New here...

JoeinTX · 04-17-2008, 10:38 PM

I just purchased my first Enfield after years of interest and false-starts. I wasn't worried about factory authenticity in buying but rather wanted the best looking/working rifle I could find for the money.

Now, .303 is not the most common or cheapest caliber around and I'm perusing the web and some of my local dealers for the cheapest ammo I can find. I've seen the -60s era Pak' stuff but I understand it's prone to hang-fire. There is some decent looking Serbian ammo that is about half the price of Winchester, etc. and I'm thinking that's the direction I will go.

Anyone have any opinions here? This has probably been hashed out numerous times before here but anything fresh would be helpful.

I may well look into reloading as I have access to the equipment to do so.

jackar · 04-18-2008, 01:15 PM

Hi Joe,

I would certainly consider reloading the .303 round. It's an easy round to reload. If you buy new brass and shoot only that brass, you normally (normally is the key word here) won't have to full length resize as long as they are fired in the same rifle.

I've reloaded for many years for my No.1 MkIII and sometimes just use my Lyman "nutcracker tool" and neck resize only. I have two hobbies, reloading and pipe smoking. Though not at the same time.

REM.303 · 04-21-2008, 11:01 PM

Joe,
Not only is it prone to hang fires, it may make many different "Bangs' when fired, The "Pac" Ammo Plant had a lot of issues with what they turned out. 5-10 years ago you could not give the stuff away-saw some back in those days for $1.50 a box.
Lots of worries with this stuff-Priming is corrosive, the "Cordite" propellant is erosive (they said that they had that problem licked-yeah,right), i am in the middle of demilling a bunch of "Pac" right now, pulled the bullets (Cheapest way to get Componets), dumping the cordite and then firing the primer-a pain to do, but the scrap metal dealer pays $3.00 a pound for the brass. Drops the price for the bullets down to $15-$17 per 100. Reloading is the only way I can afford to shoot, and if the people who scare me get into power (you ALL know who they are) availability of componets to reload, factory ammo, new and old guns...times are going to be rough---PVC Pipe and a shovel to the rescue, "hide them away for another day"

JoeinTX · 04-22-2008, 12:58 AM

Hey, REM, the Pak stuff is not appealing to me at all. Corrosives.......reliability.........etc.......and I'm saying "no thanks."

I'll take their brass and remake it. I'm not the reloader, but, my dad is and I'm now after years of not thinking a lot about it worrying.

"and if the people who scare me get into power (you ALL know who they are)"

I do know what you mean....if you know what I mean...and I'm spending a lot of weapon and ammo money to make sure they don't make it anywhere.

Can't trust 'em any farther than I can shoot them..........

oldjarhead · 04-22-2008, 01:15 AM

JoeinTx,
Congrats on your purchase.
If the Serbian ammo you are referring to is PVRI Partisan I recommend you purchase a box or two and check it out. I bought two boxes of their .22 Hornet and found it to be less than desireable. The first round out of the box was a misfire. Out of the first box I had 5 misfires and 14 failures to extract. Of the rounds that did fire I found the accuracy to be pretty good. The second box had about 6 failures in 15 rounds so I quite firing it. Try it before you buy a larger quantity.
Just a suggestion.
BTW...welcome aboard.

Capt'n Mil Coll · 04-22-2008, 01:28 AM

Hey welcome to G&G JoeinTX and Jackar. AIM has 303 but its corrosive. Sportsmans Guide has it. Would have to see what they have left. Century Arms has some. Im sure others on here will have suggestions as well. Hope to see you guys around here. Got any other ? just ask.

irish murphy · 04-22-2008, 04:34 AM

Good to see some more smle fans.I have bought factory ammo for mine but only do it if in a pinch havent got time to reload.My reloads leave factory ammo with a bit to be desired.Have never used corrosive ammo in my guns.Have used it through mates who have been using it and i wouldnt bother with it myself.But then it depends what you are using it for.Hunting or matches i use what i know works.If i was just plinking i might consider using old milsurp ammo in an old nothing rifle.But i value my rifles too much to use corrosive ammo in them.Plus i hate cleaning black powders and if corrosive ammo is used i consider it the same as cleaning a black powder.No hot soapy water going near my rifles.

timberlord · 04-22-2008, 06:53 AM

Welcome to the forum Joe
Sellier&Bellot and Remington's UMC has ammo thats "abit" cheaper and more reliable.
Check out gunshows for ammo too.

MrsS · 04-22-2008, 04:02 PM

Welcome JoeinTX...from MrsS in Rocky Top, lol.

04-17-2008, 10:38 PM	#1
JoeinTX Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Trader Rating: (0)	New here... I just purchased my first Enfield after years of interest and false-starts. I wasn't worried about factory authenticity in buying but rather wanted the best looking/working rifle I could find for the money. Now, .303 is not the most common or cheapest caliber around and I'm perusing the web and some of my local dealers for the cheapest ammo I can find. I've seen the -60s era Pak' stuff but I understand it's prone to hang-fire. There is some decent looking Serbian ammo that is about half the price of Winchester, etc. and I'm thinking that's the direction I will go. Anyone have any opinions here? This has probably been hashed out numerous times before here but anything fresh would be helpful. I may well look into reloading as I have access to the equipment to do so.

