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    Posted: April 04 2019 at 1:10am
I found a gunsmith who could look over my No1 Mk3.  Two problems.  Upon firing, the primer gets pushed back just enough that you can catch it with your finger nail.  And, there is wear/erosion of the chamber on one side (he called it "belly") such that the brass is very difficult to extract.

So, in his opinion, the rifle is safe enough to shoot...it's not going to blow up or anything, but the chamber is no good.  We briefly discussed a new barrel, but the cost is a no-go for me.  I'm disappointed that the rifle is not going to be a range toy.  It is a nice example of the type, its got the volley sights, mag cut-off, decent stock etc., but it will sit on the rack.  I'm not a collector, so will probably part with it.  Shame, I was hoping for better news.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 04 2019 at 9:37am
Not for nothing but I'd get a second opinion on the "belly"!
Have someone do a chamber cast at least (unless thats what he did)!
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 04 2019 at 11:50am
Might be shootable with reloads (reduced powder charges).  I assume he actually fired the rifle with commercial ammunition? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 04 2019 at 12:34pm
As 'britrifles' suggested, try a low load. Most powders have a starting load. With Hogdon H4859 you can reduce the maximum load by 30%.
I use low loads because of a shoulder injury and find it no problem up to 400 yards. I can get   1.5 MOA groups with my No.4.
The other advantage of low loads is that you don't wear the brass out as quickly as with full loads.
 
Have a go, Good luck.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 04 2019 at 8:28pm
i prefer low loads to the factory anymore and agree it may still be a "range toy" , i think there are some that look just fine in the rack as well , for the record here what did you get that has its volleys intact ? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2019 at 2:41am
Originally posted by A square 10 A square 10 wrote:

i , for the record here what did you get that has its volleys intact ? 
 
? Sorry I don't understand the question.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MuttCat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2019 at 3:04am
The rifle is a 1911 No.1 Mk III mad in Enfield.  I'll be driving out to pick it up from gunsmith's shop either Monday or Tuesday.  We'll talk some more about options and possible solutions.  Yup, maybe reduced loads will suffice, I do that now with my N frame 629 and it does make it more enjoyable to shoot.  From what I gather, with the brass sticking so tight, the smith was afraid the extractor would get ruined with repeated use.  And it does look good in the rack, it's in fine condition, and very cool.  Thanks all for your comments, all this is a learning process too.  I do have 20 rounds of old Remington ammo.  I guess I could pull the bullets and reload lower.  Won't have to seat primers anyway.  How's that sound?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2019 at 7:08am
Mutt,
 
First find out exactly what your gunsmith tried in the rifle.
If he fired only a primed case, it is Very common for the primer to pop out a bit, as no pressure to push the case back to the bolt face.
Also, is the chamber clean?   Bit rusty or anything?
I am not saying the gunsmith doesn't know what he's doing, but work through it all slowly and be very specific.   It is not time to hang it on the wall yet.
 
Keep us posted.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2019 at 7:51am
^^^
THIS.
Get all the info you can, if he did a chamber cast get us some pics of it.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MuttCat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2019 at 8:23am
We will go over the process.  I did know there was some corrosion, but did not know the extent of it.  He called me about it though and wanted to try to polish it out...guess that didn't help.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2019 at 12:29pm
There is another option for this rifle if you can't use it with .303 ammunition. you could try and find one of the .22 kit's that slip into the barrel and turn it into a single shot .22 trainer. They are fun to shoot in .22 as well and can be very accurate with the right ammunition.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MuttCat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2019 at 3:31am
No chamber cast, the chamber is shot.  The rifle can be fired safely, but it will not see range duty.  The smith fired commercial ammo, not primed empty cases, and the primers were pushed back.  I guess I could hunt for a longer bolt head to address that issue.  But the chamber fix would mean a replacement barrel.

So, I guess I'll shoot it 20 times...that's how many rounds I have, and for now just keep it in the rack.
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