303 Brit. 150 gr. or 180 gr?

[Minnesota1]

I just purchased a Lee Enfield No. 4 mk II and need to buy some ammo to shoot a little.  What grain bullet seems to be the most accurate, the 150 or 180?  Your input is appreciated.

[WILD_WEASEL]

The only factory ammo I've shot in my  No.4Mk1 is Remington 180gr SP and Winchester 180gr FMJ.  In my particular rifle they both hit close to point of aim at 100 yards with the rear sight down, using the battle aperture.  If I use raise the rear sight I have to set it to 300 yards to hit point of aim at 100 yards.  I've also had very good performance using Hornady 150gr and 174gr .312 bullets and IMR 3031, that outshoot any factory ammo I've tried.  However, I do not recall the exact sight settings.  When reloading I use a Redding neck sizer die, to minimize working the brass.

[Mikey]

I prefer the 174/180 gn bullet in the 303 Brit.  I've used the 150s and they create a lot of meat damage, like most of the 150 gn 30 bores I've shot.  I also find the 174 gn softpoint by Hornady at .312 diameter and the 180 gn Spire Points by Sierra to shoot very well in my 303s and perform extremely well.   

Sellier and Bellot make good quality ammo for the Brit in both bullet weights.  Their loadings for European cartridges, including the 303 British duplicate the original loadings not the watered down versions the American ammo makers peddle.  Mikey.

[blackpowderbill]

My Maltbey prefers the heavier bullets. When hand loading I use Sierra .311 gameking 180 gr spitzers loaded out as far in the case as I can and still have them function through the magazine. My load vel. is about 2200 fps. If you can find any Greek Pyrkil 303 (headstamped HXP) snap it up as it seems (at least to me) to be superior to any commercial stuff Ive tried. Also it is non corrosive and reloadable. it has a 174gr Mk7 bullet.
 I have found that generally, although not always, military rifles perform best if you can duplicate the original load or something close to it.

[silver surfer]

I've never handloaded any 150's but the Hornady Light Magnums were a wonder when they made them.   I wish they still did.

On the other hand Speer and Sierra's in .311 over a max load of AA2520 will do things that I have never seen in a rifle.  I have a 1952 LongBranch that was made on a day after the machinists were given a raise!  She'll do anything I would ever want. 

I would recommend you slug your barrel and get the "gauge" right.  Depending on the year, manufacturer, production facility, Continent, or plageriust will determine the true value of the weapon.  Good luck and I hope you've got a good one.

[ECV Slick]

I've been loading the Hornady 174gr FMJBT that are .3105 over a charge of IMR-3031 and get excellent accuracy.  I always recommend this bullet, but not all Enfields may shoot them well due to looser bores in some rifles.  The Enfields I shoot have outstanding bores.

[iiranger]

I believe the military standard from WW I on was the 174 grain bullet. SO if you want to use the battle/factory sights, this would be closest to the 180 grain US loads. Most militarys are not snipers anyway. When you are ready to hunt, the 150 will give you that slight improvement in velocity and more meat destruction??? But you will need to adjust your sights, probably... And when you start to handload... you take charge... luck.

[hazmt]

My No 4 shoots just about anything I feed it well. I have used the Sellior and Bellot fodder in both weights, the Greek HXP,  several varieties of WWII Brit surplus, Winchester Commercial and Federal heavy weights. My favorite by far is the 125gr SP (Win or Remington SKS bullets) over IMR 4064 with Remington LR primers out of S&B Cases. These reloads shoot minute of angle and thump everything from Groundhogs to Deer to good effect. Come to think of it, I've only had 1 Enfield that didn't shoot well and it was a 1918 No 1 Mk III with a real sewer of a bore. As you can tell the Enfields are one of my favorites!

Best regards!

Haz