SMLE

That’s my take Pops and 303 is still less than 308 even with my mathematical skills.

Agree completely with Orka. However, I believe the ban is calibre specific and not bullet diameter specific and therefore in my opinion, 303 would still be OK. After all, Mosin Nagants are 7.62 yet fire the same .312 bullet as the 303. Happy to be proven wrong of course, particularly as I am likely to be RCOing at Kingsbury in October. Basically, the pongos don’t want us there, that’s the upshot of this I suspect, it’s their range and we can’t play with it!

Thanks Pops

For sale is my much loved No.1 Mk 3* BSA rifle. Made in 1916 and all original with matching numbers throughout including the wood. It has literally been through the wars and carry’s the evidence of that journey in knocks and bumps but what a story it could tell if it could talk! She handles .312 PPU bullets perfectly although I have shot mostly cast lead through it in my ownership. Purchased from Enfield guru Roger Payne several years ago and fitted with a non original sling. Looking for £375

For sale is my much loved No.4 Mk 2 in .303. Lovely condition and one of the last Fazakerley made rifles, I believe for an in-issued RAF contract. I’ve taken good care of her during my ownership and it is all numbers matching including timber and magazine. It currently has a non-original magazine fitted currently as I had problems with the original one. Norman Clarke believed this was due to very thin feed lips from manufacture and so sourced a replacement for me. It has a Parker Hale 5c target sight fitted and the original Mk 3 sight is also included in the sale. Looking for £700

Damn! I snoozed... I loosed!

Hi Bertie, I’m potentially interested in the Tikka. Could you let me know if the sale includes the scope featured in Thames Valley’s write up?

Funny how everyone tells you that you need a 10 thou jump or thereabouts! I’m using 139 Scenar’s in my 6.5 creedmoor, over 43.5g RS62 with CCI 450’s at 45 thou jump and getting from my Howa typically 0.6moa at 100 yards. Last chrono session gives me 2740 FPS with spread of 17 and sd of 6.9. At 600 yards mostly v bulls or 5’s. Off to Bisley next week to see what they’ll do at a 1000.

Glad you enjoyed it. I shoot there quite a bit and know those treacherous winds well....!

ODRC require arrival and booking in at 8 with the briefing at 8.30. Remember your FAC which is a new ODRC requirement

True. So does a tube of the Lee stuff and only a couple of quid. I guess we each have our own system, I kind of stick with what I know. I will admit to using the Imperial powder stuff for neck sizing though which works a treat.

I use Lee for all my full length sizing, used it for years because it works for me. I just wipe the inside of the die with some cloth after a session. Just get the cloth in and twizzle the die around, works for me. Once or twice after a big reload session I have to take the die apart and clean but maybe only half a dozen times in several years. I use Lee for 303, 308 and 7.5 Swiss

I wouldn’t advise using the water to make tea after boiling the rice though..... unless you like funny tasting tea! Much better to open a can of a Fosters!

I’ve used their chilli con carne boil in the bag ration pack things and have enjoyed them. Use an Uncle Bens boil in the bag rice packet and you’ve got a pretty decent meal in just a few minutes

I used to shoot 155g Sierra Matchkings in my old 308, over N140 powder. Pretty good to 600 yards. I’m sure others who shoot competitively or who take their shooting more seriously than I do will offer further options, but the above worked great for me at that range for general plinky plonking.

I went through the old RCO course at Bisley alongside Popsbengo and agree with his comments. The course was well run, interesting and imho, pretty good fun too. You need to think about what you’re trying to achieve before attending though as the new RSO course may be sufficient in some circumstances. Expect to have to present to a group with confidence, to be judged on your ability to maintain control of a group of people and to demonstrate the capability to learn. It’s not difficult, there’s nothing too challenging to an experienced shooter and you will fail if you’re not prepared to project yourself. The end test puts the pressure on and I certainly felt like I needed to keep my focus during all of the sessions. The tutors are friendly and knowledgeable though so don’t be afraid to ask questions but more importantly, don’t go if you can’t stand in front of a group of strangers and speak with some degree of confidence.

