.303 Projectile For Long Range

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CameronMac

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Looking to start reloading for my No4mk1. Plan to create some accurate loads for hitting steel from 200-1000m. Don't worry I've got very large plates. I've been reading around but haven't seen much concensus on boat tail vs flat base. I've decided on heavier projectiles 174-180gr.

Any information or experience would be appreciated.
 
CameronMac said:
Looking to start reloading for my No4mk1. Plan to create some accurate loads for hitting steel from 200-1000m. Don't worry I've got very large plates. I've been reading around but haven't seen much concensus on boat tail vs flat base. I've decided on heavier projectiles 174-180gr.
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For long distance the ballistic performance of a boat tail is much better than a flat base. The boat tail drops less and drifts less in the wind. The big issue with the .303 is that the bullets are not standard 30 caliber which uses bullets 0.308" in diameter. A 303 barrel needs bullets that are 0.311-0.312" in diameter. They are hard to find. Sierra makes what is probably in theory the most accurate long distance bullet, a 174 grain HPBT Matchking. I would try it first. If it is not so accurate then you could try a 0.312" bullet from Hornady. They make a 174 grain round nose flat base which would be brutally bad for drop and drift. There is also a 150 grain spire point flat base, which will be a little better ballistically. But if your barrel is a little larger the larger Hornady bullets may work better for you. The 303 Enfield is known to not have very tight tolerances on barrel bore diameter...

Lee 303 Collet Dies may be the best way to go for reloading.
 
Ron AKA said:
For long distance the ballistic performance of a boat tail is much better than a flat base. The boat tail drops less and drifts less in the wind. The big issue with the .303 is that the bullets are not standard 30 caliber which uses bullets 0.308" in diameter. A 303 barrel needs bullets that are 0.311-0.312" in diameter. They are hard to find. Sierra makes what is probably in theory the most accurate long distance bullet, a 174 grain HPBT Matchking. I would try it first. If it is not so accurate then you could try a 0.312" bullet from Hornady. They make a 174 grain round nose flat base which would be brutally bad for drop and drift. There is also a 150 grain spire point flat base, which will be a little better ballistically. But if your barrel is a little larger the larger Hornady bullets may work better for you. The 303 Enfield is known to not have very tight tolerances on barrel bore diameter...

Lee 303 Collet Dies may be the best way to go for reloading.
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This is great info... test bullets of various diameters to determine what will work best for YOUR barrel. Had lots of fun early in my LR shooting playing with Lee, P Enfields in 303 Brit. Finding the right bullet fit was critically important to gaining any degree of accuracy.

The Lee collet die is THE way to size the case. Better seaters will also help. Toss the brass when the base shows stress due to stretching. Keep pressures moderate.

Lots of options are possible so pm or email - some not commonly available.

Jerry
 
First ,.303B is one of my favorite rifles.
I am not reloading yet so I have to ask. Why a collet die.
And what is the difference.
 
Above49TH said:
First ,.303B is one of my favorite rifles.
I am not reloading yet so I have to ask. Why a collet die.
And what is the difference.
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The main advantage of a collet die in general is that it squashes the neck of the case down around a proper sized mandrel. This minimizes the working of the brass in the neck, minimizes runout, and does not exert as much force on the case. The 303 is a rimmed cartridge and there may be other advantages. I will leave that to the experts to discuss...
 
L.E. chambers are generally quite generous in size. Full length sizing will work the brass far too much, and separations will soon result.
With my No.4 even with the Lee collet die I have to put a couple of washers around the case to back it out a bit because the shoulder is pushed so far forward it doesn't fit properly in the die.
Using o-rings or ponytail elastics just ahead of the rim really helps in fire-forming the cases too.
And P.S. it's only a projectile when it's been projected by something. Sitting on a bench it's a bullet.
 
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I shoot 180 grain Sierra pro hunters at 500 yards often. My target is a 10" plate and if the wind isn't too bad I can put them on that plate if I do my part more often then not.

The the problem with Enfield rifling is it works best with flat based bullets. BUT I have had sucess with boat tail in some of my rifles.
 
kawicrash said:
L.E. chambers are generally quite generous in size. Full length sizing will work the brass far too much, and separations will soon result.
With my No.4 even with the Lee collet die I have to put a couple of washers around the case to back it out a bit because the shoulder is pushed so far forward it doesn't fit properly in the die.
Using o-rings or ponytail elastics just ahead of the rim really helps in fire-forming the cases too.
And P.S. it's only a projectile when it's been projected by something. Sitting on a bench it's a bullet.
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Something to consider if this is the case with a particular rifle is that Lee will make a custom collet for for you for roughly $75 CDN. At least I think that's what it worked out to the last time I checked. You send in a few fires cases and they make a perfect match. I plan on having a proper 7.62X54r collet die made.
 
