Fave .303 bullet weight for hunting?
- Thread starter kombi1976
- Start date
The 215 gr is the all-time all-around bullet for truly big game in the 303 Br. The reality is that most folks hunt deer and black bear, for which the 180 is certainly adequate, so the need for the 215 bullet is limited.
I wonder what would happen if we all started inquiring, repeatedly for the re-introduction of the 215 gr load in factory ammo, or at least a 215 bullet for handloading, from the major manufacturers?
Ted
I wonder what would happen if we all started inquiring, repeatedly for the re-introduction of the 215 gr load in factory ammo, or at least a 215 bullet for handloading, from the major manufacturers?
Ted
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
215 grain 303 bullets
You could enquire about the 215 grain bullets to the major ammo makers but you would probably be ignored because its not a WSM caliber. Hmmmm............303 WSM.............that might sell
You could enquire about the 215 grain bullets to the major ammo makers but you would probably be ignored because its not a WSM caliber. Hmmmm............303 WSM.............that might sell
I have some of those Mark 9 200 grain semi-spitzers from Steve Redgwell in Ontario. They shoot incredibly well in my Bubba'd P14 [24" barrel, 6x Scoped, Laminated Sporter stock, Timney Trigger]I have had many groups just under 1" at 100 meters. The 174 Hornady shoots well, but not like this bullet. The 200 is sized at .313", so it fits the 303 just about perfect. Regards, Eagleye.
You know, it strikes me that if anyone actually made them regularly available 215gn bullets could well be very popular.
303 British is well known for liking heavy bullets despite the fact it isn't a really muscular cartridge.
I guess it's like a lot of the old late 19th century military cartridges that are obsolete but nonetheless very capable.
Beats me why Richard Graves, who's making 30 cal bullets as heavy as 250gn, and Steve Redgewell, who has developed a 200gn Spitzer, have not chased a 215gn or 220gn .311 pill.
303 British is well known for liking heavy bullets despite the fact it isn't a really muscular cartridge.
I guess it's like a lot of the old late 19th century military cartridges that are obsolete but nonetheless very capable.
Beats me why Richard Graves, who's making 30 cal bullets as heavy as 250gn, and Steve Redgewell, who has developed a 200gn Spitzer, have not chased a 215gn or 220gn .311 pill.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
Steve Ridgwell apparantly does, but he is awfully hard to contact!
Richard does not at this time have the dies needed for .311 ( I think)
If we got some feellas together on this board we could likely get enough orders for him to justify tooling up for them however!
I'd be more than happy to buy 300 myself for starters.
Cat
Richard does not at this time have the dies needed for .311 ( I think)
If we got some feellas together on this board we could likely get enough orders for him to justify tooling up for them however!
I'd be more than happy to buy 300 myself for starters.
Cat
Nope.catnthehatt said:Steve Ridgwell apparantly does, but he is awfully hard to contact!
He only does a 200gn Spitzer.
Have been told he had it made because it doesn't intrude on the powder space as much and has similar shock because of the superior ballistic coefficient.
catnthehatt said:Richard does not at this time have the dies needed for .311 ( I think)
If we got some feellas together on this board we could likely get enough orders for him to justify tooling up for them however!
I'd be more than happy to buy 300 myself for starters.
I actually PM'ed Richard and he indicated that not only did he not have the dies but did not intend to get them as he had plenty of business out of the 30 cal and .22 cal crowd.
Perhaps if you sent him the money for them and made it worth his while he would buy them and periodically do a production run.
Meanwhile I'm going try and score 100 Taipan pills!
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I tried to get up a bunch of guys to beat on Remington and Barnes to introduce a 215, but they didn't go for it.Why not? said:The 215 gr is the all-time all-around bullet for truly big game in the 303 Br. The reality is that most folks hunt deer and black bear, for which the 180 is certainly adequate, so the need for the 215 bullet is limited.
I wonder what would happen if we all started inquiring, repeatedly for the re-introduction of the 215 gr load in factory ammo, or at least a 215 bullet for handloading, from the major manufacturers?
Ted
I think a 180 grain X bullet would shoot well in the cartridge too.
Actually, why is it that Barnes don't make .311 cal bullets?
Nosler don't either for that matter.
How come they make a 9.3mm, which is relatively unusual in the US but not .311 when there are heaps of .303s and some 7.65x53s too.
A good little 125gn Ballistic Tip may also be a good 7.62x39 bullet as much as I don't like the cartridge.
Nosler don't either for that matter.
How come they make a 9.3mm, which is relatively unusual in the US but not .311 when there are heaps of .303s and some 7.65x53s too.
A good little 125gn Ballistic Tip may also be a good 7.62x39 bullet as much as I don't like the cartridge.
I rang Taipan again today and was given a more in depth explaination of why they manufacture things in what seems such an ad hoc manner. Turns out that any copper orders take 6 months to get to them. Since there are 6 to 8 different sizes the woman I spoke to said it was like trying guess what you'd need in the pantry in 6 months time. Afterall, you can't just order for what's out of stock at the time of order. You have to try and predict what else will sell out.
Anyhow, the good news is that they back order stuff so I've back ordered 200 bullets. They've been shipping them overseas to NZ so perhaps they can ship them to you guys too.
Here's their email address:
memo@bulletmaker.com
And their website:
http://www.bulletmaker.com/
Have a look.
Anyhow, the good news is that they back order stuff so I've back ordered 200 bullets. They've been shipping them overseas to NZ so perhaps they can ship them to you guys too.
Here's their email address:
memo@bulletmaker.com
And their website:
http://www.bulletmaker.com/
Have a look.
Only 2 voters for 125gr I am shocked For the praries we always used 150 gr.In the day it was CIL 150gr @ 2720 Hell of a load.Black bear I went and found an old box of Dominion 215 somewhere.These days with my 1895 win and my martini enfield carbine ,You know things with disagreeable recoil,I have gone to 123 or 125 gr .310 dia pills.Good accurracy,fair speed and reduced recoil.Any deer I have shot with them only needed one.
Rich
For the praries we always used 150 gr.In the day it was CIL 150gr @ 2720 Hell of a load.Black bear I went and found an old box of Dominion 215 somewhere.These days with my 1895 win and my martini enfield carbine ,You know things with disagreeable recoil,I have gone to 123 or 125 gr .310 dia pills.Good accurracy,fair speed and reduced recoil.Any deer I have shot with them only needed one.Rich
Well, I got another email from Malcolm Bone of Taipan Bullets. He said he may be able to start making them soon as he's found some of the materials he needs around and is tooled up for 303 cal at the moment. He also said he had an email the other day from "Yukon Territory" asking about this specific bullet so he thinks he'll be back in production sooner rather than later. As I said before, back order if you're interested.
