150gn vs. 180gn - 303 Brit

Yoda - The line you're talking about is where the solid case head meets the thin wall of the case. LE chambers are oversize, so the thin case expands in dia to meet it. What your seeing is the junction where the two different diameters meet.
Often you will find that the line is only on part of the case. This is due to the extractor pushing the case to one side of the chamber. Of course, after a few firings, the line is more fully established.
Regarding headspace - you're better off partially resizing the case with your FL die. This will give you longer brass life, and you dont need to change your bolt head.
 
I though there might have be a way to neck size with the FL dies. I just hadn't read up on it before now. I will try an load up some more 180's using this method. Just means a few more trips to the range this week. I will definetely be finding a couple of boxes of PowerPoints to take up there though.

Cosmic- you are right about the line only being on part of the case. Some cases are all the was around others are 2/3. Good info thanks.
 
In my youth, lots of guys hunted moose with the 303Br, many more than today. At that time, CIL/Imperial/whatever made a wonderful 220 grain load, that was considered the cats ass, for moose.
Don't fear velocity loss in heavier bullets. Just learn to shoot them, the trajectory is different that's all.
I use the Hornady 174's when I hunt with the 303BR, or Steve Regewell's custom 200 grain bullets.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
In my youth, lots of guys hunted moose with the 303Br, many more than today. At that time, CIL/Imperial/whatever made a wonderful 220 grain load, that was considered the cats ass, for moose.
Don't fear velocity loss in heavier bullets. Just learn to shoot them, the trajectory is different that's all.
I use the Hornady 174's when I hunt with the 303BR, or Steve Regewell's custom 200 grain bullets.
Click to expand...

Gee, I must be in a nit picky mood!
The 303 British CIL Dominion heavy bullet weighed 215 grains, not 220! So there!
But it sure killed a lot of moose.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
He's just bragging because his memory is better than mine. :p

But he IS right. it was 215.
They are still out there, but danged hard to find.
Click to expand...

The Hornady 174gr is my main choice for jacketed bullet reloads but when I started out big game hunting with Dad, his choice at that time for the 303Br was the 215gr. I don't know who made those 215gr bullets for Dominion/C-I-L but just for those nostalgic reasons I did a bit of searching and lucked out:D. I located four boxes of 215gr bullets for reloading, made by Woodleigh:D. Checking through Pet Loads by Ken Waters I see he mentions 215gr R.N. bullets by Remington that he used in some of his load testing in the 303Br. I don't know if that bullet is still available or not:).
 
Now Johnn, if you want to get really nostalgic, you have to get the original, CIL Kling Kore Soft Points bullets!
Edited to say, I just noticed, there are my favourite, Copper Point Expanding!

Copyofbul.jpg
 
I have about 40 215 grain .303 RNSP [ .3120" dia] that I am hoarding for a moose one day. Also have another discontinued bullet, the Speer 200 grain Grand Slam [full box of 50, .3114" dia] My 303 Epps shoots the 215 very well. Have not shot the GS in anything yet, so it's performance is an unknown at present. Will report back later. Regards. Eagleye.
 
H4831 said:
Now Johnn, if you want to get really nostalgic, you have to get the original, CIL Kling Kore Soft Points bullets!
Edited to say, I just noticed, there are my favourite, Copper Point Expanding!

Copyofbul.jpg
Click to expand...

:)You're right;). However, the 215gr Woodleigh are the closest I could come up with. So, until I can get my paws on some 215gr KKSP's;)...... I hate to settle for 2nd best but these should satisfy my needs for the moment.
 
Thanks again for all the info guys. I have 36 rounds of 180gn Sierra's, neck sized, 41gns Rx15. Took my last test fires to the range yesterday. 1"ish groups @ 100yrd same @ 150yrd. However I notice that the bullet drop was durastic. I was 3" high at 100yrds and 8" low at 150yrds? The trajectory has me thrown way off now. I picked up two boxes of the Win PP however the grouping was terrible at 100yrs. So now I'm taking my 36 handloads, 1-1/2 box Win PP, and 1 box of Fed. Leaving tommorow at 4am. One of them will have to do. The ballistics might change a little with the colder temp.
 
The Remington 180gr worked fine at 2200,but not at 2500 in my P-14.Both the Sierra and the Speer 180 RN worked well,on paper anyway.I went with the Speer RN for an iron sighted rifle,feeling a RN was a more reliable hunting bullet at those distances and velocities. I have since gotten some Woodliegh 215 and Speer 150s.
 
I think more moose have been shot in the yukon with 30-30s and 303s then all the other cals combined
 
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