303 British Light Plinking Bullets

I cast up a bunch of LEE 32 cal, tumble lube turncate cone boolit's last weekend, but I just don't feel like going out in this cold again to try them out.
 
If you can get your hands on some Lyman 314299 bullets sized 314 you can work up loads from 1200 to 2000fps . I've shot most of the jacketed bullets from light weight ones meant for 7.62x39 to 174 gr RN's in my Lee Enfields. In my opinion cast bullets are the way to go for plinking loads in all the mid caliber military rounds. Accurate loads can usually be found if the rifle's bore is in good condition.
Cast loads can be accurate, recoil and muzzle blast are less, bore and case life are extended( l've loaded 303 Br cases 20+ times) and bullet costs should be less than half of jacketed. You may not save money but you can shoot a lot more.
 
I tried the 123 ge Sp bullets intended for the 7.72x39 and found that accuracy sucked.

I suggest using a flat base 150 gr bullet and a extruded powder in the speed range of 4198, 3031, 4064 or 4895. The Start loads for these will be mild.
 
My Speer Manual (No.13) reports "surprising" accuracy for their 303 test rifle ( an Enfield SMLE ) with their 125 gr. .311" Spitz SP's,
running +/- 2400-2950 fps and lists several "Plinker" loads for the 303 with their 100 gr. RN SP's (.308") with SR4759 at +/- 1600-2000 fps.

Their .308 "Plinker" bullet listing for the 303 British seems a little odd, but who's to say until you try ?
 
That's not what I was hoping to hear ;) I have a bag of 100 Hornady V-Max that I was intending to use. I haven't found any load data for the powders that I have , but was going to try 38.7 Gr's of IMR 3031 from Lyman's 49 th manual's load for a 125 gr. SPT. Anyone have a specific load for this bullet ? I just don't have the powders that they list in Richard Lee's Second Edition for the 123 gr bullet.
Ganderite said:
I tried the 123 gr. Sp bullets intended for the 7.72x39 and found that accuracy sucked.

.
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"but was going to try 38.7 Gr's of IMR 3031 from Lyman's 49 th manual's load for a 125 gr. SPT"

That is a mild load. Should work just fine. Only wayt to find what is accurate in your rifle is to load them up and try them.

I would load 35 to 40 in 0.5 gr increments, batches of 10 each.
 
Thanks, That's exactly what I was looking for. I'm not very adventurous when it come to reloading without a specific load from a manual or someone that has "Been There, Done That" Not saying I would believe just anyone here though. ;)
Ganderite said:
"but was going to try 38.7 Gr's of IMR 3031 from Lyman's 49 th manual's load for a 125 gr. SPT"

That is a mild load. Should work just fine. Only wayt to find what is accurate in your rifle is to load them up and try them.

I would load 35 to 40 in 0.5 gr increments, batches of 10 each.
Click to expand...
 
Okay, I'm home from Prince George with my 100gr XTP bullets. I have the Speer 12th with loads listed for 100gr bullets but I'd rather not waste my 748 or H414 on these plinkers. So I have pistol and shotgun powder from my BIL. Can you guys help me find a start load? Please give a reference source if you can.

Powder on hand:

HS-5
H110
SR 4756
IMR 4227
Hercules 2400
Blue Dot
Unique

I read up on trail boss and wish I had some but it sure would be nice to use up some of the powder sitting in the gun room.

Thanks for your help,

Willy
 
10-15gr of Unique should work just fine with them. Don't know if pressure will be high enough to fire form them at that but they will be light plinking loads.
 
Old Ranger said:
In my opinion cast bullets are the way to go for plinking loads in all the mid caliber military rounds. Accurate loads can usually be found if the rifle's bore is in good condition.
Cast loads can be accurate, recoil and muzzle blast are less, bore and case life are extended( l've loaded 303 Br cases 20+ times) and bullet costs should be less than half of jacketed. You may not save money but you can shoot a lot more.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don't have tons of experience will all types of projectiles, but I have not loaded any nice jacketed rounds for my LE in a long time - I have a great load using a 200 gn GC cast RN bullet and 4198. The bullet is not exactly light, but I have a few loads for it and I find it to be stable and accurate, and lots of fun. Costs considerably less than factory jacketed rounds.

And, as mentioned, I don't think I'm saving any money, but I am shooting more.
 
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