Lee Enfield 1898 Royal Irish Constabulary carbine

A very cool acquisition -- congratulations.

I've long thought this was possibly the most attractive configuration of all the LEs. The condition's not bad for one of these, since they were far from new before the RIC mods and then probably used hard.

Have you checked whether the pitting extends below the stock line?
 
A very cool acquisition -- congratulations.

I've long thought this was possibly the most attractive configuration of all the LEs. The condition's not bad for one of these, since they were far from new before the RIC mods and then probably used hard.

Have you checked whether the pitting extends below the stock line?
Not yet but will do and show results.
 
I have a fascination and weakness for the early Enfield rifles. I have a couple of the WW1 version (never can remember the number correctly). I also have a No. 5 that someone attempted to sporterize and didn't like the results. I'm attempting to put the old dear in adequate shape as a sporter. Good caliber, anyway.

That is magnificent. A great bit of history.
 
If you intend to reload, do NOT full length resize. The chambers on all Enfield are cut generous to allow dirty cartridges to chamber. Once fired, all your cartridges are sized to that chamber. Neck size only.

Kevin
 
If you intend to reload, do NOT full length resize. The chambers on all Enfield are cut generous to allow dirty cartridges to chamber. Once fired, all your cartridges are sized to that chamber. Neck size only.

Kevin

Out of curiosity, what do you do when the neck sized cases inevitably don’t fit the chamber?

Do you full length size then go back to neck sizing or just scrap the brass?
 
If you intend to reload, do NOT full length resize. The chambers on all Enfield are cut generous to allow dirty cartridges to chamber. Once fired, all your cartridges are sized to that chamber. Neck size only.

Kevin
That's my standard practice.... I began loading .303 British ammo over 25 years ago. Picked up a Redding 3 die deluxe set that included a neck size only die. Figured on neck size only until the cases get tight, and then it's time to full length resize. So far I have never full length resized one of them. For about 4 or 5 neck sizings everything is fine and the ammo doesn't even feel snug upon closing the bolt. Except by that time the case is getting ready for a head separation when the extractor tries to pull it from the chamber, ( had that happen once). My experience includes 2 Lee-Enfields; a No. 1 Mark III and a No. 4 Mark 1, Both were about the same on case life so cases get tossed into the scrap brass container after 4 loadings. If not for the case stretching, I always wondered how many reloads I could get out of a case before it needed a full length resize. I reload 6.5x55 for a Swedish Mauser sporter and get up to 7 or 8 loadings per case. Neck size only and at about the 4th loading I notice more effort closing the bolt. Then it's full length time. It all depends on chamber dimensions and Lee-Enfields are noted for generous chamber size, like StraHat mentioned.
 
That's my standard practice.... and Lee-Enfields are noted for generous chamber size, like StraHat mentioned.

Generous is being kind. They cut them big to work in the trenches. They must have been anticipating pebbles getting stuck to the ammunition!

Glad you understand the neck sizing idea. I am a big fan. I also partial resize instead of FL resize when I can. It adds a few reloads to the case. My 22 Hornet likes that trick. Neck size until chambering is difficult, partial resize and keep going.

Good luck.

Kevin
 
Out of curiosity, what do you do when the neck sized cases inevitably don’t fit the chamber?

Do you full length size then go back to neck sizing or just scrap the brass?
At that point I will partially resize the case and keep screwing in the FL die until the case chambers. Sometimes 3/4 sizing works. Sometimes it has to be FL sizing. It depends on the chamber.

Once it fits, back to neck sizing until it doesn’t.

Kevin
 
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