A Flat Base in a Lee Enfield works better in many Lee Enfields where there is poor bullet-bore fit, because the rear of the bullet can increase in size slightly upon firing and better fill the grooves. If one of the aforementioned BT bullets fit well, they have much better potential than FB to shoot well at extended ranges.

As for 1000 yds, I guess any rifle can makes hits on occasion if the target if sufficiently large. All the romance aside, you'll never make a Lee Enfield into anything close to even a decent shooter at 1000 yds.
 
Andy said:
A Flat Base in a Lee Enfield works better in many Lee Enfields where there is poor bullet-bore fit, because the rear of the bullet can increase in size slightly upon firing and better fill the grooves. If one of the aforementioned BT bullets fit well, they have much better potential than FB to shoot well at extended ranges.

As for 1000 yds, I guess any rifle can makes hits on occasion if the target if sufficiently large. All the romance aside, you'll never make a Lee Enfield into anything close to even a decent shooter at 1000 yds.
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Do you mean the OP lacks the skills to make it a decent 1000 yd shooter? That may be so. Tuning a Lee Enfield to shoot is a dieing art/science. The rifle must be properly bedded. This includes a special incantation, shims and something to do with a dead cat at midnight. The OP probably is not one of those with the skill set.

Every year 1,000 + markmen from around the world meet at Bisley, England to shoot. The ranges there go back to 1,200 yards. Until about 1985 the rifle of choice used by most for long range shooting was a Lee Enfield #4. We used a heavy single shot match rifle for 300 to 600 yards and most of us used a #4 at 900 and 1000 because it was more accurate.

In 1984 I had a good shoot, and after a week of shooting I only missed the long range bullseye on two shots. (24" bull. Iron sights, shot off the elbows, using military ball ammo.) I used a #4 at long range. Most of the 1500 other shooters also preferred the #4 for long range.

The Lee Enfield can be tuned to "compensate". As you know, bullets exit the barrel at different speeds. At 1000 yards, the slower bullets would tend to hit the target somewhat lower than the faster ones.

You also know the barrel "whips". If the muzzle is whipping up as the bullets exit (known as positive compensation) the slower bullets will exit when the barrel is higher than than when the faster bullets. So the rifle "compensates" for the slower bullets by aiming them higher.
 
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Ganderite said:
Do you mean the OP lacks the skills to make it a decent 1000 yd shooter? That may be so. Tuning a Lee Enfield to shoot is a dieing art/science. The rifle must be properly bedded. This includes a special incantation, shims and something to do with a dead cat at midnight. The OP probably is not one of those with the skill set.

Every year 1,000 + markmen from around the world meet at Bisley, England to shoot. The ranges there go back to 1,200 yards. Until about 1985 the rifle of choice used by most for long range shooting was a Lee Enfield #4. We used a heavy single shot match rifle for 300 to 600 yards and most of us used a #4 at 900 and 1000 because it was more accurate.

In 1984 I had a good shoot, and after a week of shooting I only missed the long range bullseye on two shots. (24" bull. Iron sights, shot off the elbows, using military ball ammo.) I used a #4 at long range. Most of the 1500 other shooters also preferred the #4 for long range.

The Lee Enfield can be tuned to "compensate". As you know, bullets exit the barrel at different speeds. At 1000 yards, the slower bullets would tend to hit the target somewhat lower than the faster ones.

You also know the barrel "whips". If the muzzle is whipping up as the bullets exit (known as positive compensation) the slower bullets will exit when the barrel is higher than than when the faster bullets. So the rifle "compensates" for the slower bullets by aiming them higher.
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GASP...until 3 years ago I hunted with a sporterized Mk 4 and made a couple of 500 yd shots on deer using that rifle. Made the old fellas I was with look at me like I was a foreign made car in their farmyards. Confessing now that this rifle is scoped but non the less they couldn't fathom it.

I follow your responses very closely Ganderite but this post for me put's your comments and wisdom at a different level.

Now that I've read this I'm going to follow up and purchase a low mileage 303 that I've got a lead on. Son of a gun!

Best Regards
Ron
 
It is called "compensation". Very good feature to have when using ammo with a large variation on velocity, shot to shot.

If you are shooting groups at 300 yards, note what happens as you shoot 44,0, 44,5, 45.0, 45.5, etc. Do the groups go up on the paper or down? If the groups go down relative to the aiming mark, as the loads get hotter, you have positive compensation. At some long distance the hot and mild ammo will com together.

At 100 yards, with mediocre ammo, the rifle will shoot a tall group. Much taller than your standard Remchester, giving the impression that rifle does not group well. Yes it does, but not at 100. It might be a tackdriver at 900 yards.
 
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