.303 reloading, need a quick answer *Results*

Wally

Wally

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I just finished My VERY FIRST reload about 2 minutes ago :D

I have a Lee box loader, I just bought 200 CCI BR-2 Primers and a pound of IMR4895 powder. My boxloader does neck sizing but it doesn't case trim.

I was just wondering about the .303Brit case length requirements...

From 303british.com
Maximum Case Length - 2.222 inches
Case Trim Length - 2.212 inches

All of my cases are under 2.222 but the lengths of my once fired, factory Winchester brass varies from 2.216" to 2.201". Is it OK to load the stuff under 2.212? Is it Dangerous? Decrease accuracy?
I'm pretty sure my factory brass hasn't shrunk with firing.....
 
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Have at 'er, .303 is a great cartridge to begin reloading. Next firing, you'll find the brass is longer. What's a Lee box loader?
 
savagefan said:
Have at 'er, .303 is a great cartridge to begin reloading. Next firing, you'll find the brass is longer. What's a Lee box loader?
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:D I'm enjoying it already. I was firing Sellier & Bellot ammo today and my accuracy was looking pretty good! Had a few ragged holes at 100yds. after the S&B I started firing Federal Game Shok and my accuracy was sucking! Motivated me to buy primers and powder today.

I put the Limbsaver off my 12GA on my enfield.... WOW what a difference. Now I can shoot it all day without a sore sholder :rockOn:

This is a Lee Loader
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1189306569.5824=/html/catalog/cleeloader.html

So my loads consist of Winchester Brass, .312" 174grn Hornady roundnose Interlocks, CCI BR-2 Benchrest primers, and 38.4grns (1 Lee Loader scoop) of IMR4895 powder.
 
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Relax. 11 thou under the trim-to length isn't much. To give you an idea of how small that is, a sheet of regular 20 pound photocopy paper is 3 thou thick.
You will have some COL issues with the bullet not being in the same place for all the loaded ammo, but that's not in the least bit dangerous.
The 2.201" brass is a bit short, but it'll likely stretch a bit upon firing again. You might see a bit of stretching in the sizer die too. Not much if at all though.
Sizing and trimming are two different things. You will always size, but you won't always need to trim. You can do either first, but like Dan says, it's best to have all your cases the same length. Makes the COL issues go away.
 
sunray said:
You will have some COL issues with the bullet not being in the same place for all the loaded ammo, but that's not in the least bit dangerous.
... it's best to have all your cases the same length. Makes the COL issues go away.
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I think you are thinking of seating depth...
The Combined Overall Length of the loaded round will not change with differences in case length.
The only thing that could change that is irregularities in the ogive from bullet to bullet (not likely) or the differences in dimension from where in the ogive you are seating the bullet to the tip (quite normal with some bullets).
As for the last senario, the dimensional differences from ogive to tip doesn't really matter in most ammunition (mag length limitations, meplat uniformity, etc., etc. aside)
 
Cases that are too long for the chamber can result in an interference fit at the end of the chamber, and the case cannot expand to allow the bullet to be released. This can cause a pressure spike. Your cases are under maximum, so you don't have to worry. If you were using a conventional seating/crimping die, irregular case lengths could result in inconsistant crimping. If you crimp with your Lee tool, this isn't an issue, although variation in case length will result in the bullet's crimping groove not being in the correct position. The way bullets are seated using the Lee, case length is unrelated to bullet seating, so the overall length of your cartridges should be uniform.
.303 Lee Enfield rifles tend to stretch cases. You might want to consider checking length after they are fired, and there is certainly no harm in trimming all cases to the same length. Uniformity contributes to consistant results. Be sure to inspect all fired cases for incipient separations. Your Lee tool will only neck size, and this can contribute to longer case life in a Lee Enfield.
 
Since the Enfield chambers are usually a little on the "generous" side, your brass will probably fail long before trimming will be needed. Neck sizing for your rifle may extend brass life by a couple of loadings especially if hot loads are used.
One item you may want to pick up is a broken case extractor, they can be bought at Numrich for about $15.
 
beltfed said:
I think you are thinking of seating depth...
The Combined Overall Length of the loaded round will not change with differences in case length.
The only thing that could change that is irregularities in the ogive from bullet to bullet (not likely) or the differences in dimension from where in the ogive you are seating the bullet to the tip (quite normal with some bullets).
As for the last senario, the dimensional differences from ogive to tip doesn't really matter in most ammunition (mag length limitations, meplat uniformity, etc., etc. aside)
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Yep, the way the bullet is seated with this tool, the case length doesn't come into play. My COL is reasonably consistent but could be better. I'm sittin at around 3.055".
tiriaq said:
Cases that are too long for the chamber can result in an interference fit at the end of the chamber, and the case cannot expand to allow the bullet to be released. This can cause a pressure spike. Your cases are under maximum, so you don't have to worry. If you were using a conventional seating/crimping die, irregular case lengths could result in inconsistant crimping. If you crimp with your Lee tool, this isn't an issue, although variation in case length will result in the bullet's crimping groove not being in the correct position. The way bullets are seated using the Lee, case length is unrelated to bullet seating, so the overall length of your cartridges should be uniform.
.303 Lee Enfield rifles tend to stretch cases. You might want to consider checking length after they are fired, and there is certainly no harm in trimming all cases to the same length. Uniformity contributes to consistant results. Be sure to inspect all fired cases for incipient separations. Your Lee tool will only neck size, and this can contribute to longer case life in a Lee Enfield.
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I'm not crimping my cases at all and I don't really think there is a need. Those bullets are in there pretty tight after the neck sizing.
 
