Campro .303 British 180gr...

[Joe Amorosi]

Hi, has anyone here loaded these? I just got a box of 500 from Tenda today and I was hoping someone would kindly share a recipe or two. Campro site lists no load data for these at all. The powder I have on hand is IMR 3031 and IMR 4064. The rifle I will be using is a #4 mk1 sporter with a two groove 22" barrel. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sulisa]

Hodgdon reloading data site should be able to help you out. If you don't find your powder listed, find a powder close to the burn rate, and start light, and increase while running them over a chrony.

 

[Joe Amorosi]

The IMR load data site lists max loads only. 38.3gr 3031 and 41.1 gr 4064. I was hoping to find a load that works well from somebody that has tried it and tune it in for my rifle. Kinda new to reloading and don't have all the necessary equipment for that kind of load development yet.

 

[flashman2]

Start 10% low and work up from there. If you have the equipment to reload you have the equipment to work up a load. Developing your own load is the way to go; chasing someone else's pet load in a different rifle is a recipe for frustration and wasted effort. It's no harder in terms of effort or components to do it the right way. You don't need a chrono, the paper will tell you what works. A chrono is nice to have to check consistency, but is far from essential. I don't use mine at all in development, I use it after I've found a load that shoots the best on paper to check my ES and SD.

Have a read of the OCW method for load development.

 

[cosmic]

Your efforts to tune a load for your 303 are going to be limited by the optics - in particular if you are shooting iron sights. Since you only have two powders and one bullet, life is easy. Load a few rounds of each powder at min load (max - 4 grains), shoot rifle and compare. You will likely note soot around the neck of the case - this confirms a light load.
If one powder shows substantially better groups, focus on that powder. Make another few rounds with 1 more grain, and a few with 2 more grains. Shoot and compare.
If your first trial shows equal results, then you may chose to do incremental testing with both powders.
For older military rifles like your 303, I would suggest that you avoid going to max published load. Give yourself a couple of grains for margin of safety.
FWIW - Lee Enfields seem to be quite sensitive to bullet weight and configuration. I find the bullet selection to be the principal parameter in achieving accuracy on 303's, moreso than powder type or charge weight... I find the plain ole 150 gr Hornady SP's to be particularly good in many rifles.