303 british load

Normally I would work up my load but this is for my fathers lee enfield of which he is in NFLD. I am going home this summer and wanted to bring him home some to try, so i guess I will make some in increments of .5 and try them when I get home.
 
"...wanted to bring him home some to try..." Driving or flying? Driving, is not a big deal. Flying with ammo can cause you grief depending on the air line.
"...make some in increments of .5..." Good idea. Mind you, that'll only let you find the best load. W.W. II vintage ball ammo used a 175 grain pointed bullet at 2440fps. Not an RN.
Hodgdon gives 43.0 to 48.0(compressed) of H4350 for a 174 grain HPBT bullet. And 34.0 to 38.0 of H4895. Higher end loads of H4895 will be close to 2440fps.
Mind you, your da's Enfield may not like the Hornady RN bullet diameter (.312".) anyway. Lee-Enfield barrels can measure from .311" to .315" and still be considered ok. Over .315" and the barrel is shot out. Impossible for you to know what the barrel diameter is when you don't have the rifle with you. Any chance of getting your da to slug the bore?
 
I've got one using (I think) 35gr of H4895 under the hornady bullet. Loaded them to the overall length shown in the reloading manual. Shoots well in my SMLE, just need to work on my skills to improve the groups
 
I will be driving down, too many kids to afford the plane tickets and easier to take any ammo with me. I will get him to get a measurement of the barrel diameter and go from there. Thanks for the info
 
303 loads

I have had great luck with 174 -180 grain bullets over 40 grains of IMR 4895
Remember, each rifle will have its own likes and dislikes. Start low and work up anytime a component is changed.:wave:
 
every enfield is diff.... thats for sure... 35gr of H4895 pushed the primers out in my NO.1 MK3... not enough pressure to stretch the case back to the bolt face... bump up to 36/37gr and it straightend itself out... going to try some more loads this weekend in the 37.5 to 38.5 ballpark and see if i cant break my collar bone...

and FWIW the 174 GR RN INTERLOCK has a crimp groove in it, long as you seat in the groove you cant really mess it up i guess?!?! havent found any manual that lists load data for this bullet tho so min OAL is guess work...
 
37 of 4895 is a nice accuratee load but in my rifles seems to come in about 2250 ft/sec, which is almost 200 ft/sec below mil-spec for the round. Sure accurate, though.

Most of my rifles seem to prefer the Sierra 180 pointed soft-point hunting bullet with this load, seated to length of a Mark VII Ball round. Low pressures and very accurate, also hot enough to give Mister Mooose a very sore gut.

.303, in my opinion, likely is the most underrated cartridge on the market.
 
Not your powders, but I've use a couple 174 RN loads...47 gr IMR 4831, and 39 gr IMR 4064. Not certain of the velocities of either, but both seem to be OK in a couple of my rifles with no pressure or major case stretching issues. If I were in your place, I think I'd do just as you've planned though... start mild and work up in 1/2 gr intervals. I guess packing the gear you'd need to do reloading at the other end is not too practical?
 
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