Hornady 174gr 303 British and BL-C(2)

Fastestmanalive

Fastestmanalive

Regular
Rating - 100%
5   0   0
Location
Quebec City
Hi CGN reloading gurus,

Need some help here to figure out a starting load for my E.A.L 303 Brit. I got my hands on Hornady 174 FMJBT bullets and want to use BL-C(2). Now, I don't have a load for that powder in the 10th edition of the Hornady book. Hodgson database has a load for the Sierra HPBT 174gr at 43gr to 46,5 max with large rifle primers. This data is based on a OAL fo 3.075 for the Sierra Bullet while Hornady calls for 2.980.

I was thinking of taking 10% lower than the Hodgson suggested starting load to account for the lower cartrige volume with the Hornady bullet (around 7% less). So my starting load would be 40gr. I know this is not a linear relation between pressure and cartrige volume, but I tough it could make sense. I will be using Magnum primers because BL-C(2) is a spherical powder.

Should I be more conservative and start lower?

Thanks.
 
Most reloading manuals are conservative and keep chamber pressures at or below 43,000 cup due to the older Enfield rifles still being used. The No.4 can handle .308/7.62 pressures "but" the higher pressure may be harder on your brass.

Also I had better accuracy with flat base bullets and the Hornady 174 FMJBT groups were twice as large as the Hornady flat base bullets. "BUT" this was in a 1943 No.4 with cordite throat erosion and a newer barrel may shoot better.

NOTE, BL-C(2) was the second batch of powder Hodgdon bought at the end of WWII and was from torn down surplus American made Winchester .303 British ammunition.
 
I'm using 44 gr of BLC behind a cci magnum primer with the Hornady 174 gr FMJBT. I was getting 2369 FPS out of my jungle carbine and got a five shot group about 1.78" center to center at 93 yards. This was at summer time when I was up in the mountains when the temps were at 30 Celsius.
 
gunn69 said:
I'm using 44 gr of BLC behind a cci magnum primer with the Hornady 174 gr FMJBT. I was getting 2369 FPS out of my jungle carbine and got a five shot group about 1.78" center to center at 93 yards. This was at summer time when I was up in the mountains when the temps were at 30 Celsius.
Click to expand...

what was you OAL ?

thanks guys.
 
I have a p14 that I built from parts I had laying around. It's bedded but otherwise stock. It will stack rounds 1 on top of the other @ 100 yards with 40 grains of BLC-2 and a 180 grain Sierra pro hunter. I accidentally discovered that load while test firing it after the barrel was fitted. I had a ton of BLC-2 lying around and though I'd load some ammo with that.

About a week after that we went to a 300m range I took the same ammo and shot a 2" 5 shot group at 300m with the same ammo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom