303 halp! Hornady 174gr FMJ data needed
- Thread starter GunNewb
- Start date
Hornady manual lists same data for RN or FMJ spitzer 174gr 303 British.
Varget 31.6- 39.1gr max
IMR 4064 31.4- 39.3gr max
etc
Generally you can use data for a similar weight bullet of the same type for the same calibre and powder.
So if I have data for 308 Win 150gr FMJ with Varget powder, I can use that starting load data to load a different 150gr SP in 308 Win with Varget.
Same for cast bullet data to a different cast bullet and copper solid to copper solid.
Also if you have 150gr data and want to load a 147gr or 165/168gr starting loads are ok, Nosler and Hornady lump all their testing together with these similar weights.
I would be careful in crossing bullet types. The max load for a jacketed bullet in 30-06 would likely destroy the bullet and accuracy and or lead the barrel with a cast bullet of the same weight.
Varget 31.6- 39.1gr max
IMR 4064 31.4- 39.3gr max
etc
Generally you can use data for a similar weight bullet of the same type for the same calibre and powder.
So if I have data for 308 Win 150gr FMJ with Varget powder, I can use that starting load data to load a different 150gr SP in 308 Win with Varget.
Same for cast bullet data to a different cast bullet and copper solid to copper solid.
Also if you have 150gr data and want to load a 147gr or 165/168gr starting loads are ok, Nosler and Hornady lump all their testing together with these similar weights.
I would be careful in crossing bullet types. The max load for a jacketed bullet in 30-06 would likely destroy the bullet and accuracy and or lead the barrel with a cast bullet of the same weight.
Do you know about the o-ring trick and to only neck size 303 British brass? Of course the size of the chamber is also a consideration. Old British guns are known for having exceptionally loose chambers and the brass can get overworked. After only 3-5 reloads it's quite common to have case head separations. I never fire 303 British reloads without a broken case extractor.
I found this animation a while ago showing what happens inside a loose Lee Enfield chamber (this instance is hosted on my flickr account). I find the same problems with my P14 as well:
An o-ring over the rim makes the bolt hard to close but holds the case right against the bolt face. This means all expansion of the case is forward. If you do this for the first firing or two and only neck size than the cases will headspace off the shoulder instead of the rim.
Hodgdon and Alliant both post reloading data on their websites. Unfortuantely there is no data for IMR 4320 and 174gr projectiles (or 180)
Personally for 303 British regular loads I use H4895 but recently picked up some IMR 4895 to test with. I use a lot of cast bullets and use a variety of other powders for that.
I found this animation a while ago showing what happens inside a loose Lee Enfield chamber (this instance is hosted on my flickr account). I find the same problems with my P14 as well:
An o-ring over the rim makes the bolt hard to close but holds the case right against the bolt face. This means all expansion of the case is forward. If you do this for the first firing or two and only neck size than the cases will headspace off the shoulder instead of the rim.
Hodgdon and Alliant both post reloading data on their websites. Unfortuantely there is no data for IMR 4320 and 174gr projectiles (or 180)
Personally for 303 British regular loads I use H4895 but recently picked up some IMR 4895 to test with. I use a lot of cast bullets and use a variety of other powders for that.
I too am trying out the Hornady 3131 - 174 FMJBT bullets. With the hornady 3130 bullets I tried 32 -36 grains of IMR 3031 powder. 34 gr appeared to work the best. So I am trying the 174 FMJ BT with the same powder charge. If you seat the bullet to the Hornady recommendation of 2.980 the cannulere is fully exposed. I called Hornady and they say this bullet seating is what gave them the best performance. I asked if it would be safe to lower it so I could use the cannulere and crimp the bullets with my Lee swaging die. They said no problem.
Now I just have to wait for the weather on the weekend to get above -15 so I can try out both loads. I am trying to make sure the ammo works good when I practice the "Mad Minute".
Now I just have to wait for the weather on the weekend to get above -15 so I can try out both loads. I am trying to make sure the ammo works good when I practice the "Mad Minute".
31 gr? seems a little light, perhaps 41 grs. of 4320?
This variation between data is what was confusing me. I was thinking the difference was in the 174 gr hornady FMJ(that I am reloading) and the soft nose bullets(which I see data for everywhere).
But a bullet simply having a soft nose or FMJ shouldnt change the powder charge vastly, right? its still 174grains.
Thanks for the o ring trick- interesting!
Warning with the o-ring trick, use the smallest o-ring you can find and make sure you lube the back of your locking lugs. A hard closing bolt is hard on the bolt locking lugs and receiver lug recesses. On older worn Enfield rifles the surface hardening/heat treatment may have been worn down to unhardened steel and you can cause accelerated wear with an oversized o-ring.
Second, the Hornady 174 full metal jacket boat tail has a smaller diameter of .3105 and the other Hornady bullets are .312. Between the smaller diameter and the boat tail bullet it may not shoot well in a worn bore.
LUTNIT
If your going to pass on the o-ring information then pass on the warning about hard to close bolts and lubing the locking lugs. The last thing an Enfield owner needs are gaulded locking lugs and lug recesses.
The rubber o-ring holds the case tight against the bolt face "AND" centers the rear of the case in the chamber when the o-ring is compressed.
After fireforming you neck size only and let the case headspace on the shoulder and not the rim.
The reason I made these drawings is because people were being told to lube their ammo to fireform their cases. Lubing the cases prevents them from gripping the chamber walls and prevents case stretching "BUT" it also doubles the bolt thrust and this will damage your rifles.
Second, the Hornady 174 full metal jacket boat tail has a smaller diameter of .3105 and the other Hornady bullets are .312. Between the smaller diameter and the boat tail bullet it may not shoot well in a worn bore.
LUTNIT
If your going to pass on the o-ring information then pass on the warning about hard to close bolts and lubing the locking lugs. The last thing an Enfield owner needs are gaulded locking lugs and lug recesses.
The rubber o-ring holds the case tight against the bolt face "AND" centers the rear of the case in the chamber when the o-ring is compressed.
After fireforming you neck size only and let the case headspace on the shoulder and not the rim.
The reason I made these drawings is because people were being told to lube their ammo to fireform their cases. Lubing the cases prevents them from gripping the chamber walls and prevents case stretching "BUT" it also doubles the bolt thrust and this will damage your rifles.
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