Right! I have been licking toads again. (FOOBAR, you out there?)

The thing is, I how have a 25/303 with a slightly shorter case body. This leaves it squarely in the 250 Savage class, which is fine except that what I have in mind is long range varminting. So.... would it be wise to 'improve' the chamber? The idea is more powder capacity for higher velocity at the 42,000 CUP pressure limit of the SMLE action.

I will first try the rifle out first. I might be happy with it as it is, perhaps just using lighter bullets. It is for varminting and for bigger game I would be happy with 250 Savage performance with heavier bullets.

And what breed of toad is that????

Hate to be repetitious, but Mr. Ackley addressed this using the extremely similar .30/40 Krag case. With lighter bullets he got the same velocity with less powder. With very heavy bullets and the more recently available slow powders, yes, then he could get more velocity with the full length case blown out... his books available from eabco.com, sinclair International, ebay sometimes, etc.

I am lead to believe that the considerable taper of the 1880-1920 cartridges which includes the .303 was for two big reasons. Loading components were corrosive and any but exceptional cleaning left the strong possibility of pits in the chamber and with brass expanded into those pits, extraction becomes more challenging. If the case is tapered, less so. B). The powders of the day burned better/ more efficiently in the long tapered container. Cartridges of the World says that no example of the Brit 7mm survives that the p14 was designed to shoot. But it resembles the long, tear-drop shaped .333 Jeffery, I think.

I find it interesting that the .250 Savage --another much tapered design-- ruled the target ranges at one time. The .22/250 made from same is legendary for accuracy. The 6mm version, "6mm International" was still available in Rem 40X last I looked and well regarded. Interesting to compare the new... 6.5x47 Lapua... Savage is 45mm and improved... Not to mention the Dasher(s), the Creedmore, etc.

As you indicate, the SMLE does not have the working pressure potential of Mausers. I would shoot this thing much and study the results carefully. For pests at long range with any but the heaviest bullets you may have a real treasure. Only then, if you absolutely must have that last few feet per second... find a very good 'smith to do the surgery. And that is no guarantee the accuracy will survive... in brief "if it isn't broke, don't fix it..."LUCK.

try checking out the Epps range of improved 303 based rounds,there is also a kiwi ersion if memory serves me called a ICBM try the www.303british.com web site and have a chat to Steve

quote:

And that is no guarantee the accuracy will survive... in brief "if it isn't broke, don't fix it..."

Thanks iiranger. There is nothing wrong with 3050fps with a 85gr Nosler ballistic tip, so .... Yes, I will take your advice!

Thanks sambar02. I shall check the link - even though I won't be 'fixing it'. (Unless, of course, it shoots crap!)