One Tool You Need if You Reload (Particularly .303 British)

If you're an experienced reloader you may already know about the potential pitfall of handloading .303 British for Lee Enfield rifles -- and if you don't you may very well find out the hard way. In this video I recommend the purchase of an inexpensive tool which could save a trip at the range, a visit to a gun smith or your own hard efforts to fix the problem. Advance apologies for the sound quality, it's what happens when you film on a windy day.
The Redneck Preppy can also be found on Odysee: odysee.com/@Th...
#reloading #reloadingbench #303british

[@StephenCooteNZ]

Thanks. I have used Lee Enfields for over fifty years, but have only recently started reloading. I was not previously aware of the tool you've just introduced me to. Best wishes from New Zealand

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Thanks very much for the best wishes -- greets from Canada! -- and best of luck with the reloading!

[@m1garandman]

It's good that you mentioned this because not everybody is aware of this issue. I have experience it myself with the 303 chambered rifles that I own. If however you own another rifle for which a common length extractor tools are not long enough such as the 300 H&H you may need to resort to using a chamber brush. If you cannot find a caliber specific brush for your chamber you might look for a 50 caliber bore brush. You can use that and some cleaning rod sections to achieve the same end.

[@bdsurfer13]

Great videos, thanks for your info on the Lee Enfield 303 British. Just starting to reload for it. Researching all I can before working up my first loads. Thanks again for making your videos.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Very kind of you sir, thank you!

[@jimirvine763]

Cheap alternative. Remove the bolt and carefully insert a cleaning rod with a brass bore brush attached from the breech end toward the muzzle. You'll feel the bore crush engage into the case. Carefully apply pressure until a few bristles enter the neck of the cartridge. Then move the rod and bore brush rearward. The case will come out every time.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

I will honestly try that the next time it (hopefully never) happens to me :-) Great tip!

[@felixthecat265]

This might work, but I would contest that it works "every time" separated cases tend to be well embedded in the chamber wall and usually take some shifting. An alternative "last ditch" method that will usually always work on a really stuck case is to do a chamber cast with Cerrosafe and you will find the case comes out with the casting...

[@jl-jf9ny]

What also often works to remove a separated case, is a tapered round file, remove bolt, insert file gently push twist, pull.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

I have a video I did a couple of years after this where I demonstrate that very method! Great minds think alike :-)

[@jf02367]

Excellent. Great info. Getting started with reloading and bullet casting for 303. I have thought about it for my other rifle calibers. Great idea to have the extractors on-hand. Thanks.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Thank you very much, very appreciated! I have to admit that casting is one rabbit hole I'm not sure I want to go down, though I see the obvious advantages to it, particularly with some of the really old rifles I shoot where bullet availability is hit or miss -- like 43 Mauser.

[@davidhaynes4425]

Good information. Thank you. I carried a broken case extractor for 30-06 and 223 during my competitive years and continue to due so now.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Thank you sir and hopefully you didn't make too much use of them!

[@Majorrogerragland48]

Cool , haven't had a broken base...yet! ordering the tool now thought thanks

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

I hope you never have to use it :-)

[@daveb4688]

Very informative, thanks for the video, I will have to look for that extractor! cheers

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

I think I mentioned in the video that Brownells carries them, if not a search on the web should provide plenty. Thanks for watching!

[@peterrobins3708]

Very under rated video...very well presented informative. Two thumbs up :-)

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Thank you sir, very kind of you!

[@chios1958]

Thank you. Great information

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Very kind of you, thank you!

[@KriegZombie]

Thanks for the intel. I just picked up a Lithgow No1 Mk3 from RTI and I love it already.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Have fun with 'er!

[@felixthecat265]

I was standard British practice in both the days of .303 and 7.62 NATO for every infantry section (squad) to carry a spit case extractor in the machine gun toolkit.

[@pauljones2031]

I'm glad you mentioned neck sizing only. I haven't had any brass issues because I bought a Lee neck only die. However I still have a batch of militaary ammo with berdan primers in a brass case and still looking for the best method to reuse this with boxer primers.

[@billshollenberger6720]

site called 22 reloader has aluminum bushings to convert berdan cases to boxer. But first you need to mill the berdan anvil out of the case. Hope this helps!

[@gunnerskmc1]

That's a Very Good Idea! Never had a case seperate yet but it is cheap insurance. Thanks

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

I learned the hard way :-)

[@gunnerskmc1]

@@TheRedneckPreppy It's better to be prepared for the unexpected. Thanks.......

[@Rundu1987]

I dont know if its just the South African brass, but I can load my cases (pmp) at least 7 times. I use a paper clip in L shaped form to feel the inside of the case if I am worried that it might seperate. You can actually detect the seperation before the case-head lets go. I dont have that Brownells tool and would love to have one. I use a round file that I jam into the stuck case and tap it out with my cleaning rod.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

The old rat tail file method for case removal -- I've used it, ha ha. I use a hooked tool that gets into most 30-calibre cases so I can feel that incipient case head separation from the inside. I'm actually rather disappointed that I forgot to mention that method in the video. Hat tip for pointing it out!

