Handloader magazine-303 british article

[buckbrush]

In the current Handloader magazine, there is an article by Mike Venturino on the .303 british. It has a few inacuracys to say the least, like refering to "british made longbranch barrels". He also struggles to get 5 shot groups under 3 " with 3 different rifles. The last time I took all 6 of mine to the range, all would average just over 2" for 10 shot groups, with fnc ball or my equivalent handloads.

This guy is proclaimed by both Wolfe publishing and himself as one of the worlds best tecnical writers on handloading! what a friggin joke!.

 

[John Sukey]

Mr. Venturino is quite knowledgeable on Black Powder rifles. However, he is out of his depth on the Lee-Enfield. He has repeated all the myths and little of the facts.

I have been advised that his article on the 30-06 was of the same quality as the one on the .303.

 

[bearhunter]

It depends on several things, a lot of 303Brit ammo was loaded with .308 diameter bullets both dureing and after the war, I have some wwll surplus like that and some old Turkish stuff that would only shoot into 5-6 inches even in proven shooters. Mikes eyes aren't what they used to be either. That FNC ammo you're talking is very nice surplus, we were lucky to get it in Canada. In the US, where the gov't beaureaucrats aren't as anal, they have a huge selection of milsurp ammo from around the world, as well as a lot more availabilety of commercial types and loads, a lot of it is questionable as to quality, especially when the storage issue is raised, poor primer etc. But I have to admit that I also found the reference to the Longbranch barrels being built in Britain amuseing, possible though improbable. Maybe he didn't know about the Savage barrels that were shipped to Longbranch. bearhunter

 

[sunray]

"...a lot of 303Brit ammo was loaded with .308 diameter bullets..." By whom? No Commonwealth country, certainly.
"...the Savage barrels that were shipped to Longbranch..." It wasn't just barrels. All remaining rifles, parts and machines were shipped to Longbranch when the Savage contract ended.

 

[bearhunter]

both Canadian and US suppliers dureing WWll. Canada used Us supplied bullets for loading dureing hostilities when supplies were short. After the war there were a lot of 30 cal fmj bullets loaded into 303 to use up the surplus. It's not uncommon to find milsurp manufactured dureing and shortly after the war with 308 dia bullets. bearhunter

 

[green]

Never seen a reference or a .303" service ctg loaded with a .308" bt. The standard .303" MkVII used a 174 gr bt vs 150 gr for the 30-06 M2. The US contract .303" from WRA and Peters used the .311-12" 174 gr.