I am using hornady 174 grain FMJ/BT (3131) bullets for my .303Brit to shoot in my Lee Enfield. I am confused about the diameter, the Hornady book says it is a .312, the box says it is .3105, and i used a caliper and got anywhere between .3105 and .312 (but my caliper has seen better days) does anybody know what the diameter is and if they are safe to use in my enfield or if i should stop using them.
Bullet diameter
- Thread starter LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1
- Start date
If you do a search for Hornady you'll find they make them in both diameters; 1 in.3105 and also 2 bullets in.312 and have different stock numbers for them. Either should be safe in your rifle but you may or may not find accuracy better with the larger bullets. The bullet you have should be a boat tail. The others are flat based.
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
I bought some bulk Remington Core-lokt 180 grain in 303 from WSS,they are marked 310 on the bag.......
I was surprised that they shoot very well out of my No5 being "undersized". at .310
I was surprised that they shoot very well out of my No5 being "undersized". at .310
Well I use H414, I like it alright but its the only powder i have used since i am new to reloading so I cant really give a comparison. Pick up a reloading manual, I have the hornady 7th and it has around 8 different powders listed. As for whats the best, its all up to how you perceive it and what you use it for.
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
.303 powders
I've used IMR4350 and 4064 mostly, Varget in the past also. I've never settled on a specific load because I have about 20 various .303's, so I tend to load 10% under max. and I full-length size the cases's to avoid chambering problems. Case life doesn't concern me as I have about 1,000 or so.
Cheers
Geoff
I've used IMR4350 and 4064 mostly, Varget in the past also. I've never settled on a specific load because I have about 20 various .303's, so I tend to load 10% under max. and I full-length size the cases's to avoid chambering problems. Case life doesn't concern me as I have about 1,000 or so.
Cheers
Geoff
Guys, I have been putting .308 diameter bullets down range with my excellent bore Lee Enfields with NO accuracy issues, so I guarantee .001 won't mean anything at all. I have shot groups with my reloads with .310's and .308's and I see absolutely no difference out as far as I've shot them for group ing anyway. 200 yards is the farthest I've tried grouping though so maybe longer ranges would show some difference. I have a nice original No1 Mk3, scoped that shoots well UNDER 2 inches consistently at 180-200 yards with .308 diameter Winchester and Hornady 150 grain flat based bullets. I am using IMR 3031 powder but would have to go dig through my load data to check the charge specs. I've been shooting these guns this way for many years with no issues and the .308 diameter gives so many more choices of bullets. All my guns have virtually like new unworn bores. I don't know how the smaller diameter bullets would fair put through a well used bore though.
Al
Al
Well, to be perfectly honest Savagefan, that particular No1Mk3 rifle seems to be extraordinarily accurate compared to my other L.E's, for some reason. I don't see anything out of the ordinary with it either other than it is relatively unworn in regards to all the metal. I can also shoot 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards, using the same .308 diameter bullet reloads with my iron sighted original, No1mk3's, No4's and one No5 Jungle carbine. That particularily accurate No1mk3 is the only full wood original Lee Enfield that I have ever fired WITH a scope mounted on it. Maybe they are capable of very good accuracy, just that the crude sights they came with don't do them justice. GRIN This one also has a very, very smooth and light trigger pull, although I see no evidence of any modifications being done to the thing at all. The fact remains that for about 20-25 years now I have been shooting .308 diameter bullets out of all my Lee Enfield's as well as my Mosin Nagants with no accuracy issues. I expect that they wouldn't do so good out of a worn bore however.
Al
Al
