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.303 Ackley Improved or Epps case dimensions?

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lfnel

.303 Ackley Improved or Epps case dimensions?

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Posts: 86

Apr 15 12 6:50 AM

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I'm looking for case dimensions for the .303 Ackley Improved and .303 Epps. I can't seem to google them up anywhere. See, I have a SMLE No. 1, Mk. 3 that is nicely sporterized. Problem is, there's a small gouge been taken out of the chamber. It shows up as a slight bulge in the shoulder of the fired case. I'm sure it's plenty safe to shoot, but it leaves an unsightly looking case and I'm sure would result in reduced case life for the reloader. I'm thinking that perhaps reaming the chamber to .303 Ackley Improved or .303 Epps might be a relatively inexpensive to "fix" the problem. So, I need the dimensions for these cases so to know if the rifle's chamber would be increased in length enough with either of these conversions to take out the gouge. Maybe just the squared off shoulder of these improved cases would do it, but I'd still need dimensions to know that. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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lonniemike

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Posts: 345

Apr 15 12 11:45 AM

Veteran member

No help with the 303AI or 303Epps. For a 303 Epps Improved, an old 1965 Handloaders Digest article shows a 35 degree shoulder angle, with a case/shoulder dia of .446" and case/shoulder length of 1.805", snd a max case length of 2.262"or .004" longer than a reg 303. And his 303EI used a P-14 rifle not a SMLE. Best

doug henry

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Posts: 1937

Apr 19 12 6:40 AM

.303 Epps case:

Length 2.16"
head diameter .455"
rim diameter .540"
neck diameter .339"
neck length .278"
shoulder length .081"
shoulder diameter .447"
length head to shoulder 1.88"
shoulder angle 42.87 degrees

Ryfleman

RE. 303 Ackley Improved or EPPS case dimensions

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Posts: 11

Aug 12 12 9:03 PM

I have a No.4 Long Branch in .303 Improved. Neck is same length as standard .303 Brit. Body is blown out to appr. 0.007 total taper.
Shoulder angle is roughly 30 degrees. Velocity is 2600 fps. with 174 grn. Hornady round nose flat base. Extreamly accurate.
New cases hardly ever develop incipient seperations if lightly lubed and fired-formed to new chamber using shot-gun powder and cream of wheat before loading bullets.
One gains between 6% to 8% case volume. Steve Redgewell at < www.303British.com > published a repair manual on the .303 that briefly describes most of the variants of .303 Improved.
The Epps cas has much too short a neck for my liking - do not go for ultra velocity with the .303 IP in any No. 4 or SMLE - or you will slowly set back the head space to the point where your reciever needs to be replaced. These actions seldom, if ever blowup, they just take on a permanent set back if over stressed. PO Ackley attempted to blow various actions up in the early 1950's, the Lee Enfields refused to let go with any powder then available. The reciever has excellant gas diversion abilities.

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.303 Ackley Improved or Epps case dimensions?

.303 Ackley Improved or Epps case dimensions?