303 Mk1No3 180Gr loads - how close can you get to historical load?

Lee_Enfield_Lover

Lee_Enfield_Lover

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I've got 2lbs of IMR 4350, and I've got a box of 180 gr Sierra spitzers for my 303 Lee Enfield Mk1No3.

Does anyone know what is as close to the historical load as I can make with that powder for the sights that are on it? Tough and specific question.
If you don't know, what have you found to be the most accurate load? From what I hear, the Mk1No3 had shells made called No.5 while the Mk1No4 had either No.7 or No.8 ammunition.

Help with any info??? (I can't find any 174gr bullets, so 180 it'll have to be this time around).

- Pete
 
hornady makes 174gr RN bullets (lead tip) for 303 cal.

that's about all i can add to this thread.

put your location in your profile for better help with local stores, etc.
 
Mk 7 is LE fodder, Mk 8 is MG fodder. Mk 7 used nitro cellulose propellant, Mk 8 used cordite. Hornady makes a 174 gr fmj in .3105" and .312" IIRC but I do not know how closely it matches a Mk 7 bullet. Probably close enough you could try to find an accurate node around Mk 7 velocity and if possible adjust forend tip pressure. I am by no means an LE expert however but I'm sure if Smellie finds this thread you'll learn more than you ever expected about the matter and then some.
 
LUTNIT said:
They only make it in .3105"; I wish they made it in .312" as the .3105's tumble in my No.1's loose bore.
Click to expand...

Tradeex has Woodleighs in .312. I just got a box of 215 grain round nose soft points. Haven't had a chance to shoot one yet but dang they look nice!
 
LUTNIT said:
They only make it in .3105"; I wish they made it in .312" as the .3105's tumble in my No.1's loose bore.
Click to expand...

All I ever shoot out of my 303's is hornaday .312 174gr round nose. I've also had limited success with the hornaday 150 Gr .312 SPFB's.

As for the OP's question, if you are looking for accuracy in a Lee enfield with enfield rifling then you should stick with flat based bullets in the 170-200 grain area. Enfield rifling pretty much only likes flat bases, although some (but not me) have had success with boat tails.

My pet load for lee enfields is 38.5 Gr of IMR4895 with a hornaday 174 Gr .312 round nose bullet. If you are shooting a Ross or MLE with a long barrel then the load can be reduced a couple of grains and still have sub MOA accuracy.

In my testing I've found that all of my .303 chambered rifles (no1 mk3, MLE, no4 mk1, Ross mk3) a light load usually just under starting grains for long barrels and a grain or 2 over starting grains for short barrels always gives me the best success.
 
That's wierd, they used to make the 174 BTFMJ in .312". I also thought I had the propellants right but that is not the case. Mk VIIZ and Mk VIIIZ were nitro cellulose charged, those without Z postfix were cordite. So Mk VII used a 174 FBFMJ @ 2,440 FPS and BC of .467. The Hornady .3105" 174 gr BTFMJ has a BC of .470. The 312" 174 gr RN has a BC of just .262. The Sierra .311" Pro Hunter 180 has a BC of .411.
 
I really wish I knew what kind of rifle you have. Numbr 3 was a P-'14. Likely you mean a Number 1 Mark III or III*, which was the old SMLE.

No matter; they all load up the same.

And here is a point: military velocity with the Mark VII cartridge had a 174-grain slug at 2440 ft/sec..... but the by-test actual MOST ACCURATE loading was 2250 ft/sec, which is what I stick with.

My standard loading is also my Test loading: 180 grain Sierra Pro-Hunter seated to Max length of a Ball round (3.05") ahead of 37 or 38 grains of 4895. Powder charge depends on what the rifle shoots better with. This is a BITslower than a full-military load but it is ACCURATE. Sierra Pro-Hunter is a FLATBASE bullet,which is what you need for Enfield rifling. Enfield rifling does NOT respond well to boat-tailed bullets (which were developed for the Vickers Gun anyway). This load usually is VERY close to the by-test most-accurate velocity.

Military Ball ammo was loaded with both Cordite AND with extruded powders. So was the Mark VIII (8) machine-gun load.
 
smellie said:
I really wish I knew what kind of rifle you have. Numbr 3 was a P-'14. Likely you mean a Number 1 Mark III or III*, which was the old SMLE.

No matter; they all load up the same.

And here is a point: military velocity with the Mark VII cartridge had a 174-grain slug at 2440 ft/sec..... but the by-test actual MOST ACCURATE loading was 2250 ft/sec, which is what I stick with.

My standard loading is also my Test loading: 180 grain Sierra Pro-Hunter seated to Max length of a Ball round (3.05") ahead of 37 or 38 grains of 4895. Powder charge depends on what the rifle shoots better with. This is a BITslower than a full-military load but it is ACCURATE. Sierra Pro-Hunter is a FLATBASE bullet,which is what you need for Enfield rifling. Enfield rifling does NOT respond well to boat-tailed bullets (which were developed for the Vickers Gun anyway). This load usually is VERY close to the by-test most-accurate velocity.

Military Ball ammo was loaded with both Cordite AND with extruded powders. So was the Mark VIII (8) machine-gun load.
Click to expand...


Thanks Smellie for the very informative post, lots of good info for Lee Enfield reloaders .
 
Tinman204 said:
All I ever shoot out of my 303's is hornaday .312 174gr round nose. I've also had limited success with the hornaday 150 Gr .312 SPFB's.

As for the OP's question, if you are looking for accuracy in a Lee enfield with enfield rifling then you should stick with flat based bullets in the 170-200 grain area. Enfield rifling pretty much only likes flat bases, although some (but not me) have had success with boat tails.

My pet load for lee enfields is 38.5 Gr of IMR4895 with a hornaday 174 Gr .312 round nose bullet. If you are shooting a Ross or MLE with a long barrel then the load can be reduced a couple of grains and still have sub MOA accuracy.

In my testing I've found that all of my .303 chambered rifles (no1 mk3, MLE, no4 mk1, Ross mk3) a light load usually just under starting grains for long barrels and a grain or 2 over starting grains for short barrels always gives me the best success.
Click to expand...

Sweet! I just happen to randomly have some IMR4895 that I wasn't sure what to do with!

- T
 
I have 2 - P14 rifles and a couple of 1910 Ross's. It is interesting to see what they shoot well.

First of all, my P14s both have groove diameters of just over .313" The Ross's groove diameters are .3113/.3114", so considerably tighter.

My one P14 has been opened up with an EPPS reamer, so really does not count as to velocity. [I can get 2650-2675 with the 174/180 grain bullets]
It is a 1.25 moa rifle, and will shoot that well with several bullets, including the .311 Sierra 180 grain FBSP Pro-Hunter.

My other P14 shoots best around 2500 with the 174/180 grain bullets, using N202 or IMR 4320/IMR4895. The 150 grain bullets like VV N540.

The Ross with the best barrel, is a different animal. It shoots faster than the P14 [not the Epps] with less powder, and is very accurate with every bullet I have
tried so far, from 150-215 grains. IMR 4320 and N202 again show the best overall performance. I have a new barrel here for the other Ross, it is a .311" groove barrel.

I like the old 303, it has eked out a niche in history that will not be denied. I have shot several deer and 3 moose with the 303. All were what you would expect.

Regards, Dave.
 
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