303 brit, 150 grain hornady SP, IMR 4895

[bgcameron]

Hello gents,

I am loading up some rounds for a friend before he leaves town. The IMR load data center website shows only a maximum load of 44.2 grains. This velocity is near identical to the Federal factory rounds he has been shooting (according to the box anyways).

I would like to somewhat replicate this factory load, although I am a little concerned that it might be a bit hot. We loaded a few test rounds with 44 grains. The brass and primers showed no signs of overpressure, but the extraction was a little less smooth than the factory loads.

I have had similar experience with some of my loads (40-42 grains of 4320 behind 174 sierra MK). Extraction works fine but feels a little "gritty".

All the loads have been neck sized too if that makes a difference.

 

[xtremacanuck]

This may not be all that helpful, as I don't use IMR4895, but I have found best accuracy with less than max loads with that exact bullet. With IMR3031 I was using one grain up from minimum and with Varget one grain below max. Also, I have found the Federal cases are the first to fail on me, so neck sizing will help.

Maybe someone else can be of more assistance.

 

[Eagleye]

I'm not much help to you as I am shooting my loads in a #1 Ruger 303 British, but I use 44 grains of IMR 4320, 4895 or 4064 behind the 180 grain pill without any issues, so with the 150, even in a LE, you should be OK.

 

[Charlie38]

some new loads for the 303 British with new powders in the No.273 Aug 2011 Handloader magazine if you guys are interested

 

[Andy]

Forget about "pressure signs" when loading for the 303 Brit. They are notoriously unreliable, and in any event, if they show up in 303 Brit (e.g. loose primer pockets), you're already far above its relatively modest (45K psi) SAAMI max. Stick close to the reload manuals on this one.

"Sticky extraction" is a perfect example of a poor indicator of high pressure - it is hugely subjective, and can have many causes. If you're following published load data, then you're "ok" and will be +/- 5% or so the pressure they publish. For identical loads, each gun, powder lot, atmospheric conditions, etc. affects pressure on any given day - the pressure shown in the load manual is just a guide.

 

[leadslinger]

For my .02 it makes a difference in what firearm you will be shooting them in.
A Ruger #1 would be way different with max loads, than an older Enfield
with a less than tight and perfect chamber and less than perfect headspace.
Too hot of a load in an older Enfield after firing a shot at nice whitetail,
or in the middle of shooting a string in a Mil-match
you could have a shell case seperate and stick in chamber.
Not a real safety issue but annoying.
My worked up load that works great for me for 100 and 200 metres
is 38.5 grains of H4895 using 150 grain PSP Hornady bullets.
This is the listed starting load in my Hornady manuel.
I started in the middle and slowly worked BACK.
This proved to be the most accurate load.
The same powder charge with 174 grain Frontier bullets proved to be almost as accurate.
My brand new virgin Remington brass showed no signs of ringing with this load.
I neck size after fireing full length sized brass for longer case life and accuracy.
Orriginal loads (or chambers at least in No1's) where not designed for reloaders in mind, and i think that orriginal loads
used a heavier bullet as well (167grn?).
FMJ that they wanted lots of kenetic energy to punch holes through things.

 

[HUNTERROD]

303 loads

i load for #1mk3 . #4mk1 and for p14 enfields, my load of choice is 39.2gr of H335, a 174 hdy rn bullet, i use remington cases, and CCI 250 magnum primers
very accurate, and no pressure signs at all, also i use imr 4350 45.5 gr charge, same bullets, 174 hdy rn, rem cases, but use a winchester lrg rifle primer

h335 load chrony's roughly 2450fps, the other load of imr 4350 crony's about 2380fps, both given the rifles have good headspace and barrels, shoot under 3" at 150 yrds,

i do have a load using a norma 150gr rn bullet, and 46gr of old H450 powder
velocity is about 2300fps, accuracy is great, and recoil is next to nothing

also playing with imr4895 and some 123 gr bullets for the sks rifles for coyote loads

accuracy is about 3.5" at 150 yrds, vel is hitting almost 3000fps, in my p14 bsa sporting rifle

 

[bgcameron]

After a bit of research, I learned that neck-sizing can lead to sticky extraction. I'll stick with this load and see how things are after a FL resize.