303 savage question

[Jesse_L_B]

Hi guys I was wondering whether or not cast bullets with gas check would be good in my 303 savage, made in 1904, or would round nose soft point jacketed bullets be my best bet? Also any input as to what a good powder for 303 savage would be? Thanks guys
Jesse

 

[BrotherRockeye]

Lymans 44th shows loads for both 173 and 193gr CGC bullets.

Powder choices range from 4064 to Unique to 2400

The factory duplicate load is 193gr CGC bullet #311334 (#2 alloy) over 22.5gr of IMR 4227 for 1934fps

I have used IMR 3031 with good results

 

[Lionel]

Big can of worms you just opened. You didn't say if you wanted to hunt with this gun or just target shoot with it. Cast is a huge world of experimentation: hard or soft boolits; powdercoating; flat nose or pointy, and all the different weights the molds come in.

Jacketed is limited to what is available for your gun at the retail level. Pointy or flatnose it won't matter in your gun because it will have the rotary mag (I'm pretty sure your gun does)

Since you're handloading you can adjust your velocities, within reason, to find what will work best for you. Although cast will be easier to go much slower than jacketed and not stick a boolit in the bore.

If your gun has a decent bore, then shooting cast should be not much of a problem. If it's rough, the rule of thumb will be that you're probably in for a headache.

Personally, I lean towards cast, but then haven't bought factory ammo in years, or shot a jacketed bullet in most of my guns in about the same time.

 

[spooksar]

I have the same rifle built in 1912, I'm the second owner. As Lionel stated it depends a lot on your bore condition rough bore will give you lots of leading. I use 190 jacketed in mine and it shoot MOA.

 

[jethunter]

...If your gun has a decent bore, then shooting cast should be not much of a problem. If it's rough, the rule of thumb will be that you're probably in for a headache.

Personally, I lean towards cast, but then haven't bought factory ammo in years, or shot a jacketed bullet in most of my guns in about the same time.

This is my experience, too. If the bore has rough spots or especially if there are pits or rough edges on the lands, then jacketed bullets will be somewhat better and leave less material behind that has to be cleaned up later.

Give the barrel a good cleaning prior to starting with cast bullets. Residues and especially copper jacket material in the barrel will cause leading.

 

[dnepr]

I haven't done a lot of load development but my first thrown together cast loads are more accurate than the hornady factory ammo