just picked up a sporterized 303 No4 MK1 longbranch and the bore is very good, what would the longest shot you would take on a moose? it has a 22 inch barrel, with factory Winchester 180gr power points I think I shouldn't have any trouble out to 300 yds, I was thinking of trying some barnes tsx 150gr also, 303 hunting experts chime in please
303 british hunting distances?
- Thread starter 6.5x55swm
- Start date
Handloads, Flying Pigs suggested load. I was using 180 gr .308 dia over 38 grains of 4895 IIRC. But through a Ross MK3; .308 is likely too loose for a LE bore
.308 is quite loose even for a 5groove. I shoot .310 180s and would be comfortable with the energy out to 450 or so. not friggin winchester though likely the worst factory cartridge out there. ran a box over a chrono and had a 500+fps variance out of one box. volume powder charging pellet powders doesnt work winbags
FP put forth that some Ross's have tighter bbl's, being that I only had .312 dia in 150 gr...I took a chance and it worked out quite well.
I once pulled the bullets from 16 rounds in a box of Winchester. My goal was to trim the cases and re-seat the bullets. (they wouldn't feed into my rifle because the cases were too long) The surprise was the powder weights in each round. There was a 10 grain variance from the lightest to the heaviest! Yes, 10 grains, not .10!
Winchester factory loads, OFF MY LIST.
(30-06 btw)
Potato boy
Regular
- Location
- North of the mountain
Max range is about 350-400, the problem will not be energy, it will be bullet expansion. Most bullets do not expand well under 1800fps. Find your low level of expansion for your choice of bullet, establish your accuracy requirements,( mine is 2.5MOA on game out to 400) and you'll have your answer
of all reading I have the sierra 180gr pro hunter will expand very well out to 300yds and then some and is what I will try first,
and for the fellas that say keep my shots under 200yds, if I see a nice 12point buck at 300 yds I am shooting, I don't decide the distance the animal does
and for the fellas that say keep my shots under 200yds, if I see a nice 12point buck at 300 yds I am shooting, I don't decide the distance the animal does
300 yards is not a stretch for a .303 British. IF the rifle and shooter are up to it. In my experience the effectiveness of the 180 grain .303 factory load is greater than ballistics would suggest.
There have been boxcar loads of deer and moose piled up at longer ranges with the old .303 in my neck of the woods.
There have been boxcar loads of deer and moose piled up at longer ranges with the old .303 in my neck of the woods.
Well, that bull I knocked down in Sept wouldn't argue. It looked like the ' Hand of God ' swatted him. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked.
I've been using the Sierra 180's for about 20 years now . They've accounted for a lot of Deer , Moose and a few Elk . The longest shot I've done with this load was about 200 yards on a big White-Tail Doe . She went about 20 yards and piled up . I found the bullet under the skin on the offside , perfectly mushroomed . She was quartering towards me when I shot . The bullet hit slightly forward of the shoulder and crossed diagonally through her chest , broke some small ribs on the offside and traveled about 6 inches just under the hide . All in all , I was impressed . I keep my shots under about 200 , nothing to do with the 303's capability , it's my capability that I worry about lol
The Speer 180gr or Hornady 174gr round nose bullets are great at shorter ranges or in the bush. The old CIL/Dominion 180gr round nose was an old time favorite. The Sierra 180 gr spitzer has better trajectory over a longer distance. Shorter range shots are best for bullet placement.
your misinformed, 180grain projectile and a factory load around 2400fps at the muzzle a .303 has over 1000lbft of energy out to 500M. more than enough to humanely kill large game. anything else is on the individual shooters ability and the weapon.
