I'm a long term shooter but new to Enfields' apart from shooting one during my time in the UK Combined Cadet Force whilst at school!!

I have always wanted a No5 (forgive me for my sins) and now have the ability to acquire one.

The indoor range at my main shooting club is set up for 25 yards and has strict rules on muzzle velocity, muzzle energy and the use of lead only bullets. So downloading is the only option.  

I've trawled Google and seen several comments on how folks have used 32-20 bullet heads successfully  for low energy, short range shooting with their Enfields.

Can anyone help with real life experience on going down this route?

I use Hodgson Titegroup powder for downloading .44 Mag ammo for my Marlin, so I'm already comfortable loading my own ammunition.

Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Many years ago, a friend of my Dads shot light weight cast lead bullets through his No. 4 in his basement. I still have some of those bullets and believe they were 120 gr .32 calibre. 

I don’t see any reason why that would not work. Typically a pistol powder like Unique. Has to be a fast powder to get reliable ignition. When I get back home, I’ll look to see if I have load data for that bullet in the .303. 

Is there a muzzle velocity maximum you need to meet? 

THanks for the feedback.

Max muzzle velocity = 520 meters per second

Max muzzle energy = 645 Joules.

Any info you can find would be helpful.

Ya'll have a great day 

Gil.

Cheaper I have found.

You can also use a single lead No "0 Buckshot" shotgun pellet! That with a few grains of Unique & a dacron filler will do an excellent short range, very quiet pest control load.

some starting loads, as always work up.

11 Grains of Unique behind a 151 Gr hard cast bullet.
21 Gr of 2400 behind an 80 grain cast bullet.

We used them for rodent control inside barns.

Failing that there's a sub caliber insert that will convert the SMLE to a single-shot .32 pistol round . I'm not sure of the legality of that in England, the insert may qualify as "another firearm in a different caliber".

https://gunadapter.com/303-british-to-32acp-rifle-adapter-chamber-reducer-stainless/" rel="nofollow - https://gunadapter.com/303-british-to-32acp-rifle-adapter-chamber-reducer-stainless/

Thanks for the info. I've no experience of caliber adapters in the UK, but I suspect it would involve submitting a certificate variation request to cover the adapter and to hold the .32 pistol rounds.
The adapter may even need a serial number.

As well as the firearms, all ammunition requirements have to be listed on the certificate as well with a specified max quantity that can be held. 

It took my local Police Authority nearly four months to turnaround my last variation request, so it is not a quick process in the UK!!!! 

But thanks again for the suggestion anyway. I think a downloaded .303 case with 32-20 lead is going to be the quickest way forward.  

No5:

Lead bullet for .32-20, 115gr RNFP.

Vihtavuori N340. OAL 64mm.

8gr: 1328fps.

9gr: 1452fps.

I only had eight bullets left, so I couldn't try more loads, but 8gr @ 1328 is right where i wanted it.

I'll be posting my N540 results soon.

Gil.

Thanks Gil 

I shoot 200gr lead PC .312`s with 20gr of IMR 4227 they`re pretty slow.

Interesting, thank you. The equivalent powder for me would be Vectan SP3...

I wonder if N110 could be used, 200gr lead...

I would want to keep them around 1400-1500fps...

Gil.

I have finally acquired a No.5 which should be with me later this week, or early next.

After much Googling and the feedback above, I am going to try a starting load using a 120gr 32-20 lead bullet sized to .314, over 5gr of Titegroup. This for shooting at my local 25 yard indoor range.

I will report back on the results in due course.

Bullet is the Hornady Interlock .312.

Gil.

Great!

I always have a great deal of amusement when I show up at the indoor range with the SMLE!

"YOU CANT FIRE THAT IN HERE"!

"poot"

I love the .22 Smellie!

Shot using a barrel rest and with the open battle sights. I'm not the best of shots, so I am quite pleased with the results.

The shorter than usual rounds feed and load without any issues from the magazine. 

I will try to set up the club chronograph next time to see what the velocity looks like.

^^^^This^^^^

Kesselring's Gun Store in Burlington, WA used to sell 147 gr. surplus Russkie bullets by the pound like bulk peanuts.  They had a large bin with thousands of bullets and a grocery scale.  You'd scoop the bullets onto the scale, mark your bag and go to the cashier.  That's how I introduced my daughters to shooting full bore rifles with a No. 5.  I don't remember the recipe but I seem to remember it was made with IMR 3031, it was a long time ago.

I inadvertently just got dropped into the light load thing.  There's numerous ways to do this, one being what you're doing.  Missouri Bullet company and others sell their .313" coated cast bullets in bulk at about $.08 per bullet.

 

American Reloading is another company that sells blemished/pulled pistol bullets also in bulk for about $.10 per bullet; you have to keep an eye on their website because everything is based on availability and they sell out fast.  If you are quick on your feet you can get bullets like Sierra Matchkings that are seconds due to surface staining blemishing at less than half what you would get them in a store.

They even have .311" once in a while:

https://americanreloading.com/collections/311-cal-303

I have a Thompson/Center .32 caliber bullet mould for the Green River barrel I bought for shooting my .54 caliber Hawkin when I decided shooting gophers with 540 grain hunting bullets was harder on me than it was on the gophers.  It drops bullets which after being powder coated should work just fine.  That particular mould is now unobtainium since T/C passed into history and the small bore muzzle stuffer crowd pay ridiculous prices for them when they show up for sale on EvilBay.  So much so that I've thought of casting a a few thousand, enough to get me through whatever time I have left, then sell the mould to somebody who desperately wants one.

I'm not a Lee Enfield historian, but as far as what the US military called "gallery loads" goes, those low powered indoor/short range training rounds were common in the US military since the 30 U.S. was adopted by their military.  Our modern version were .22 rimfire inserts issued for our FN FAL rifles (made for FN by H&K, of all people).  FN collectors pay big bucks for one of those complete and in the box.

I'm not aware of whether the Brits, Aussies, etc developed gallery loads at some point after the .303 British cartridge was adopted.  Can't recall seeing anything like that in Canada.