Favourite Power in 303 British - other than Varget?

I shot IMR4451 under some 175 grain spire point bullets for a few years. VERY accurate, but discontinued now. Damn it! Oh well!

W760 was pretty good as well if I remember correctly.
 
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wasa said:
My current deer/bear load is Varget powder under 150gr Hornady or Speer projectiles in both my sporterized P14 and No 4 MK1. They are scoped, and I can fairly easily group about 1" at 100 yards.

But, like many other people, my supply of Varget is almost out, and I've started to try other powders (that I have been able to find). Experimenting with IMR 3031, Alliant Re15, and even AA2700. All are providing me good groups at 100 and I believe all will be good for my future hunts.

So, this got me thinking - what are other people's favourite reloading powder in 303 British for hunting? Moose, deer, bear - 150gr, 174gr, whatever.

And, if you are using a ball powder like AA2700, are you using a magnum primer like Speer recommends?

Thanks!
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Why use the same powder and load for both guns? Each will have a different most accurate load and you can load the P14 to quite a bit higher pressure than the No 4. For example, you can use 308 loads in the P14, which with Varget means a full case for bullets up to 174 grs, while in the No 4 you can use only about 90% of that.

My No 4's shoot best with H4350 and my P14 (now gone) shot best with Varget.
 
Ball powder is harder to ignite. A max load with a heavy bullet (180 and up) will probably ignite just fine with a regular primer.

But if you try 150s, with a milder load, you can have click-bangs.

Use a magnum primer, or a regular Winchester primer. Winchester used ball powders in their factory ammo, so made their primers hot for that reason.
 
Discovered Ball C2 was magic in the 303Br many years ago, especially with 180s and magnum primers. Highest velocity and longest case life than any other powder I tried. Accuracy is more than adequate for hunting out to 300, which is still my personal limit.

Ted
 
Suther said:
The stuff they put in surplus 7.62x54r.....
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^^ This. I use the powder and bullets. I then use the primed brass from the x54r, put 10gr of 700X and a LEE cast bullet of 150 or 155 gr. and shoot them off in a Mosin Nagant.
 
That's funny, I have Varget, but don't use it in 303 - I never got around to using it. I use 4064 for my 303's. but have most of the others. I've been trying to swap the Varget for LR primers.
 
I have used N540 to great success and the 150 gr soft point. Running low, so started to use varget for my 150 gr FMJ. Doing just as good. I use mag primers.
 
I do not shoot the 150 grain bullet in my rebarrelled Ross, Mostly 174/180 grain.
My favorite powders are: IMR 4320 (discontinued now) Norma N202, N203b,
Vihtavuori N540, Ramshot Big Game. Dave.
 
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