04-18-2008, 01:15 PM	#2
jackar Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 71 Trader Rating: (0)	New here also Hi Joe, I would certainly consider reloading the .303 round. It's an easy round to reload. If you buy new brass and shoot only that brass, you normally (normally is the key word here) won't have to full length resize as long as they are fired in the same rifle. I've reloaded for many years for my No.1 MkIII and sometimes just use my Lyman "nutcracker tool" and neck resize only. I have two hobbies, reloading and pipe smoking. Though not at the same time.

04-21-2008, 11:01 PM	#3
REM.303 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 15 miles PAST the end of the earth Posts: 145 Trader Rating: (0)	Joe, Not only is it prone to hang fires, it may make many different "Bangs' when fired, The "Pac" Ammo Plant had a lot of issues with what they turned out. 5-10 years ago you could not give the stuff away-saw some back in those days for $1.50 a box. Lots of worries with this stuff-Priming is corrosive, the "Cordite" propellant is erosive (they said that they had that problem licked-yeah,right), i am in the middle of demilling a bunch of "Pac" right now, pulled the bullets (Cheapest way to get Componets), dumping the cordite and then firing the primer-a pain to do, but the scrap metal dealer pays $3.00 a pound for the brass. Drops the price for the bullets down to $15-$17 per 100. Reloading is the only way I can afford to shoot, and if the people who scare me get into power (you ALL know who they are) availability of componets to reload, factory ammo, new and old guns...times are going to be rough---PVC Pipe and a shovel to the rescue, "hide them away for another day" __________________ Remember, the easy path IS ALWAYS Mined... Last edited by REM.303; 04-21-2008 at 11:08 PM.

04-22-2008, 01:28 AM	#6
Capt'n Mil Coll Military Rifle Collector Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right behind you. -NRA Member- Posts: 2,057 Trader Rating: (0)	Hey welcome to G&G JoeinTX and Jackar. AIM has 303 but its corrosive. Sportsmans Guide has it. Would have to see what they have left. Century Arms has some. Im sure others on here will have suggestions as well. Hope to see you guys around here. Got any other ? just ask. __________________ Let's light this fuse and see what happens!

04-22-2008, 06:53 AM	#8
timberlord Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 291 Trader Rating: (0)	Welcome to the forum Joe Sellier&Bellot and Remington's UMC has ammo thats "abit" cheaper and more reliable. Check out gunshows for ammo too. __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...LongStamp1.jpg

04-22-2008, 12:58 AM	#4
JoeinTX Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Trader Rating: (0)	Hey, REM, the Pak stuff is not appealing to me at all. Corrosives.......reliability.........etc.......and I'm saying "no thanks." I'll take their brass and remake it. I'm not the reloader, but, my dad is and I'm now after years of not thinking a lot about it worrying. "and if the people who scare me get into power (you ALL know who they are)" I do know what you mean....if you know what I mean...and I'm spending a lot of weapon and ammo money to make sure they don't make it anywhere. Can't trust 'em any farther than I can shoot them..........

04-22-2008, 01:15 AM	#5
oldjarhead Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pottersville, MO Posts: 680 Trader Rating: (0)	JoeinTx, Congrats on your purchase. If the Serbian ammo you are referring to is PVRI Partisan I recommend you purchase a box or two and check it out. I bought two boxes of their .22 Hornet and found it to be less than desireable. The first round out of the box was a misfire. Out of the first box I had 5 misfires and 14 failures to extract. Of the rounds that did fire I found the accuracy to be pretty good. The second box had about 6 failures in 15 rounds so I quite firing it. Try it before you buy a larger quantity. Just a suggestion. BTW...welcome aboard.

04-22-2008, 04:34 AM	#7
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Trader Rating: (0)	Good to see some more smle fans.I have bought factory ammo for mine but only do it if in a pinch havent got time to reload.My reloads leave factory ammo with a bit to be desired.Have never used corrosive ammo in my guns.Have used it through mates who have been using it and i wouldnt bother with it myself.But then it depends what you are using it for.Hunting or matches i use what i know works.If i was just plinking i might consider using old milsurp ammo in an old nothing rifle.But i value my rifles too much to use corrosive ammo in them.Plus i hate cleaning black powders and if corrosive ammo is used i consider it the same as cleaning a black powder.No hot soapy water going near my rifles.

04-22-2008, 04:02 PM	#9
MrsS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Originally from the 26th state of the union; now living in the 16th. Posts: 1,104 Trader Rating: (0)	Welcome JoeinTX...from MrsS in Rocky Top, lol. __________________ Gun Control...is the ability to hit your target.