Best Powder for Heavy Lead .303 British Loads?

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I'm getting set up to load .303 British for a Jungle Carbine I inherited. I'm curious what others have come up with for heavy lead bullets as far as powder and charges? I am likely picking up a couple thousand 200ish grn gas checked LRN bullets. Any info is appreciated!
 
Yodave just gave you some very good advice. IMR3031 or something in the same burning rate range. The problem is getting the case filled up properly with a bulky enough powder.
 
I'm throwing 174's hornady SPRN with BLC-2 (amount is at home in my loaders book)

with little more then a starting load I know it was clocking over 2500 FPS (I think i got them closer to 2700 FPS but i need to check) and my p14 was punching a 1.25 inch average group size at 100m. I'm afraid to shot the last 200 of them... haven't been able to find more of these bullets in years.
 
Just make sure the bullets are an appropriate diameter for your rifle before buying that many. Too small, and you wont be able to shoot them without lots of leading issues. Could also cause tumbling.

I've had good results using H4198 for the last couple years after I wasn't able to find much SR-4759 anymore. In a .303B with 200gr cast my records show 23.0gr to be quite good. Also had good results with 2.5cc of Trail Boss (I use the Lee scoops for most Trail Boss loads).
 
4198 (either one) for me as well. 21 grs has been my load in both 303 Br and 7.62x54 for more than 20yrs. As always check internet loads in at least one reliable source before using. We all can make mistakes (even me!!)
 
Yah BE VERY CAREFUL if you are new to cast and lee Enfield's they are the hardest thing to work with in cast. Because there barrels are very different, I have 5 old Lees and they all require bullets sized near .314-.317, while most commercial cast out near .311. Lastly 23ish grains of IMR 4198 is right on par for me.
 
If you want some velocity, a fast rifle powder is good. I use 3031, and would also use 4198.

If you want an accurate plinker, for 25 to 100 yard shooting, use 10 to 15 gr of shotgun powder.
 
Thanks for all the replies. My rifle is mint and the bullets I am looking at are sized .314". I have lots of different pistol and shotgun powder on hand but almost nothing for rifle. I will be working up some light loads as well as some heavy hitting ammunition. Seems like 3031 and 4198 are the ticket so far.
 
Lyman's Cast Bullet Manual #4 gives the following. Bullet 311299 15.5 grs 2400-1404 fps---max 20.0-1713fps. I haven't shot much 2400 in my 303's but my favourite load in my 03A3 is 2400 powder and 311291. Should work well in the 303.
 
I've been shooting 18-20 grains of 2400 behind a 200 ish grain gc bullet in my 303s for several years. I've shot that load out to 500 yards with very good accuracy.

I've also had good luck with 4198, sr4759, 4895 and 4064.

For 50-200 yard target shooting I use 13-14 grains of red dot with a 200 gr gc bullet and more often then not I can keep my groups at or under 1 MOA with that load.

After years and years of testing cast bullets in most of the common bolt action military rifles I've found that my 30 caliber guns (including my 303's) like a 200 grain bullet at 1700 to 1800 fps range. That seems to be the sweet spot.
 
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Groverino said:
I use the 1.3 Lee dipper for this. I just rechecked and it's actually 17.5 grains. Very accurate in my Lee Enfield and Mosins. I've also had good luck with 4198. For some reason I get keyholes using red dot.
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I've experienced that same problem with red dot. My thoughts are that on my Lee's that keyhole the bore is just slightly oversized for the bullet I'm loading and red dot does not smack them hard enough to obturate in the bore.

Take the same bullet with something like 2400 or 4198 and the bullets seem to stabilize and shoot quite well.
 
Tinman204 said:
I've experienced that same problem with red dot. My thoughts are that on my Lee's that keyhole the bore is just slightly oversized for the bullet I'm loading and red dot does not smack them hard enough to obturate in the bore.

Take the same bullet with something like 2400 or 4198 and the bullets seem to stabilize and shoot quite well.
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Exactly. I was using the 314299 from Lyman. Shot geat with other powders. Keyholes with red dot. Kind of disappointing since I have no other use for red dot. I think you are right re: sizing and not enough of a smack on the ass.
 
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