Wally, enjoy your Lee loader. Over 30 years ago, I started reloading with a Lee loader for a 3030. I now try to collect Lee loaders. Despite what you mean you read and hear, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be loading for your 303 with one of these. You can buy a nice little case trimmer set up from Lee, a handy addition to your loading toolbox.:p:p
 
.303 Brass is not known for its longentivity! Expect only 4-6 reloads per cartridge case before case separation starts. Contact Brownells, they have broken case extractors available. They are worth their weight for a dedicated .303 shooter.
 
If you don't trim too much, you'll get a lot of neck size reloads outa .303 brass. Case-head seperation is an issue with Enfields, the notch on the chamber allows for you to pick out the brass with a screw-driver or knife etc.
 
So I took 40 reloads to the range. I took 20 of the 174grn Roundnose and 20 of the 150grn Spire points. Both loads used the same brass, primers and ammount of powder.

303shoot1.jpg


So the top 2 targets were shot first. The targets on the left are the 150s and the right are the 174s. Apparently the best group I shot the whole time was the top sheet, bottom left target. I was trying to take my time and shoot well but I think I'm still flinching when I shoot. I'm pulling the trigger instead of squeezing it. By the time I got to the bottom targets I was rushing a bit and my bbl was getting hot. I definitely wasn't taking enough time to let it cool down.

Eventually I'm going to need to get a powder scale so I can modify loads and try them out but in the mean time, the lee loader equates to cheaper ammo which equates to more trigger time.... which I clearly need. Anyone wanna come to Kelowna and Coach me? :D
 
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Sounds like practice is in order before anyone can comment on the loads themselves.
Feels good to fire your own loads though doesn't it?
Feels even better to shoot big game with your own loads.
For longer brass life, stay away from max loads, and don't even think about max with the standard lee dipper. Use the loads in the kit, and you'll do fine.
I used one for 30-30 many years ago, and learned the hard way.
After you get some experience, you'll want to upgrade to a press, case trimmer, and a scale.
As mentioned previously, the chambers on the Lee Enfields are quite generous. I doub't you'll have to worry about case trimming for some time, in fact, the cases may not last that long.
On case life. Low pressure loads can extend case life considerably, depending on the condition of your rifle. You can get 20 or more reloads from a case, or, as few as 1, it's up to you, and your rifle.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
Sounds like practice is in order before anyone can comment on the loads themselves.
Feels good to fire your own loads though doesn't it?
Feels even better to shoot big game with your own loads.
For longer brass life, stay away from max loads, and don't even think about max with the standard lee dipper. Use the loads in the kit, and you'll do fine.
I used one for 30-30 many years ago, and learned the hard way.
After you get some experience, you'll want to upgrade to a press, case trimmer, and a scale.
As mentioned previously, the chambers on the Lee Enfields are quite generous. I doub't you'll have to worry about case trimming for some time, in fact, the cases may not last that long.
On case life. Low pressure loads can extend case life considerably, depending on the condition of your rifle. You can get 20 or more reloads from a case, or, as few as 1, it's up to you, and your rifle.
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Thanks JYC
Yeah, feels great to be shooting my own loads. It's hunting season so hopefully I'll be taking a deer with them this fall :D

Yeah, I'm not screwing around with the Lee Dipper. 1 scoop of IMS4895 puts me a little over the starting load and I don't intend to go any higher with this setup. My rifle is in great shape and my twice fired brass looks just fine.

Well, it looks like practise is in order! At least now I can afford to go to the range once a week.
 
I started with a Lee loader. Great fun.

Suggestion: After sizing a few cases, chamber them to make sure they fit. If they don't fit it will save you the grief of having to take your rounds apart the slow way.

Also, the SMLE and #4 actions are rear lockers, so tend to stretch brass. You will increase case life if you don't load so hot. You don't need 2,000 horsepower to punch holes at 100 yards. You might find that 35 to 40 gr of 4895 behind the 123 gr SKS/AK bullet makes a great plinker with no recoil.
 
case head separation on 303 Br

savagefan said:
If you don't trim too much, you'll get a lot of neck size reloads outa .303 brass. Case-head seperation is an issue with Enfields, the notch on the chamber allows for you to pick out the brass with a screw-driver or knife etc.
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I had my first case head separation at the range on Saturday and were unsure how to go about removing the case body. After trying unsuccessfully to remove it with a cleaning rod, i picked the rifle up and gave it quite a hefty tap on it's butt. Kaclang ! out came the case! I hope this will not damage the scope? I think it also helped that I allowed the rifle to cool down before attempting to remove it. Any advice?
 
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