I'm using IMR 4064 with a 180 grain Sierra Spitzer bullet .311. Loading from 37 grain to 41 grains. Problem is very slow velicities, starting @ 1650 and going up to 1995 with 41 grains. 40 grains should read about 2400 fps. Factory ammo seems to be all right. What's wrong
303 loading, low velocity.
- Thread starter Ron Rutherford
- Start date
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Assuming you weights are correct, and you are using a rifle primer.
Are you new to reloading?
I suspect the powder may be contaminated. Is there a lot of bore fouling?
It's also possible that you have a rifle with a very large bore size. Bores in 303 caliber military rifles have been recorded as large as .318.
Your rifle may be passing gas
Are you new to reloading?
I suspect the powder may be contaminated. Is there a lot of bore fouling?
It's also possible that you have a rifle with a very large bore size. Bores in 303 caliber military rifles have been recorded as large as .318.
Your rifle may be passing gas
chuckwagon
CGN Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
I had some loads with H4350 which also was low. may as well beenshooting my 30-30. My H335 load was good though.
"...should read about 2400 fps..." My old Lyman book gives 2386 with 42.0 grains of IMR4064. You won't be getting 2400fps with 40 grains. Steve on .303british.com suggests the Sierra 180 grain bullet requires much faster velocities than a .303 will give to function properly.
If you're not getting close to published velocities, your powder may be bad or you've under loaded, like John Y Cannuck says. How old is it? Check your scale too. Are you weighing each charge or using a powder thrower?
A .303 barrel that measures .318" is shot out. .315" is max for an acceptable bore diameter.
If you're not getting close to published velocities, your powder may be bad or you've under loaded, like John Y Cannuck says. How old is it? Check your scale too. Are you weighing each charge or using a powder thrower?
A .303 barrel that measures .318" is shot out. .315" is max for an acceptable bore diameter.
Slow?
Ron, welcome to the club. You have quickly discovered one of the truisms of loading. The actual speed of the bullet very seldom reaches what the book says it will go! For all those years of loading before the cronographs came into use, there was a happy bunch of reloaders. Every load in the books show a 30-06 180 grain bullet as going 2700 fps. In reality, most of those loads are 2550 to 2600, or sometimes even less.This is just an example.
Ron, welcome to the club. You have quickly discovered one of the truisms of loading. The actual speed of the bullet very seldom reaches what the book says it will go! For all those years of loading before the cronographs came into use, there was a happy bunch of reloaders. Every load in the books show a 30-06 180 grain bullet as going 2700 fps. In reality, most of those loads are 2550 to 2600, or sometimes even less.This is just an example.
If the powder is ok, low velocity is God's way of saying "Go higher." Every rifle is different, and Enfields vary even more due to tolerances and usage. Keep adding powder. 2200 fps is a reasonable load for that bullet and powder.
