.303 reloads

[cam69conv]

Hey fellas... I was wondering if anyone out there reloads .303 british rounds.. I dont have a reloader as of yet and I dont think the boss (wife) will let me get one after all I spent on huntin stuff this year.. What I would like is to get together with someone that reloads them (factory specs or faster). I have about 50 or so fireformed brass but I really havnt tracked down a bullet I like yet...Suggestions on that are welcomed as well... My rifle is a #2 mk4 sniper british enfield...With the factory rem corlokt it holds a .5 to .75 group at 100 which is compleatly acceptable but I do so love to experiment... I would like to get some perfectly matched loads to shoot a lil and see what they would do on a deer this year...If anyone out there is interested you can either hit this post or message me on my yahoo addy cam69conv2002 Thanks again for any returns

[Val]

I have a No1 Mklll sporterised Enfield that I had a tough time finding a good load with. I use  Hornady 123 grain, 7.62 SP bullets and I'm getting 3/4 inch 3 shot groups after I replaced the bolt head and improved the head space. I also have a No4 Mk l in original condition which I have not done the load development on yet. They are fun rifles to shoot and pretty accurate.

[jd45]

I've experimented last summer with my brother's #4 MK 1. Put a 2-piece synthetic stock & my Leupold Vari-X III 6-1/2 to 20 'scope on it. Got a Lee handloader, some Winchester brass, some Sellior & Bellot mil-surp ammo. I used a minumum charge of Varget, (39grs) under a Hornady 150gr SP, Federal 210 match primers & at 100yds got 1-1/2" groups for starters. Not bad, I thought. I like the S&B cases better than the Win's 'cause the Win's don't neck-size small enough to give good case neck tension, which I believe is necessary for good powder burn. Haven't tried heavier bullets or powder charges yet. jd45

[Mikey]

I use two particular relaods for the 303 Brit.  One is using VV N140 powder - 41.7 gn over either a .312-174 gn Hornaday or a .311 - 180 gn Sierra spire point.  Both bullets group to 3/4" at 100 yds from my No4 Mk1 Stevens made 303.  They velocity is posted at 2540'/sec.

I also use a charge of 43.7 gn of Norma N-203 powder for the same velocity and accuracy.  HTH.  Mikey.

[cam69conv]

Mikey, How does your rifle seem to like that load with the 174 grain Hornady? If you have yahoo messenger give me a buzz on cam69conv2002 or leave me a message on here. Id like to discuss me sending you some brass and a lil cash to make me up a few of those loads and see how this ole girl of mine likes them.. The only brass I have thats fire formed to my weapon is Rem brass...Only once fired though so its in good shape. Thanks in advance and thank everyone thats responed so far. All advise is needed ans willingly accepted :-)

[Mikey]

cam69conv - Neither of the two No4 Mk1s seem to have any real preference for either .311 or the .312 Hornaday.  Both bullets group equally well.  Interestingly though, the .311s group about 3" higher on the target than the .312s.  Every critter I have shot with the 303 with either load reacts the sme - they drop.  

The most accurate off the shelf .311s - 180 gn bullets seem to be the S&B fmjs.  I do not doubt that their 150 gn soft points would be of the same quality.  However, that being said, there is nothing like a round nose soft point for good terminal effect.  

Also however, both loads I listed are the only loads listed for those bullets with the powders mentioned and although safe in my rifles I would be hesitant about using them in someone else's rifles without working them up first.

The 303 Brits are great rifles but they are milsurps and all have significant variances.  Both my No 4s have proper headspace but generous chambers and at the loading listed my brass do not last more than 3 loads.  S&B brass lasts for two loads.  Maybe of I just neck sized they would last longer and I will have to see if that works.  But, with this in mind I am hesitant to create loads for someone else's rifles.  

I usually find the factory loads by Rem or Win are usually about 100'sec slower than the S&Bs or reloads.  However, if your rifle groups that well, an additional 100'/sec isn't going to matter on that whitetail and you may already have found the loads that match up to your rifle.

I know what you mean about the expenditures you have made but there is an inexpensive way to go about this - the Lee Loader is a handheld mechanism that uses standard reloading dies and is inexpensive.  Also, a single stage reloading press, a used one that the previous owner felt he needed to upgrade, can be found inexpensively.  You don't have to spend large amounts of $ to begin reloading and that might be something Moma will appreciate ( one can only hope).

If you want, you can pm me but I would rather talk you through the process for yourself than to hear that one of the loads has come apart in your rifle and that you have been injured.  This may sound a bit parochial (? sp) but I would rather continue to read your posts than hear of an accident.  Mikey.

[cam69conv]

Hey Mikey, This old girl hadnt been shot out like alot of the mil surp's ya see. The headspace was DEAD on with no slop in the action at all. Bore looks damn near unfired. My smith was nicely surprised at the shape this rifle was in when I picked it up. He felt that there had been no more than 750 to 800 rounds put through it if that much. I do like the damage and knockdown that these fac rems do but in actuallity they do a little TOO much damage on a deer. Last big doe I shot with it had an exit wound about 3/4 the size of my fist. (I have big hands too). Im basicly looking for something that will still have the energy but not the explosivness on the exit. I hunt for meat so loosing 7 to 10 pounds of meat because of bullet damage isnt what I like. Hell this heffer makes a bigger hole than my .444 with the Rem 240 grain's in it. Of course I can understand your reluctance and its no biggie. Ill just have to put ma foot down on momma and say I gotta have it like it or not :-D  (in actuallity beg)

[jd45]

Has anyone tried that ball-detent trigger upgrade I've seen on milsurprifle.com? If so, were you happy with the results? I'm curious, jd45.

[cam69conv]

Mikey, I just got off a site that really has the new rhino bullet for the .303 talked up BIG time...They have them in 175 and 215 grain in .312 diam. Go to rhino bullets site and have a looksie and see what ya think...Im pickin up a el cheapo lee loader this week so I can start on ma own... Would really appreciate some good info on what ya think. The price on these were like 21 for 50. Now these bullets are BONDED so Im assuming that would make it more of a premium bullet. Kinna sceered to use fmj's cuzz where I hunt we have horses on the farm...Dont want a bullet goin through a critter and killin one of me horses. Look foward to hearin back from ya. Hehe Momma wont fuss about a 20 buck reloader (I hope) Just hope she understands the 50 bux fer bullets. 25 bux fer powder 20 bux fer primers    :-D  :-D

[Mikey]

cam69conv:  Hmmmm, that seems like an awful lot of money to spend for bullets although I can definately understand your concerns about your horses.  

As for bullets, I have used either the Hornaday (.312 - 174 gn) or the Sierra (.311 - 180 gn) with complete success (and a much lower cost).  Woodleigh also makes a 215 grainer for the 303.  

Your post mentioned a lot of meat damage with the 303 loads you were using - I think they were Remingtons, you said.  But, you didn't say if they were 150 grain or 180 grain - I have found that most 150 grain bullets in just about any 30 caliber bore create a lot of meat damage, especially on shoulder shots.  The 180s tend to punch on through with a bit less damage, but the 303 Brit will drop'em.  Speeding the bullet up 100'/sec or so doesn't matter that much, it is basically where you put the shot.  

With your concern about your horses I might even consider dropping to the 150 grainer and going for chest shots to save some meat.  

However, all that being said I think that when you start rollin' some of your own 303s and see them group to within 3/4" at 100 yds you aren't going to worry near as much about how hard they will hit.  And, as the velocities of the 303 Brit, the more expensive bullets don't seem to be worth it.  Just my opinion though.  Mikey.