.303 Load Data Needed

Drachenblut

Drachenblut

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Hello Gents!

I'm having a little issue finding reliable load data for loading .303 British and I would like some help if you can.

I have a pound of IMR 4350 and a pound of Accurate Arms 4350. I have read everywhere that these powders are interchangable, but that doesn't sound right to me, how can 2 powders from 2 different companies be the same?

Basically, I have a bunch of .303 Brass, and some 180 and 150 grain bullets. Can someone toss me some min and max loads for that if they have the data on hand please? I am doing a big shoot this weekend and would like to load up for it with what I have on hand.

Thanks,
Drachenblut
 
Hi there.


The AA is NOT the same. Between my Hornady and my Lyman's manual, they are listing IMR 4350 between the AA 24xx to 25xx range. I'd double-verify that.


None of my manuals are listing IMR4350, but H4350 is listed prominently in my Modern Reloading: Second Edition.

There is a listing for A-XMR-4350, with a start of 41.4gr, max. of 46.0gr. Max load should be a compressed load.
 
Hello,

I have a Lee paper in the die set that lists A-XMR-4350 which is the Accurate Arms Single Base Extruded 4350 (apparently they switched name). Do you have any loading data for IMR4350?
 
I always go to Hodgdon.com for my first reloading ideas. I'll be reloading .303 hopefully in the Fall (after I put the long, boring effort into getting the existing powder and bullets out of the casings :)
 
I happened to have a look at the loading data I had written down, it states 39.1 grains for IMR 4350, you think this would be safe enough for 180 grain bullets? I can buy a new pound of powder too, so I will need a new powder. What do you guys suggest? I have heard alot about IMR 4064. Any good loads for that? I am shooting No.I Mk.III's by the way.
 
Drachenblut said:
Hello Gents!

I'm having a little issue finding reliable load data for loading .303 British and I would like some help if you can.

I have a pound of IMR 4350 and a pound of Accurate Arms 4350. I have read everywhere that these powders are interchangable, but that doesn't sound right to me, how can 2 powders from 2 different companies be the same?

Basically, I have a bunch of .303 Brass, and some 180 and 150 grain bullets. Can someone toss me some min and max loads for that if they have the data on hand please? I am doing a big shoot this weekend and would like to load up for it with what I have on hand.

Thanks,
Drachenblut
Click to expand...

For target shooting, I would use the 180 grain bullets and load them with your IMR 4350. The Hodgdon site shows H4350 with 180 grain bullets in the 303 British, starting load 44 grains and full load, 48 grains.
Your IMR 4350 will be very close in burning rate to H4350. I would start with the starting load something under the listed starting load for H4350, 44 grains. I think you will find this to show very low pressure signs. I would work up and likely end up at around the full power load shown for IMR, 48 grains.
I will guess you will find this to be an accurate load, as slow burning powders loaded full tilt have a good reputaion for accuracy.
And here is what I would do. I would not bother trying to see what is accurate from your starting load up. I would work up the load with regards to pressure, only. If pressure is OK at full load, and even a bit compressed, then that would be my load.
Remember, I am stating what I would do and I am not saying that you should do this, or that you should follow my advice.
If your rifle shoots these all over the place, and in particular, if it walks the bullets as the barrel heats up, then it is the fault of the rifle, not the ammunition.
 
Speer lists IMR4350 42 start 46 max with 180gr an IMR 4350 46 start 50 max with 150gr

try a wide variety or powder and pills some 303's are picky ;)

303
 
Hello Again,

I just called my gunsmith, and he states that he only has round nose Hornady 174 grain bullets in stock. I was thinking of using this with Winchester 760 powder, or IMR/Hogdon 4350 powder.

My data was taken off the Hogdon reloading data center

174 Grain, Winchester 760, Start 43.0 Grn Press. 35,200 Max 46.0 Grn Press. 41,000

174 Grain, Hogdon 4350, Start 43.0 Grn Press 35,400 Max 48.0C Grn, Press 41,900

Does this sound good gents? I know most of my .303's like 180 grain, 174's are allright I'm sure.
 
The Hornady 174gr RN is one of the bullets I use in a pair of Jungle Carbines I have. With IMR 4350, Hornady lists loads of 37.0grs - 44.6grs and 42.0grs - 44.0grs has worked great for me. I have some Sierra 180gr but the Hornady 174's and Woodleigh 215's have performed better for me.
 
Hello John,

Perfect, just what I needed! Thanks for the loading data... now here's a wonky crazy request folks. Can someone please measure what a Lee Dipper 2.8cc spoon comes out too in grains for IMR 4350? I don't have my scales yet and if I could snatch up that data before the weekend it would save me setting up the extra equipment as my Lee dies came with a 2.8cc spoon. Thanks!
 
Lee Precision has a conversion list for volume to grains. It's the VMD file at the bottom of this page

h ttp://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?=/html/instruct/index.html
 
"...a Lee Dipper 2.8cc spoon..." Throw 'em away and buy a scale. They can vary the charge plus of minus a full grain. I'd like to hear Lee's explanation for selling powder dispensing tools that are calibrating in useless units of measure.
There's IMR4350 180 grain data here. http://www.303british.com/id12.html
 
Drachenblut,
2.8cc dipper-imr 4350
dredge to mounded, tap 3 times (lightly) with pencil, scrape off to level.
weighed with dillon weighed with lyman balance beam
40.4 40.3
40.7 40.8
39.7 39.9
40.3 40.2
40.3 40.3

expect a full grain plus variation in dipper charges.

303br 180gr imr4350 start max
hornady 4th 39.8 46.5

You may, or may not, be near an accuracy node with dipped charges. Worth a try if thats what you got!.
In my (40 yrs) experience run out causes as many fliers at medium/long range as any other variable.
Regards,
vviking
 
I can get a lot less than a grain of variation. I have a scale and a good powder measure, but I still use the Lee dippers, for certain things. The system Drachenblut used, heap and scrape off with a card is what I do, also.
As a matter of fact, later this evening I will try a few dips with a 2.8 and IMR4350, and let you know on here.
 
I poured some IMR4350 into a plastic margarine container. My can was nearly empty, so not as much powder in the dish as I would like.
I sweep the dipper through the powder, it heaps a bit, then level it off with a stiff card. With a coarse grained powder, like 4350, the scraping off is very important. The card has to be held at right angles. When I am loading, using the dippers, experience has shown me when I make a boo boo. I can tell when I have made a mistake, then I discard that dipper full and take another.
This happened tonoght.
I measured eight dippers full, making a visible error, turning out ot be about .5 grain, on each of two of them. Of the other six, here they are.
37.7
.6
.9
.7
.7
.8
With a finer grain powder I can easily duplicate this, without making an error.
One way I use the dippers is in making up light loads for the 45-70. I am just going to guess at how much powder to try, anyway, so I take out a dipper and powder, and it it weighs about what I want, I just use that size dipper full. It makes for easy loading.
Thus, a 1.6 dipper holds 14.4 grains of unique, so that was one of my loads to try. As a point of interest a five shot group, with a 420 grain bullet, made a 1.4 inch group, with four going in to .9 of an inch at 100 meters.
Another powder to try was 4227. The same 1.6cc scoop held 22.5 grains of this much denser powder. Five shots with this load gave a 1½ inch group, which I am not complaining about, a bit. I am not a bench rest shooter and after all, I was using the lever action Marlin.
 
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