[@m1garandman]

@@TheRedneckPreppy I personally use a dental pick in order to discover if my cases are starting to develop a ring inside of them. With some calibers like .223 the ring will generally start to appear higher in the case body versus down by the web of the case and you're able to use a laser pointer in order to shine inside the cases and find the ring. I personally use a green laser pointer because it makes visibility better inside of the cases than a red laser pointer would.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

@@m1garandman Great tips!

[@buckcorrigan9595]

Great video. 303 extracters are hard to find, and expensive these days,....I bought a 308 case extractor on ebay, chucked in my drill press, and with a bit of patience, trial and error, milled (files and sandpaper ) it down for my 303. It works well !

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Awesome -- nothing like a bit of industriousness to get what you need!

[@SK-tr9ii]

I'm confused...isn't the bullet for a 303 slightly bigger than a 308? Without looking it up, it seems to me the 303 bullet measures .309/.310 and the 308 measures .3085. Why would a 308 extracter need to be turned down?

[@buckcorrigan9595]

@@SK-tr9ii you're correct, but we're talking about case configuration, not bullet diameter , and we're talking about extracting a broken case 😊

[@SK-tr9ii]

@@buckcorrigan9595 Why does the 308 extracter need to be turned down? Isn't the smallest part of the case located where the bullet is located? The 308 extracter is already smaller than the 303 bullet.

[@AirborneMOC031]

Lee Enfield rifles don't have "headspace issues". Lee Enfield owners who reload and don't understand what they're doing with the military chambers are what has the issues. Resize properly; check brass... never need it. Haven't needed one in 50+ years of reloading for my Lee Enfields. But I resize properly. If you fail on point one and point two... some cerrosafe will remove any separated brass in any caliber chamber.

[@terryes1872]

Expand the necks of new brass, size to just fit in chamber, then load and fire. Size cases to just fit the chamber, then your brass should last, as long as you don't oversize. Sorry this is the very short explanation, I'm better at reloading than typing.

[@terryes1872]

Think like the case is rimless, headspace from shoulder to bolt face. I size necks of new 303B brass up to 35 cal, then set FLS die to size just enough of the case neck, so it will fit the chamber. When fired, the case shouldn't flow forward to badly and brass will last many reloads. Hope this helps.

[@silverrado58]

I didn't know they had a tool like that for the 303 British I have one like that for my 7.62 x39 and my 223. As for my Lee-Enfield number 4 Mark 1. I neck size. I'm definitely going to look into getting one of those tools for my 303 thanks for the info.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Saved my bacon a few times, ha ha. I have them in a few calibres like .223 (like you) and also .30-06.

[@timhofstetter5654]

It's not "reloading". It's "handloading". Because we often load the brass for the first time.

[@garrybrischke53]

An alternative is to use a Lee Collet die and separate your brass if you have more than one 303 Brit rifle . Over size chamber + full length resizing = case head separation. Learned the hard way.🙄

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Solid idea!

[@susanbutler2498]

Not reloading for my .303's (YET) Ta for the heads up Mate. (NZ!)

[@shanecluett5643]

had it happen once,i put the rifle in the freezer overnight,took it out tapped the butt on the floor case fell right out

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Definitely another way of doing it, using temperature differential!

[@UPL-xl1yz]

Thank you RP! I have 3 Enfields and will definitely look into picking up the case extraction tool! Out of curiosity, what bullet/powder combos do you use?

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Thanks and I hope you never need to use it! I tend to use 45 grains of BL-C(2) under a 174 gn RN bullet (Hornady #3130 if I recall). Nothing too fancy.

[@UPL-xl1yz]

@@TheRedneckPreppy awesome! I'm using the same bullet and experimenting with Varget, W760, IMR4350 and IMR 4451. All loads are on the lower end, about 2250fps or so, just to go easier on the brass. Shooting out of a P14, No4 Mk1 and No 4 Mk2 sporterised.

[@James-qz2ny]

Where do you get centerfire cartridges at 29 bucks ? Last I found was 60 bucks in saskatchewan

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

It's an older video :-)

[@greenninja5150]

Not trying to be a dick but there is a solution to the problem. Change the bolt head to one that gives you the correct headspace. They come in 4 different flavors. I had the same problem until I changed the bolt head.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Noth8ng dickish about your comment! I have mulled that swap myself but never gotten around to it. Perhaps one day soon.

[@greenninja5150]

@@TheRedneckPreppy Before the bolt head swap, I had a couple completely separate at the firing line. The holes in the front of the receiver let off the pressure so it was, apparently, safe enough but no one wanted to sit on either side of me after that. lol

[@mikeharris9153]

3 years later, 303 is almost impossible to find and $50/box

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Yeah, I hear you on that. A sign at my local gun shop lists a range of ammunition that they don't have and .303 British is on it.

[@renevreeken]

My local Canadian tire has the Winchester Super X for almost $70 a box

[@James-qz2ny]

Way over 2 bucks a round dec 23/22

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Yup :-)

[@svernwarunos546]

Steve m outdoors

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Svern Warunos.

[@jasonweishaupt1828]

So they still let you own thundersticks in communistwealth countries?

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

For now.

[@AirborneMOC031]

More than you can own in some states of Police State Fascist Amerika. Amazing how many Amerikans aren't aware of that!