6mm Musgrave conversion to ??

[WillysCJ]

Hi All.

I have a very sentimental 6mm Musgrave that is still in a very good condition. It will one day pass down to my son and is purely used to punch papers.

However lately, it has become increasingly difficult to reload. Most of my cases is starting to split and when It happens its a mission to get out of the full size die. I cannot find a new die set anymore and going forward I would need to reform 303 cases to the 6mm Musgrave spec.

I am looking now to rebarrel this rifle to some other 6mm/243 configuration that could work on the Enfield action. Either barrel replacement or rechambering. I am looking for advice on what would work. 6mm PCR, 6m Cr, 223, 243 etc etc. But something where shells and dies are available.

I do not want to scrap and is willing to cough up for the work. Its not my only rifle so dont mind the re licensing and time. Its currently licenced under S16 Sport Shooting and will stay on that. I just dont want to go to a larger projectile so should preferably stay in the 243 category. Smaller is ok.

Any advise on what works and what has been done successfully previously. Would also not mind reference to someone up to the task. I am around Witbank by Jhb/Pta reachable quite easily.

Thanks in advance.

[TStone]

There is not a lot of options if the rifle is built on an Enfield action. The cartridges you mention all generate too much pressure.
There are several wildcat cartridges that will work on an Enfield action but if you go the wildcat route you can just as well order a set of custom 6mm Musgrave dies and neck down .303 cases.

[Ds J]

However lately, it has become increasingly difficult to reload. Most of my cases is starting to split and when It happens its a mission to get out of the full size die. I cannot find a new die set anymore and going forward I would need to reform 303 cases to the 6mm Musgrave spec.

Cases do not split because of the die set. The cases are probably worn out, and hard from being shot without annealing.

Have you tried annealing them?

[Fire-stick]

Hi WillyCJ

Considering the rifle has sentimental value and the barrel is good, keep it as is.
I share the same calibre and it also has sentimental value so I'm in no rush to change anything there.
It's maybe not the best shooter or strongest action but it does the job and has done so for years.

There is a way to work around the challenge.
You have been reloading for the calibre so obviously have a die set at present.
As DsJ mentioned, an issue with the splitting is generally down to annealing.

Necking down your own brass from 303 is a possibility, first with a 6.5 die then down to the 6mm Musgrave but annealing in between is a must.

Send me your contact details by PM, there is a locally manufactured availability of 6mm Musgrave in the making again.
Not PMP but another with better brass I understand.
They are planning for end of September beginning October.

Regarding new dies, there was something mentioned on forum a little while back about a group bringing in some in due course.
I'll try look for it a bit later.

[Fire-stick]

For any others finding themselves in a similar boat with the brass availability issue, as soon as the brass production has commenced and available I'll post the details on forum.

[WillysCJ]

Cases do not split because of the die set. The cases are probably worn out, and hard from being shot without annealing.

Have you tried annealing them?

Hi.

Yes I do anneal on every load. They are just shot out.

[Ds J]

There are several options before going the loong and tiresome road of relicensing:

- have brass made up by a specialist

- search and advertise really thoroughly for brass

- start converting your own, even though 303 brass is scarce.



To answer your question on a conversion:

Two things are important:

- Changing the bolt face is the tricky part when changing calibres on a Lee Enfield action.

- The max pressure for the action limits the choice in calibres.

In Canada, the 303 has been converted to 45-70. It is easily done because the bolt head needs very little (or no) work. This in itself gives you an idea: which calibres use a similar rim as the 303?

Otherwise, you could have a look on Australian forums. They have converted the 303 into many different wildcats. In research, I have read about conversions from .224 calibre up to .375. It seems that 6mm - 7mm conversions are popular.

[WillysCJ]

Thanks.

I am trying to shy away from a Wildcat sort of conversion as it will again require case forming etc.

Ive heard some info on the 7mm conversion but hoping its possible to stay within the 6-6.5mm range without too many conversion “maak n plan” issues.

Where can a custom sizing die be bought? Seems like most gunsmiths Ive tried does not have the reamer to cut. I would also not mind going that route but would actually just prefer biting the bullet once and convert it to a long term solution.

[A-R]

You can contact Pieter from Rosco Tactical at zero 82 7one7 two736 for new dies. He imports them on order from Simplex in Australia. They do cost more than the common off-the-shelf caliber die sets.

If your current sizer die has issues or damages the cases, chances are a good gunsmith can polish it and restore it to as good as new.

Cases that have not split yet, can be saved by frequent annealing. That is for splits in the neck. Case head separation can be prevented or delayed by proper sizer die adjustment and sizing procedures.

Forming 6mm Musgrave cases from 303 Br is not too difficult, as only the neck gets reformed. If properly annealed, you could most likely size them is a 303 die first (expander/decapper removed), then straight into the 6mm sizer.

If your rifle is built on a Lee action, then case life will be compromised a little. This is due to the inherent flex in a rear-locking action. It helps to only size the case neck and use very mild loads.
Re-barreling a Lee is also not usually a good idea, as it has many limitations.

If you are one of the lucky few with a 6mm Musgrave built on a P14 action, then you have more options. These actions have been used for a huge variety of custom rifles in calibers up to the .50 range. Only the case rim-extractor relationship needs to be considered carefully. Cutting the breech face and extractor claw for a bigger diameter is easy. Going smaller not so much.

[Ds J]

Thanks.

I am trying to shy away from a Wildcat sort of conversion as it will again require case forming etc.

Ive heard some info on the 7mm conversion but hoping its possible to stay within the 6-6.5mm range without too many conversion “maak n plan” issues.

Where can a custom sizing die be bought? Seems like most gunsmiths Ive tried does not have the reamer to cut. I would also not mind going that route but would actually just prefer biting the bullet once and convert it to a long term solution.

I do not follow your reasoning ie I do not understand what you want to do?

A die is to resize rifle cases, or to seat bullets.

You already have a die.

Why do you want another die?

xxx

Or do you want to have an intermediate die to resize 303 cases to 6mm?

xxx

If you really want to convert to another calibre, there are only the physical limitations of your action to keep in mind:

- max magazine length

- max pressure for the action

- minimum meat on the new chamber side walls

- rim diameter for the current bolt