.303 British H335 load data - big difference!

[M1Garandfather]

Hello .303 British reloaders... I'd like to reload some Hornady 150 gr Spire Pt .312" bullets , and have found some big discrepancies in the load data...

From the Hodgdon on-line website I find this H335 data:

150 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon H335 .312" 2.995"

37.0 2430 34,700 CUP

42.0 2706 43,100 CUP

From my Hodgdon #26 loading manual , this is what it says for the 150 gr bullet:

44 grs 2574 fps Start

48 grs 2729 fps Max

What gives?..Is Hodgdon just playing it safe nowadays?....Anyone care to speculate on this big difference in powder charges?

Thanks
Bob

 

[hunter64]

I use reloading manuals for reference material and the published from the manufacturer on line stuff as the gospel. I have lots of manuals and very rarely is there two manuals that agree with each other.

I always go with the least amount of powder, watch pressure signs and chrony every load.

 

[bigedp51]

You could call it playing it safe, "BUT" the factory commercial cartridges are all loaded to 43,000 cup or less. The reason being there are so many older Enfields being shot today "AND" if you look at the the pressure ratings for the .303 cartridge you will find 16.5 tsi, 17.5 tsi and 18.5 tsi.

In modern equivalents the final .303 cartridge was rated at 18.5 tsi which is equal to 45,000 cup or 49,000 psi. BUT the older Enfields are rated at lower pressures so a safety margin is built in.

The loads in the #26 Hodgdons manual are at 45,000 cup or 49,000 psi and good for newer model enfields.

NOTE: The problem when reloading is North American made SAAMI .303 cartridge cases are made to withstand pressures up to 43,000 cup and if you load higher the cases fall apart quickly.

Pressure problem solved, buy Prvi Partizan cases they are military grade, have a larger base diameter, thicker rims and the case walls are .010 thicker than ANY presently made .303 case.

Once fired Prvi Partizan and Greek HXP cases below, you can "see" the difference in the base diameter and case thickness between the two.

 

[Ganderite]

Start with a start load and work up till you find the load that groups well, without pressure signs. each rifle is a bit different.

I use 42 gr in my rifle.

 

[M1Garandfather]

Thanks very much for the cartridge case and pressure info , also loading advice....

Have a great Christmas fella's

Bob

 

[cosmic]

I think Hodgdons has reduced a number of their loads - I've ran into the same thing for 7X57 - down about 4 grains across the board.

 

[sunray]

"....312" bullets..." Did you slug the barrel? Barrel diameters vary on Lee-Enfields. A .312" bullet may be too small.
Load data varies because of environmental conditions, the powder lot used, etc. would be different for every test.

 

[IKnowCodeFu]

I've been shooting Sierra 125 grain soft point bullets with 42 grains of H335 out of my friends Enfield, they seem to group pretty well. If I recall the max load is 46 grains, I think I got that load from the hodgdon website.

 

[HUNTERROD]

303 loads

i use imr4350 in my guns, 45.5 grns and a hornady 174 round nose
super accuracy, 150 yrds, 2" groups, also i load 150 grn rn norma bullets, im using the old H450 powder45 grns and the 150 bullet, ex accuracy
i dont load much for 150 as i believe the 174 and 180 bullets are the best ones for any 303 rifle, also have loads using imr4007ssc, this is a powder between imr4350 and imr4320, ex for the 303, if anyone wants to swap data, let me know,