303 loads

[jamaldog87]

do you know of any good non-FMJ loads for the 303 for hog hunting?

[woodchukhntr]

C.E. Harris determined that 13.0 gr. of Red Dot is the ideal reduced-velocity load for anything larger than a .30-30.  See the article http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_19_46/ai_65017381  from the October 2000 Guns magazine.  I have used it successfully in .308's and .30-06's, along with a .303.  I used both cast and jacketed bullets and accuracy was excellent.  In fact I just picked up some cast 180's and 118's for a new .303 (1952 Mk4 #2 with target sight).

[darkwing]

Howdy,
    I've used Fed, Rem and WW 150grs or 180 SP. In the old days they were as common as dirt. Now most places stock Rem UMC in FMJ . Things have changed, now I've got to drive 50 miles or order them on the internet just for a box of soft points.

[darkwing]

And one more thing.
Thanks Walmart for building a super center in our town. Now that you broke the small gun shops you stopped selling guns. Great!! What a scenic view of all the abandon buildings of other small business. 

[Mikey]

S&B makes a 150 gn softpoint and I believe Winchester still makes the 180 gn softpoint (yep).  Norma, of course, still makes the 303 in a hunting bullet but you would spend all your $ for just one box.  Wolf also makes the 150 gn softpoint.  Fedral makes a 180 gn softpoint.  Hornaday makes the 150s.  Remington still lists the 180s.  Winchester still lists the 180s.

For hogs with the 303 Brit I would rpefer the 180s.  I have used those loads on whitetail, blacktail, hog and black bear and they work just fine.  HTH.  Mikey.

[jamaldog87]

i been looking at the 180 gr. Super-X Power-Point are they   good?   

[Mikey]

The Winchesters aare probably just as good as anything else.  All the American made ammo is loaded to about 2450-60'/sec. to avoid liability.  Reloads squeak another 100'/sec but ya gotta wonder if it's worth it in an old rifle and the factory ammo works just as good as anything else.  Mikey.

[S.B.]

And one more thing.
Thanks Walmart for building a super center in our town. Now that you broke the small gun shops you stopped selling guns. Great!! What a scenic view of all the abandon buildings of other small business. 

I hear that!!!!!

[silver surfer]

I have a 1952 LongBranch that I have shot for ten years now.  I have settled on 180 grn Speer's over a 44.0 grn charge of AA2520.  She clocks 2560 fps and shoot a 1-1.25 inch group @ 100 yards like clock work.  For all these years she still shows no pressure signs and so far the best shot I've made is two bullets into the head of a turkey, one at 325 yards, the second at 278 (measured) yards.  She's a real shooter .  The load is directly from page 499 of Modern Reloading by Richard Lee.  I and my sons have shot hundreds of rounds at this load level from the gun.  We've taken deer, hogs, squirrels, and targets without killing our shoulders. 

I would recommend you slug your bore, order the right diameter bullet, and start re-loading.  It is well worth the effort.  The .303 is every bit the equal of the 308's and 30-06's.  It (in a bolt gun comparison) exceeds the American rifles.  It does have it's draw backs, the action is not as strong as the Mauser based bolt guns.  On the other hand if you keep your loads within SAAMI specs no worries.  They are accurate, reliable, adequate, and produce moderate to low recoil, that's plenty good for most folks.

[KevinG]

 I'm in agreement with silver surfer, I've been working with lead bullets and recently found my load using an old 311413 and gas checked and hand lubed( not in a lube sizer),unsized at 312 diam and loaded untop 14 grains unique quite accurate for me off bench and under 1" then tried lees 205 309 diam as cast and gas checked agin unlubed in sizer die but hand lubed,used uniqe again and had bad results( it was shot at .311 diam as cast), guess it like other things has its own lkies and dis likesreally not looking to beat any racing speeds just good old accuracy, and survival ammo.