Sorry sold

I have a tub of N150 surplus to requirements. Approximately 2/3rds full and purchased from Norman Clark’s about 3 months ago. If anyone is going to be at Kingsbury ranges on the 4th August or Bisley on the 27th and wants to pick it up from me there, you can have it for £20 Alternatively you can pick it from my place in Nuneaton - address via PM if you commit to purchase.

You can get a clamp on fake bolt knob from most folks who supply Howa’s. I bought one about a year ago as £34 seemed worth a gamble. I think it works great. There is no wobble or slack if you tighten the two halves together correctly and I’ve been surprised to have a couple of people tell me I’ve got a nice knob.....! Got mine from Livens in Burton, but as I say, you can pick them up all over. Cheaper than a bolt conversion and works just as well in my humble opinion.

As ever, organised I see!

Eh up Pops, might be worth giving Richard at Devizes Gunsmiths a call, he might be interested?

My wife and I are toying with the idea of spending a week in Finland next summer. Not sure where yet, but probably a cottage near a lake to just chill out and experience the Finnish summer. I’m pretty sure from having worked briefly in Helsinki that there is a shooting culture over there, in Range tv on YouTube also makes me think I’m not a million miles off with that thought too based on their Finnish Brutality challenge! So just wondering if anyone on this forum knows of some gun clubs, ranges etc that a holidaymaker could spend a couple of hours at to feed the addiction while on holiday. Yes, I know it’s a pretty big country and where we end up will determine whether or not it’s possible in addition to any relevant restrictions and laws etc. At this stage it’s still a bit of blue sky thinking but I’m curious as to whether it’s even possible.

Cheers Varm, been reviewing quite a bit of info on here about load development for the 6.5CM, some from you, so thanks again and don’t worry, I know the number assignments for the primers.

Thanks everyone for responding. My rifle is now with Norman Clark for a once over and check before/if I use it again. I’m beginning to accept the inevitable and admit that the root cause is me. I agree, the primer choice was a poor one, but I had them to hand and they appeared to work so I thought why not stick with them. Wish I hadn’t to be honest as I suspect a slight lift in “jip” with a new powder tub was enough to break the camels back and cause the failure. Hopefully there’s no gas damage to pin and bolt, and I suspect Norman will happily empty my wallet if there is, but he seemed quite hopeful that all would be fine this morning when presented with the rifle by a bashful yours truly. So, assuming I get the rifle back, on to more load development, everyone seems keen on RS60 or 62, so think I’ll start there..... BR4 primers this time though...!

Hi Folks, I’ve either been a bit thick or I have a firing pin defect I think, any thoughts appreciated before I pop off to a gunsmiths at the weekend. 6.5 creedmoor loaded with 35.9 grains of N150 under 139 scenars (max in load table is 35.5). This has proven a great load for last 400 or so rounds giving me about 2670fps. and good grouping about 0.75 moa at 600 yards. Using CCI small rifle 400 primers - all I had available at the time but worked great. Absolutely no pressure signs at all across 400 rounds or so. I was confident in the load and took it out to 1000 yards a few weeks ago with similarly good results. Again, no pressure signs at all. Loaded up a new batch of rounds last week for a 1000yard Bisley session yesterday. This time loading with a Redding bushing die to give 2 thou neck tension in two batches, some previously full length sized four times and some once fired virgin brass neck sized on this their second load. New tub of N150 used. Everything else the same. Every shot yesterday produced either a punctured primer or cratered primer with extractor marks. I stopped shooting them after a few shots and also noted evidence of gas impact on magazine follower. Not able to figure it out, I tried a couple of rounds of my friends 6.5 creedmoor he was using and both of those rounds had punctured primers too, no evidence of this when fired in his rifle by the way. Recognising I introduced two new variables here, the new powder batch and neck sizing rather than full length, what are people’s thoughts? I would not expect to see significant pressure differences between batches of the same powder that go from ok to catastrophic at least! Would neck sizing make such a difference? The bullets seated with no cause for concern in press “feel”. Or, is this a hardware issue? Any thoughts gratefully received before I speak to a gunsmith to check my rifle and bolt over. I’d just like to understand this if I can.