.303 hunting BULLET/RELOAD Help?

hemidart

hemidart

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Any recipes for .303 hunting rounds Need something for primarily whitetail possibly Elk and Blackie if necessary. I will be shooting from a Parker Hale. I have couple pounds of IMR 4350. Is this powder suitable and what would be some Ideas on bullet weights and brands in the middle price range.
THANKS
Pete.....
 
I used to load Sierra 150's for my Dad, he killed deer like no tomorrow with those bullets. IMR 4064 was the powder.
I have a loaner Enfield that I load 150gr. Hornady's in same old IMR 4064, shoots just fine, nothing harveted with it yet.
My match load for my No4 Mk1* is a 174gr. Matchking and Varget powder, one could likely move to a 180gr. hunting bullet and keep things the same for powder. FWIW, this load follows the sight vernier pretty close from 100 to 400yds.
 
You loading manual should have lots of data. There's IMR4350 data using 174-180 grain bullets on .303british.com.
H4350 appears on Hodgdon's site, but not the IMR powder. That just means they didn't test it. It does on their burn rate chart. IMR4350 is one place faster burning.
 
Here's some 303 reloading data that I use. TREAT WITH CAUTION. These are loads that I dug up from my manuals, and use myself but some are max loads.

Seating die set to: COL *3.075 (listed max is 3.075)

Light Load (test rifle load, approx 2050 fps, shoots nice, accurate!!)
Primer: CCI #200 Large Rifle Primer
Powder: IMR 4831 40gr (listed max is 47gr)
Bullet: Sierra Prohunter 180gr spitzer
Brass: W.W Super X

Factory Style Load (Approx 2309 fps)
Primer: CCI #200 Large Rifle Primer
Powder: IMR 4831 45gr (listed max is 47gr)
Bullet: Sierra Prohunter 180gr spitzer
Brass: W.W Super X

Alternate Factory Style (Approx 2295fps)
Primer: CCI #200 Large Rifle Primer
Powder: IMR 4350 44gr (listed max is 48gr)
Bullet: Sierra Prohunter 180gr spitzer
Brass: W.W Super X

Max Load (Standard Hunting Load) (Approx 2421 fps)
Primer: CCI #200 Large Rifle Primer
Powder: IMR 4831 47gr (listed max is 47gr)
Bullet: Sierra Prohunter 180gr spitzer
Brass: W.W Super X

Alternate Max Load (Approx 2450fps)
Primer: CCI #200 Large Rifle Primer
Powder: IMR 4895 42gr (listed max is 42gr)
Bullet: Sierra Prohunter 180gr spitzer
Brass: W.W Super X

Alternate Max Load 2 (Approx 2500 fps)
Primer: CCI #200 Large Rifle Primer
Powder: IMR 4350 48gr (listed max is 48gr)
Bullet: Sierra Prohunter 180gr spitzer
Brass: W.W Super X
 
Northman999,
I am wondering why you have a max of 47 grains of 4831, and a max of the faster, 4350, of 48 grains?
 
H4831 said:
Northman999,
I am wondering why you have a max of 47 grains of 4831, and a max of the faster, 4350, of 48 grains?
Click to expand...

I have no idea!

Those are loads I gathered from a half dozen manuals and brought together for my own use; I did not develop them myself, except for the first light load. Different manufacturers do differ noticeably in their reccomendations for how much powder to use with the same bullet weights I have found, however. I've seen up to 2.0 grains more or less, depending on who's manual you look at.
 
180 grainers of your choice over 40 grains of IMR 4895 always worked fine in all 303's I have owned. The 150's are good for deer and bear but I would use the heavier stuff for bigger critters like elk....and get a bit closer too.:sniper:
Work up loads of course............:wave:
 
I use the Speer round nose 180,more bearing surface.These .311 bullets are undersised for the .313 303British. The .312 174 Hornadys are likely a better bet.
 
4350 is an excellent powder for the 303. Any hunting bullet will kill deer. For Elk, I suggest a 180 gr pointed bullet. I use a lot of Hornady.

The 180 pointed is ok for penetration on elk and will work out to 200 yards or so. Hard to get close to elk...
 
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