215gr 303 pics / Qs& pics added

WhelanLad

WhelanLad

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Rifle is the Ruger #1 .303 (long throat- I tested this theory)


loaded a few with 38 gr and 40 gr of 2208, pic demonstrates a low load density inside the case..... thoughts?

seated the projie to about the base of the neck.... thoughts?

thanks

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Seating depth should be whatever works for accuracy.

I gather your concern is the air space. 95% of factory rounds, all calibers, have air space. Shake the around. You can hear the powder.

The only time I would give any thought to air space in a 303 case would be if I was using a ball powder. It make ignition more erratic. But 2208 is easy to ignite. A very popular powder in Canada for accuracy loads and have never heard of an ignition issue - even with small primers.
 
Should be an interesting round to handload in a No.1 rifle which has a rather robust action and generous throat length. ANSI Z299.4 specifies the ammo maximum pressure limit as 49,000 psi. Likely for the SMLE.

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Ganderite said:
Yes, if he has that empty space, he could go down a notch to a slower powder (2209). But 40 gr of Varget gets him around 2300 fps. That's about as good as it gets for that caliber/bullet. That is 308 pressure/velocity.
Click to expand...

I'm test firing some of these Loads very shortly!
by the time you read this I may have results.

I'm keen too see how it goes! might be a rough ride with them factory issued #1 recoil pads :D :D

I just hope 2 land near each other LOL
 
Some Results.

I shot the loads in a decent Wind but was mostly lookin for grouping in the same ball park :D

I ended up finding that 40gr is a Bit Hot, not flattening primers right out but cracking cases :D maybe old brass but whatever, no interest! it did shoot a reasonable group though, considering

the 38 gr was Good but so low on my target an I didn't want to alter anything for now until id shot a group. 3 shots later and doing my math the one that missed the paper was going to be in around 1.5 inch range............

I'm going to load 3 more at 38, an go from there!

I shot this load side by side with the 9.3 255gr geco factory and surprisingly,the 303 was a dream compared to it LOL

will post a few pics in a moment.
 
now the 9.3 isn't good shootin at all LOL an proberly me beginning to flinch again, or as I seem to do is Push into the recoil........ Definatly not ideal but I seem to always hit the animals in the field .. I just arnt one to put 3 bullets near each other :)


The 303 isn't a great group either, that's the 40 GR load - very possibly me but seemed a bit hot
WIND- Right TO LEFT 20k or so lol

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an here is the first 38gr load before I adjusted the friction scope.

finger indicates where I roughly rekon the bullet would of travelled on its way... that group, if I can land all on paper next time, I would be sure happy to hunt 200 m with, another range session needed with some 38gr loads



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Shot the 38 GR load again today a number of times,
first one to check an then adjust Scope-
following 5 on Target- couple of shots Id claim as my fault, the Rest pretty OK for this gun ATM, group measure 2inch X 2 inch on 7x at 100meters laying down.

For HUNTING use this will DO ........... The Aim was to land Shots inside that Circle.... Tick for now.
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some Woodleighs from the Dirt bank! a good 20 inches penetration into moist/ top soil.

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Not bad, your groups could likely be tighter by trying different powder charges, or different powders. For AR2208 and the 215gr bullet, the Woodleigh manual lists 2170 fps muzzle speed maximum so at 40 grains your muzzle speed is around 2100 fps.
 
You mentioned split cases and old brass. Old brass can give you erratic neck tension. This is not good for accuracy.

2" at 100 is my standard for a hunting rifle. That is good enough for me to have confidence. (Only once have I taken a shot past 125 yards.)

40 gr might be a reasonable charge in that rifle, if you used new brass.

But, given the cost of those bullets, what you have now is a zeroed rifle with a good enough load.
 
You mentioned split cases and old brass. Old brass can give you erratic neck tension. This is not good for accuracy.

2" at 100 is my standard for a hunting rifle. That is good enough for me to have confidence. (Only once have I taken a shot past 125 yards.)

40 gr might be a reasonable charge in that rifle, if you used new brass.

But, given the cost of those bullets, what you have now is a zeroed rifle with a good enough load.

We routinely load 2208 here to quite high pressure in our 308 target rifles. I am guessing around 65,000 psi. If that rifle of yours fully supports the case head, I see no reason why you could not test up to 41 gr with new brass.
 
Ganderite said:
You mentioned split cases and old brass. Old brass can give you erratic neck tension. This is not good for accuracy.

2" at 100 is my standard for a hunting rifle. That is good enough for me to have confidence. (Only once have I taken a shot past 125 yards.)

40 gr might be a reasonable charge in that rifle, if you used new brass.

But, given the cost of those bullets, what you have now is a zeroed rifle with a good enough load.

We routinely load 2208 here to quite high pressure in our 308 target rifles. I am guessing around 65,000 psi. If that rifle of yours fully supports the case head, I see no reason why you could not test up to 41 gr with new brass.
Click to expand...

Gday Gander,
righto- So yes the brass is older NNY stamped stuff from a company "highland" which is now packaged as ppu down here...... could be donkey ears old an ive had them sitting here for a few years, only playing them with .308 30-30 projectiles in the 303 #1 to a total fail.

when I laoded 40gr that other week I didn't feel safe myself, it might be able to do it but I rekon it was close to high pressure level for the brass life, I went back to the 38 GR load to see if it would group OK, kind of did.. lol

I could play with more powder charges like slamfire said but I would end up with less loaded rounds to wack into Deers for the sake of losing an Inch? ... I'm with you on the limiting Distance thing too, as I do with open sight hunting, 100m max but with a Scoped 303 I think 150m is the limit with 200m being a backline hold on for this load but an absolute last resort, I think scoped will help pick up the animals for quicker target acquisition where I would typically be shooting under 100m!


@ 38 grains I feel 2000 fps would be a close guesstimate, enough for 200m.

Neck Tension perhaps, or maybe pushing my bullet to the rifling of the long throat? i just sat the projiectile into the base of the neck , after finding the lands , moved it back a couple..

thanks for the discussion! it all helps
WL
 
Adjusting the seating depth is worth a try to get tighter groups. While accuracy is good with the right loads in my No.1's, these aren't the most accurate rifles in the collection probably mostly because of action design limitations.

The massive internal hammer swings through a rather wide arc when triggered to strike the primer. Therefore lock time is quite laid back which provides more of an opportunity for inadvertent rifle movement to cause sighting to drift from the time the hammer is released until the round is fired. The slow lock time would really work against a shooter who flinches.

Lock time can be reduced by drilling holes in the hammer to lessen its inertia and by installing a stronger hammer spring.

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Hey nice diagram of the Action!

thankya

had some opportunity to take a fallow deer yesterday morning and a sambar this arvo but the light beat me to it.... so no shots fired from the #1.
 
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