Info Needed - Reloading for 303 British - Options?

Savage Haggis

Savage Haggis

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Info Needed - Reloading for 303 British - Options?

Hi there,

Will be reloading for 303 British (.311) in the near future and am in need of some sage advice regarding options.

Brass, powder and primers are not the concern at the moment - bullets are.

Locally there isn't much in the way of proper 303 reloading bullets - I can order online for some but don't like doing so if I can avoid it.

But I've heard of people using 7.62x54r (310) reloading bullets.

What are my other options at this point - what other bullets can I use and what should I absolutely avoid.

Many thanks
 
Your .303 BR may not be .311" these old rifles run the gamut from a tight .309" all the way to .314" sometimes more. Slug your bore and guide yourself accordingly. Cast boolits are another option.
Have fun!
Mike
 
With respect to what to avoid ........... most of us seem to have better success with a flat based bullet in the LE's so I'd try to avoid anything boat tail to begin with. Who knows though ....... your rifle might shoot them fine but many shoot flat base better.
 
oldrodder said:
Your .303 BR may not be .311" these old rifles run the gamut from a tight .309" all the way to .314" sometimes more. Slug your bore and guide yourself accordingly. Cast boolits are another option.
Have fun!
Mike
Click to expand...

^^^ This. For instance, my 1945 SMLE has a tighter bore and I am able to use Hornady 174gr HPBT 3.105 diameter bullets I can source locally to good effect.
 
I shot a box of 220 grain hornady rn 308 bullets out of my ross, they worked fine, had a nice kick too
 
Don't overlook the Hornady .312 150 grain interlock soft point and 170 grain interlock round nose "FLAT BASE BULLETS".
In older worn barrels the flat base bullets when fired and kicked in the seat of the pants will expand and fill the bore.

Also the Hornady .312 pistol bullets are great for fireforming your cases or just plinking/practice. You can use Trail Boss in these lite practice loads and they make the metal butt plate much softer when shooting for long periods. ;)

IMGP3041_zps1f500472.jpg


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Be careful with 7.62x54r bullets and make sure they are not steel core bullets. These bullets will not expand and fill the bore in worn barrels and will only shoot well when the bullet matches the bore diameter.
 
Slug the bore.
I've owned 4 .303's and they were .312" to .316".
My P14 (.312") shoots .308" bullets quite well; doesn't seem to care between flat base or boat tail.
My No.4 Mk.1 (.3135") shoots flat base .308" okay, tumbles sometimes with boat tail .308", gets better groups with larger bullets (.311" or .312").
The rifles with larger bores (.3155" and .3160") tumble and keyhold with .311" flat base bullets; only .312" work.

That's all for jacketed but I shoot mostly cast in them and have bullets at .314" and .316" depending on what it's going in.
 
So I landed some lead cast, 200 grain, flat bottomed (broad based) bullets for reloading using IMR 4064 powder.

Problem now is, my Lee Loader Book only shows up to 180 Grain jacketed bullets, recommending nothing higher than 34 grains of IMR 4064, not to exceed 41 grains.

Any loading gurus have any thoughts on lead cast 200 grain reloads using IMR 4064?

Scratching my head here as I haven't reloaded 303 British before...

Help... lol

EDIT: Found this - but doesn't list IMR 4064 - http://http://www.303british.com/id13.html
 
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I know a father son pair that have never reloaded 303 with anything but normal 308 bullets. They work for them. They have done this for 40 years that I know of. I never had a 303 that shot worth a darn so never bothered myself to reload for it. Have a lot of ammo for one still sitting here.
 
Savage Haggis said:
So I landed some lead cast, 200 grain, flat bottomed (broad based) bullets for reloading using IMR 4064 powder.

Problem now is, my Lee Loader Book only shows up to 180 Grain jacketed bullets, recommending nothing higher than 34 grains of IMR 4064, not to exceed 41 grains.

Any loading gurus have any thoughts on lead cast 200 grain reloads using IMR 4064?

Scratching my head here as I haven't reloaded 303 British before...

Help... lol

EDIT: Found this - but doesn't list IMR 4064 - http://http://www.303british.com/id13.html
Click to expand...

I think 4064 is probably much too slow for your cast lead. Find yourself some Alliant 2400 or imr 4198. A lot of people have good luck with 4895 too but I haven't messed with it much. Loading for cast bullets is different than jacketed. Let us know what you have or can get for powder and I'll find some data.
 
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