Favorite 303 British loads

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Does anyone have a favorite load for the 303 British they would like to share ? I have put together a #4 mk 2 sniper clone that I am playing with at the range. I am not interested in hunting loads or cast bullets. Best I have is 1 1/2" groups at 100 yrd. I have about 6 reloading manuals, but I thought it would be good to try someones pet load.
 
A load which shoots well in one rifle may not in the next,so it is best to experiment with a variety of loads. You have 6 manuals,which is a great starter kit. I've gotten good results in a variety of .303s with the following propellants:IMR4064,IMR4350,Varget,RE15,W760 and H414. Often the best accuracy is found at less than top velocity. If you are already getting 1.5" groups,you will find it difficult to improve on that.
 
I don't know how long I will stay with this rifle, so I was hoping I would be able to use some powder that I already have. I've got IMR 4350 and Win. 760 I don't have a "Real Target Rifle " so I don't know what to expect. I am hoping for 1" MOA :D
 
Clearly, for accuracy, you should try the Sierra BTHP Match bullets and Varget. But you could probably have some good results with any of the .303 hunting bullets in 150 grain or 180 grain, but I would also suggest Varget or 4895 as well with those bullets.
 
You probably cannot get enough W760 in the 303 Brit case to cause problems, but it has always proved to be very accurate in my 2 - 303's. AAMOF, My Winchester built P14 shoots a big load of W760 and the 180 Sierra SPFB into 1 moa average at around 2450. I have "hotter" loads in my P14, but nothing that shoots any better than that, and definitely not anything I could recommend for a Lee-enfield type rifle. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Sierra 180gn Pro Hunter, 41gn IMR4895 in my No.1 Mk111 with Parker Hale target sights.
Target.jpg
 
I picked up a box of Hornady 174gr.BTHP bullets awhile back and some where I heard that boat tail bullets don't shoot well in Enfields. Seems difficult to find 303 British bullets.
 
As far as I know, and in the little shooting I have done with .303 boattails, there is no truth to this myth. Most .303 bullets (mostly hunting) are flat base, but that is more likley to do with limited production requirements than boattails not performing.
 
iv been shooting with 35grains of imr3031 with hornedy 174gsp.. under an inch group at 150yards with my 1916 no1mrk3
 
Bob said:
Sierra 180gn Pro Hunter, 41gn IMR4895 in my No.1 Mk111 with Parker Hale target sights.
Target.jpg
Click to expand...

VERY NICE, and definately a load I'll have to try:). I'm shooting a couple of Jungle Carbines and while most of my shooting with them is punching paper, the three main jacketed bullets I use are;
  • Sierra 180gr Spitzer
  • Hornady 174gr RN Interlock
  • Woodleigh 215gr Weldcore RN SN
With these bullets, there are a few powders I use and I'm hard pressed to say which is best;
  • IMR 3031
  • IMR 4064
  • IMR 4320
  • IMR 4350
 
I'm planning on using Varget, SMK 174's, Win brass when I work up a target load for my No.4, but does anyone have any thoughts on seating depths?
 
I use the Hornady 174gr BTHP in my P14 and I seat it to the max length that will fit in the mag - 3.075". That's about as far as I'd want to go as at that OAL, there's only about 0.250" of the bullet being gripped by the neck. That will likely be the limitation with the Sierra as well. Varget works well (I go up to 42.0 grs in the P14), but I'd look closely at IMR4064 and Re15 as well.
 
For general plinking and loads that the kids would shoot I use 7.62 x 39 ammo. I pull the bullets and use the powder also and you would be surprised at the accuracy you can get at 50 yards.

For 100 yard target shooting I use Hornady 174 gn and IMR3031.
 
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