteem. I did not find the chamber to be any sloppier than any other .308 I own. I fired it with both factory .308 and various hand loads (all by the book but not light loaded). I never had any noticeable signs of excess pressure.

[bluebayou]

Well, it closes on once-fired, unsized brass from my old Remington 700 with no problems.  The brass just dropped right in so.........we shall see. 

Good news is that my uncle is going to bring a siphon feed gun and compressor down so that we can strip the old parkerizing off.  I won't have to pay a local metal shop to do it. 

Thanks for the words of encouragement there, blackpowderbill.  I have spent a lot of time on the wood.  It will be a (relatively speaking) pretty rifle when it is done.  I hope that it is a shooter.  The bore looks brand new.  The Indian police depts or whoever they are must not have gotten to the range very often.  No complaints there.  The rifling looks better than some name brands. 

[blackpowderbill]

Blue; For some idea of what you can do with an enfield look up some pictures of custom rifles built upon No1 and No4 rifles by a Canadian gunsmith named (hope I have it right) Ellwood Epps.  In some cases he has removed the butt socket and utilized a one piece stock and 5 round mag making a very light and sleek rifle. I have been able to fondle a No4 that was worked over in that way and found it very slick indeed.