L42A1 & Enforcer reloading

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

Happy new year to all of you

Hmm... . What about the GGG 155 gr-Match-Ammo in the rifles above ? It seems to be - a more or less - trendy ammo. Nowadays.

Which became a Issue-Match-Ammo in UK. Some Years ago, 2014 IMHO.

And there are some older L42 A1-Style-Conversion-Enfields still today in use as Target Rifles.

Could anybody test this ammo in a L42 A-Enfield, perhaps. Not all can or may reload their ammo.. .

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

There is another interesting 155 gr Factory-Match-Load: the Hornady 155 gr BTHP. In a barrel in the L42 A1-Style she reached 2775 f/s or 845 m/s MV.
That should be a mild loading

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

 

[Rock Chucker]

If you reload for an L42a1 can i suggest looking at 4064? I have a replica fitted with dimensionally similar Sportco produced barrel and a Mark 3 scope. The previous owner tried Win748 and 4064 / 2208, with a 155 grain Sierra Palma i regularly see sub 1 inch groups at 100 meters. Incidentally the previous owner has a genuine L42a1, it has a definite preference for Win 748.

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

If you reload for an L42a1 can i suggest looking at 4064? I have a replica fitted with dimensionally similar Sportco produced barrel and a Mark 3 scope. The previous owner tried Win748 and 4064 / 2208, with a 155 grain Sierra Palma i regularly see sub 1 inch groups at 100 meters. Incidentally the previous owner has a genuine L42a1, it has a definite preference for Win 748.

Thanks, Rock Chucker. That sounds really interesting. Because I can't remember such a handload-info before.. I saw some of them.. .

Is a pic from your replica possible ?

Win748... Wait a moment.. I'll search something... .

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

Now I got it - its not the powder on the YouTube-Video :

And therefore interesting.. .
Hmmm .. Hopefully one day somebody can use that.. .

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

This Win748-Loads: What about the powder-charge then, please ?

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

If you reload for an L42a1 can i suggest looking at 4064? I have a replica fitted with dimensionally similar Sportco produced barrel and a Mark 3 scope. The previous owner tried Win748 and 4064 / 2208, with a 155 grain Sierra Palma i regularly see sub 1 inch groups at 100 meters. Incidentally the previous owner has a genuine L42a1, it has a definite preference for Win 748.

There is - considering all impressions, experience - the IMR 4064 the powder of choice at least 2020/2021 for this well-known match-load: Federal 308 Win. 175 grs "Gold Medal".
This 41,7 grains. This is a different bullet-weight, of course. Despite that, this factory-load is explicitly described as suitable for the L42 A1 and his "siblings".
Wether it works well with 155-grain-bullets too generally, I don't know yet..

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

A bit more ammo..

155 grain-175 grain Match...

 

[Rock Chucker]

I just checked in this morning will post a photo of the L42A1 replica shortly, the load i use is mild at 42.5 grains of 4064 with the 155 Sierra. I dont like running heavy loads on any rear locking Enfield action. I figure the 155 is close to the original Radway Green load of 144 grains if my memory serves me. I also built up an M24 Replica on a long action and in that i run 4064 and the Sierra 175 BTHP @ 41.7 grains

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

It's better being careful. On the other side you really know what's for your rifle working not before you have chronographed it, measured this MV. The kind of the action is not the only relevant aspect here.

There are - luckywise - quite different powdertypes and -quantities able to reach interesting MV's .. That's basically nothing new. Please have a look:

https://www.enfield-rifles.com/federal-308-ammunition_topic10494.html

Federal produces their famous "Gold Medal"-Match-Load also for the civilians in such a similar way as with the Mk316-Service-Round. Despite that it should even suit - explicitely - to the 7,62-Nato-Enfield-Rifle. So, according to this thread - a member got an email from Federal with this content. The mentioned 41,7 gr IMR 4064-charge is the solution for this surprise, and this in the .308 Win.-Case.

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

Back to your 155 gr-Load with 42,5 gr IMR 4064: the Radway Green 144 gr L2 A4 Service-Ammo reached 2'850 f/s or 868 m/s as Muzzle Velocity in a 26,5-inch-barrel of a L8-Conversion. (One of the first test-barrels from 1959 until the mid-1960's).

Many of the other 7,62 Nato-Service-Rounds -and copies had a MV of between ca. 2790-3905 f/s or 850-884 m/s in an 27,5'-inch-Enfield-Matchbarrel, simllar to a L42 A1. The 3 different Selliers: green Competition-, black-silver- and the yellow Topshotbox, the Fiocchi, diverse MEN inkl. SM-Surplus, Saltech, RUAG, GGG and some more... .

What MV has your 155 gr-Reload then, please ?

 

[Rock Chucker]

From Memory as tested with Lab Radar it ran roughly 2730 with very low Standard Deviation at 11. I set up a Lee Classic to drop 2208 / 4064 to 42.5 grains over using my RCBS Charge Master. Cases were American Eagle (Lake City) 7.62 new brass. I will find the photo I took at the range whilst testing, I am very happy with the results considering the 3 piece stock and 3 power scope

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

That's a really low velocity... This ca. 832 m/s or 2730 f/s.. . Fantastic Standard Deviation.. . I'm excited for that pic..

The powdercharge is according to Hogdons-Loading-Data even under the startload.. . Hmmm..

 

[cuirc]

Here is my refined load for the L42A1:

Sierra 155 grain MK (#2155)
LC Match Brass (case weight 179.5 grains), match-prepped
VV N140, 46.0 grains
Fed M210 primer
Loaded OAL 2.80" to feed through magazine

Average velocity was 2785 fps, 85 degrees

This may not be a "light load" but I used the OCW system to develop this load. YMMV.

Hope this helps.

longebow

pardon my ignorance but what is ocw

 

[longebow]

Optimum Charge Weight
Using my Redding RB-3, I would drop powder in small incremental increases, measuring velocity and point of impact. When bullets "clustered" despite small increases in powder, then the middle of that charge weight was the "sweet spot" or OCW.

 

[cuirc]

Optimum Charge Weight
Using my Redding RB-3, I would drop powder in small incremental increases, measuring velocity and point of impact. When bullets "clustered" despite small increases in powder, then the middle of that charge weight was the "sweet spot" or OCW.

thank you

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

Another kind of sweet spot
Respectively his work. Spontaneously added here..

Such an accuracy, despite my very short aiming.
I can online be amazed. That's Match-Ammo-Accuracy.

 

[Winchester M70 Van Orden]

Another still better sample, found now