Enfield .303B Broken Case Extractor.

j8064 · Nov 13, 2016

In over 25 years I've only experienced 2 broken .303B cases when shooting my Enfields. After the first time I bought a broken case extractor and put it in my range box. We needed it today. It took me longer to dig the tool out of my gear than it did to pull the broken case out of the chamber.

If you shoot Enfields, this is a great little tool to have handy in your range box.

:thumbsup:

j8064 · Nov 13, 2016

Incipient Case-Head Separation

As a follow up to the nice tool, here's a reminder: Always inspect your cases!

We all know case life is not infinite. The "generous" chambers of Enfield rifles is well known. And the concept applies to all firearms: Repeated firing followed by full length sizing works the brass very hard.

The case that separated today had been reloaded twice. This was its fourth firing. There were no noticed signs of incipient case-head separation when it was last reloaded. But sometimes the signs are subtle. Always be looking for the signs.

Some rifles (like my No.4 MK 2) have gas relief holes to dissipate chamber pressure in the event of a case failure. But not all guns do. Know well the guns you shoot.

There is much info available to become educated on incipient case-head failures. This link is merely one source:
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...se-head-separation-how-to-detect-the-problem/

After tumbling the batch of cases fired today there are clear signs that some will not be reloaded. In the pic below the case on the left shows obvious signs it's headed for the brass recycling bucket.

Shoot safely, reload safely and stay safe folks!

:thumbsup:

BUFF7MM · Nov 13, 2016

Good info, and a good refresher for sure.

Doobie · Nov 13, 2016

Where did you get that handy little tool?

j8064 · Nov 13, 2016

Doobie said:
Where did you get that handy little tool?

I don't remember where because I bought it years ago. But they're not hard to find: :thumbsup:

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=4862

SKIP · Nov 13, 2016

I have them in 30-06, 308, 5.56, 7.62X39 and frequently in 303.

Uncle Duke · Nov 13, 2016

Doobie said:
Where did you get that handy little tool?

Brownells is one source. Something I should probably have, and don't.

Doobie · Nov 13, 2016

j8064 said:
I don't remember where because I bought it years ago. But they're not hard to find:

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=4862

Thank you

Uncle Duke said:
Brownells is one source. Something I should probably have, and don't.

Thank you

303_enfield · Nov 13, 2016

One 30 cal will do 30-06, 308, 7.62x39, 7.62x54R, 303Brit an more. Some times it will work for an 8mm.

SKIP · Nov 13, 2016

I have no idea which caliber it is for but it seems to work for many calibers.

Melnic · Nov 13, 2016

What brand of case is it?
I've found the Remingtons suck. PPU is better.

K31 · Nov 14, 2016

Were you shooting reduced loads when this happened by any chance?

Pinecone · Nov 14, 2016

Full length resizing is not the issue.

Over sizing is. You should not size the brass for more than a couple of thousandths of shoulder bump for bolt action rifles.

If you have multi rifles, you will need to size to the smallest chamber, but accept shorted case life. Or reload separately for each rifle.

4570inMD · Nov 14, 2016

j8064 said:
...Some rifles (like my No.4 MK 2) have gas relief holes to dissipate chamber pressure in the event of a case failure. But not all guns do....

Being the shooter that pulled the trigger on this case-separation, I am very pleased with the two hole, pressure-relief design on that Enfield. It worked perfectly; I wish more rifles had that feature.

4570inMD

j8064 · Nov 14, 2016

K31 said:
Were you shooting reduced loads when this happened by any chance?

Nope. The loads were mid-range standard loads.

Pinecone said:
Full length resizing is not the issue.

Over sizing is. You should not size the brass for more than a couple of thousandths of shoulder bump for bolt action rifles.

If you have multi rifles, you will need to size to the smallest chamber, but accept shorted case life. Or reload separately for each rifle.

True to a point. Full length sizing (i.e. running the case entirely into the sizing die) will bring the web area back into spec, but will also work the brass in that area. That is typically where case-head failures occur. As I said, Enfields are notorious for generous chambers. Case-head separations can and do happen.

One of the best ways to extend case life for bolt rifles is to neck size fire formed cases and dedicate the rounds to a specific rifle which should also improve accuracy.

j8064 · Nov 14, 2016

4570inMD said:
Being the shooter that pulled the trigger on this case-separation, I am very pleased with the two hole, pressure-relief design on that Enfield. It worked perfectly; I wish more rifles had that feature.

4570inMD

No question the design worked as intended. Just like the potential issue was planned for ahead of time. :thumbsup:

It was interesting that you and I talked about exactly what those holes are for before firing the sequence of shots. The shot was the second in the sequence we were clocking on your Lab Radar. I'm curious what the muzzle velocity of that shot was compared to the first.

Minuteman · Nov 14, 2016

Whoa. That's something else.

j8064 · Nov 14, 2016

Melnic said:
What brand of case is it?
I've found the Remingtons suck. PPU is better.

I'll double check, but I'm pretty sure this was a Winchester case.

BUFF7MM · Nov 14, 2016

j8064 said:
I'll double check, but I'm pretty sure this was a Winchester case.

I wouldn't doubt it was one, don't get me started on them in a 1/4 bore I owned once. :mad54:

4570inMD · Nov 14, 2016

j8064 said:
...The shot was the second in the sequence we were clocking on your Lab Radar. I'm curious what the muzzle velocity of that shot was compared to the first.

Shot V0
1 2426 fps
2 2416
3 2456
4 2419

It appears the case damage occurred after the bullet sped away.

Enfield .303B Broken Case Extractor.

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