smle conversion?
- Thread starter overanalytical
- Start date
Jim Watson
New member
It is rainwater in the chamber that they are worried about.
Water is incompressible, so a wet chamber has less room for the brass to expand. Water is a fair lubricant so the brass does not "grip" the steel.
So a wet chamber behaves a lot like the British proof procedure of firing an oiled high pressure round. And since the 7.62 is higher pressure than .303, the conversion with a wet chamber amounts to a steady diet of proof tests.
The problems arose when shooters got in the habit of "shooting wet". It rains occasionally in England and it is then tough to keep your rifle and ammo dry. Shooters noticed a shift in POI between wet and dry due to changes in pressure and harmonics of the delicate compensation of the Enfield.
So if they couldn't keep their rifles dry in the rain, they could easily keep them wet when the sun was shining. It was pretty common for a shooter to have a can of water on the firing line and to dip his ammo before he shot it.
This was worrisome with the .303, and a real issue with the hotter 7.62.
If you can't shoot your conversion in the rain at Bisley, you are going to be staying home a lot.
Water is incompressible, so a wet chamber has less room for the brass to expand. Water is a fair lubricant so the brass does not "grip" the steel.
So a wet chamber behaves a lot like the British proof procedure of firing an oiled high pressure round. And since the 7.62 is higher pressure than .303, the conversion with a wet chamber amounts to a steady diet of proof tests.
The problems arose when shooters got in the habit of "shooting wet". It rains occasionally in England and it is then tough to keep your rifle and ammo dry. Shooters noticed a shift in POI between wet and dry due to changes in pressure and harmonics of the delicate compensation of the Enfield.
So if they couldn't keep their rifles dry in the rain, they could easily keep them wet when the sun was shining. It was pretty common for a shooter to have a can of water on the firing line and to dip his ammo before he shot it.
This was worrisome with the .303, and a real issue with the hotter 7.62.
If you can't shoot your conversion in the rain at Bisley, you are going to be staying home a lot.
There are SMLE's and No. 4 Lee-Enfields. A No. 4 is not an SMLE.
Anyway, you'd have to have a barrel cu$tom made for either receiver. Nobody makes one otherwise. And few smithies are capable of cutting the daft Brit threads.
Plus the bolt face and extractor slot would require altering. .303's rim diameter is .540". Closest suitable length cartridge is .44 Magnum at .514". .45 Colt is .512".
ALL of those will give you magazine length issues. Not insurmountable issues though. Hunk of nylon will fix it.
Any case based on the .357 will be a giant pain to alter the bolt face/extractor. .357's rim diameter is .440". 1/10" smaller.
Gibb's quit making their bubba'd rifle years ago.
And when all is said and done, you will be turning a roughly $300 milsurp battle rifle into a $150 hunting rifle.
Anyway, you'd have to have a barrel cu$tom made for either receiver. Nobody makes one otherwise. And few smithies are capable of cutting the daft Brit threads.
Plus the bolt face and extractor slot would require altering. .303's rim diameter is .540". Closest suitable length cartridge is .44 Magnum at .514". .45 Colt is .512".
ALL of those will give you magazine length issues. Not insurmountable issues though. Hunk of nylon will fix it.
Any case based on the .357 will be a giant pain to alter the bolt face/extractor. .357's rim diameter is .440". 1/10" smaller.
Gibb's quit making their bubba'd rifle years ago.
And when all is said and done, you will be turning a roughly $300 milsurp battle rifle into a $150 hunting rifle.
Jim Watson
New member
A friend reported a first relay in the fog at Camp Perry.
No delay allowed. Some of the unlucky lot banged away into the mists, my guy just saved his ammo, a zero instead of a noisy zero.
No delay allowed. Some of the unlucky lot banged away into the mists, my guy just saved his ammo, a zero instead of a noisy zero.
Stillhunter
New member
Yes,OP gave rifle restrictions for Indiana.
OP,s 2nd post said conversion was for a deer rifle,but has never said which state.
The instructions clearly specify to remove all oil from the action before shooting.
Lee-Enfields generally require some oil on the bolt to work smoothly. All of you remember that old adage "Oil and water don't mix." Consequently, the mixture of rain water and the oil turns into a mildly viscous mush, which, if it gets in the chamber, can cause pressures to rise to abnormal levels.
M-1 Garands had the same problem: They would stop working in the rain if strict lubing procedures weren't followed..
I think the OP should look into the 303-35Rem-1.8. Though it sounds like IN might be allowing pretty much all standard cartridges in year or so.
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kilimanjaro
New member
Just what benefit are you desirous of getting by converting from a 300-yard round to a 200-yard round like a 45-70, in addition to substantial recoil and expense?
Blindstitch
New member
Can you get around it using the muzzleloader route. It's a lot easier to find a CVA or Thompson and feed it pellets pushed by a 209 primer. Then you have your 200 yard range and a new gun to play with.