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I've got a mate who is looking for ammo for his Lee Enfield SMLE. He's also got a No4 mk1*, he uses .311 in this rifle, but he wants to try .312 in the SMLE. Finding some is proving to be a bit of a problem, he's tried all his normal sources but no joy, so does anyone know of an RFD that regularly stocks .303/.312?

fmj or lead?

I haven't asked but I presume he'd prefer FMJ and flat tail, at a push he might try anything. His SMLE barrel slugs at .313, he's also got a #4 mk1* which is fine with .311 heads. Using those in the SMLE gives shotgun type groups.

bhodge wrote:I haven't asked but I presume he'd prefer FMJ and flat tail, at a push he might try anything. His SMLE barrel slugs at .313, he's also got a #4 mk1* which is fine with .311 heads. Using those in the SMLE gives shotgun type groups.

A brand new barrel would slug at 0.313". Groove depth is 0.005", 0.303 + (0.005 x 2) = 0.313. Assuming his slug wasn't just tight at the muzzle his problem is likely to be elsewhere like a bad crown, eroded throat or bedding which is more complicated than a No4.

But to answer the question, the only jacketed bullets available here that I can think of that are 0.312" are Hornady softpoints (pricey) and flatbase but 0.311" Seller and Beliot 180g softpoints.

The H and N plated bullets are sized at .312.....not up to fmj standards but good plinkers.

Mike95

Thanks for the replies guy's, I'll pass that info on.

To close the thread...
Situation resolved thanks to Mike at Brock & Norris, who had Hornady .303 .312 in stock and posted them to my mate.