It has been quite a while since I reported on the progress of this rifle. When I left off, the magazine needed to be done. Now it has been.

I started with a badly damaged mag from a No.4 rifle and cut it to the desired profile of a 5 round sporting magazine

Next, I cold-formed a bottom plate to match the profile

Then off to a very talented welder who MIG-welded the two.

For a follower I removed the sturrup from a Pattern 1 follower and fitted a later accordion-type spring.

After much grinding, filing and fitting, this is the result.

After quite a bit of work tweaking the feed lips of the mag and profiling the feed ramp of the action, it now feeds as slick as a whistle.

Here is a picture of some rounds loaded with a custom 280gr cast bullet and a 260gr 38-55. I have shown an original .303 Mk VI, a 375x21/2 and a 38-55 for comparison.

I have shot the two cast bullet loads, but only with reduced charges of SR4759 so far. At 1250fps the rifle barks nicely and shows signs of accuracy. It's very pleasant to shoot. In a few months when the snow is gone, I'll get serious.