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303 Epps Cartridges

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steve View Drop Down
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Joined: October 27 2006
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    Posted: October 29 2006 at 8:34am
If you're curious as to what they look like, here's a pic.  They're topped with a home made 200 grain bullet.


Safe Shooting!
Steve Redgwell
www.303british.com
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 31 2006 at 3:06pm
Steve, you have my whole & undivided attention ! Firstly this is the first time I've seen the EPPS in the flesh as it where as it is one of those things over here that whilst there is talk of shooters having them & my barrel guy has the reemers ect , I have'nt been able to track down anyone who has one !
 The first thing that has got my attention is the fact the round looks to be quite staight cased & the neck reminds me of a weatherby round. Tell me is the Mk111 action capible of handleing the Epps ? & is it a case of just reaming the existing chamber ,or is it a rebarrel job?  I have a Mk1 (1902) that I was going to restore after all these years of using her  as a working rifle ,but I must say this round has sparked my intrest! The thought of a Epp on a Pat 14 action is also tempting I must admit ,but the only one I have is a 303-270 & I can't see myself rebarreling it !

      Dave
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 01 2006 at 6:37am
No need to rebarrel or anything like that.

The Epps cartridge operates at exactly the same pressure levels as the parent. 45,000CUP/49,000PSI.  Thats's what makes it, or any other improved cartridge, usable from the same rifle.

There is approx.  0.010 inches of taper from top to bottom so they don't feed too well from the magazine.  One trick is to load one 303 British cartridge in the mag first and two or three Epps cartridges (max) over top.

Shot from a No 1 or No 4, you can expect around 2600 fps from the Epps with a 180 grain bullet.  About another 100 or so fps if you use a P14 or a Ross.

Safe Shooting!
Steve Redgwell
www.303british.com
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 01 2006 at 1:33pm
Steve . You have now got my intrest ! I see in another post where you mention  thinking of using a Ruger #1 action for a EPPS . This really got my mind going into overdrive ! I have hidden in the dark recces of one of my safes ,a Martini .303 ............Me thinks I may have to contact my Barrel guy (If his talking to me yet ! .....There was a cruel rummour spread that he was making barrels out of mild steel & they also came out of the factory bent ! some how I got the blame Ermm) He may have a little reaming job to do ,me thinks !Smile

       Dave
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jonsered Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 04 2006 at 9:32am
2600 fps with a 180 grain? isnt that pushing it just  a little to high?, i dont have much knowledge of reloading and pressures and stuff like that
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 05 2006 at 6:25am
No, the bullet does 2600 fps at the same pressures as its parent, the 303 British.  What you have is a few grains more of powder because the improved case has more internal volume. 
Safe Shooting!
Steve Redgwell
www.303british.com
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LJM61 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2006 at 11:14am
Well Daveh,
Now you know how I felt when I started to investigate improving the No#4 to develope it into a 1000+ yard bench rest and in general long range shooter. And for me, the Canadian connection made it even more of a motivation.

I do have a question for Steve though regarding known recorded data for the Epp's load with varied length barrels?

Is there a know "sweet spot" when it come to barrel length that makes the Epp's shine? I tend towards a preference for 28inch to 30 inch barrels.

And a second question, regarding powder ratings. Would you say the power specs used for the 303 British and Epp's loads are considered fast or slower burning?

The reason I ask is that another caliber I'm highly interested in is the .264 Win Mag, which got a bad wrap over the years from having used barrels that were 26 inches or shorter(24inched being the most common for it), and when reloaded, using powders that were too fast burning to make for the best results, and therefore was over taken in popularity by the .240, .257 & 25-250 rounds which were hyped by the gun mags of the day.

My(newbie) observations where verified by a friends dad who had his model 70 rebarreled with a 28.5 inch heavy barrel using what reload data he could that incorporated slower powers and proceeded to get the .264WM results the shooting media had only heard about. 

25+ years ago, I personally witnessed my friends dad, clipping cigarettes that were standing vertically impaled on small nails on a fence at 600 yards from a sand bag rest on the roof of his parked car.

So I have to believe the same  further improvement has to be possible with the 303 Epp's using Steve's load data.

What say yall?

P.S....

I mentioned this last year to Steve in an Email about necking down an  Eppified .303 case to 6.5(.264) since it is considered to have the best co-efficiency in flight of any round under 50 cal. and running it down a 28 to 30 inch barrel to produce the fastest, flattest shooting 600 to 800 yard Enfeild ever!

It's also the reason I now want to become a custom Barrel maker catering to wildcat and custom rounds.
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