Interesting .303 Epps Improved
- Thread starter K98ACTION
- Start date
303 Epps
Go to 303british.com for excellent info. My Epps is on a P!4 action. When looking at Epps receipes, there is often a difference among the Lee Enfield loads and the P14 loads. Steve Regwell at 303british is very knowledgeable and has published a handbook of loads. Dies are often difficult to find. I hope this helps.
Go to 303british.com for excellent info. My Epps is on a P!4 action. When looking at Epps receipes, there is often a difference among the Lee Enfield loads and the P14 loads. Steve Regwell at 303british is very knowledgeable and has published a handbook of loads. Dies are often difficult to find. I hope this helps.
Have you looked to the left of the cash register in the Epps gun room? They have a piece of approximately 1/2 - 3/4" thick solid metal and their round went right through it. I was surprised. Don't think a moose would stand a chance!
303 Epps
1943 #4 Longbranch Sporter .303 Epps 3x9 scope
180 gr. IVI kksp, ivi brass Win. LRP
45.0 Gr. Reloder 15 2353..2364..2394 fps.. 3 shots 0.75 inch/100yds
46.0 gr Re 15 2451..2460..2449 fps...1.25 inch
47.0 gr Re 15 2525..2522..2512 fps...1.31 inch
48.0 gr Re 15 2555..2583..2573 fps...1.44 inch
in 46-48 gr. range.. two shots went 0.40-0.60 inch and 3rd shot expanded group to above size..
180 gr IVI KKSP
43.0 gr. IMR 4895...2428..2425..2412...2 shots 0.90..3 at 1.50 inch/100yd
44.0 gr. IMR 4895...2485..2482..2487...2 shots 0.50..3 at 1.70 inch
45.0 gr. IMR 4895...2514..2526..2511...2 shots 0.40..3 at 1.25 inch
46.0 gr. IMR 4895...2557..2572..2560...2 shots 1.60..3 at 3.00 inches
180 gr IVI KKSP
42.0 gr. H335...2341..2354..2343..fps..2 shots..0.75..3 shots 2.50/100yd
43.0 gr. H335...2380..2377..2373... 3.0 inch
44.0 gr. H335...2468..2450..2440....3 shots..0.60 inch
174 fmj pulled from 1950's DAC .303
45.0 gr Reloder 15.....2410..2446..2439..fps..1.50 inch/75 yds
46.0 gr Re 15...........2429..2476..2449........0.77 inch
47.0 gr Re 15...........2556..2526..2529........1.40 inch
48.0 gr Re 15...........2538..2555..2587........1.20 inch
**********************************************
220 gr Win Silvertip...(308)
38.0 gr. Imr 4895...1915..1893..1968 fps........1.13 in./75 yds
39.0 gr. Imr 4895...1998..2005..2018.............1.20 in./75 yds
43.0 gr Imr 4350....2036..2021..2012 fps...0.53 in/75 yds
165 Hornady Spz Flat base (.308)
44.0 gr IMR 4895 No chrony readings.....1.30 inch 3 shots/100yds
45.0 gr IMR 4895................................1.10 inch 3 shots/100yds
125 gr Nosler Bal. tip (.308) COL 2.989 inch
47.0 Gr H335..2728..2761..2741 fps...0.75 inch/75 yds..and 1.30 in. /100yds at next range session....48 gr at 2810 and 49 gr.at 2880fps avg. 2.50 inch/100 yds.
85 Gr Hornady .312 HP-XTP IVI 1986 Mil. Cases Win Lrp
37.0 gr Imr 4198... no readings........1.75 inch 3 shots 75 yds
38.0 gr Imr 4198..2935..3025..2959 fps 1.50 inch/75 yds
39.0 gr Imr 4198..2979..3093..3041 fps 1.75/75 yd
40.0 gr Imr 4198..3157..3160..3146 fps 0.85 inch/75 yds
Fireforming for 303 Brit to Epps was done #1: useing 11.0 gr REDDOT....shotshell buffer to top of case tamped down and sealed with wax plug........no failures in 200 cases of once fired misc. HXP..Win. and IvI Commercial cases.
#2 fireforming load.. to alleviate boredom..17.0 gr. Blueddot powder 174 surplus FMJ at 1600 fps avg. ..20 shots at 100 yds in 3.6 by 3.5 inch group Avg. and no failures in 80 once fired 1986 IVI Military cases.
These loads worked fine in my rifle...plse work up if you use any of this data.
cheers.......
1943 #4 Longbranch Sporter .303 Epps 3x9 scope
180 gr. IVI kksp, ivi brass Win. LRP
45.0 Gr. Reloder 15 2353..2364..2394 fps.. 3 shots 0.75 inch/100yds
46.0 gr Re 15 2451..2460..2449 fps...1.25 inch
47.0 gr Re 15 2525..2522..2512 fps...1.31 inch
48.0 gr Re 15 2555..2583..2573 fps...1.44 inch
in 46-48 gr. range.. two shots went 0.40-0.60 inch and 3rd shot expanded group to above size..
180 gr IVI KKSP
43.0 gr. IMR 4895...2428..2425..2412...2 shots 0.90..3 at 1.50 inch/100yd
44.0 gr. IMR 4895...2485..2482..2487...2 shots 0.50..3 at 1.70 inch
45.0 gr. IMR 4895...2514..2526..2511...2 shots 0.40..3 at 1.25 inch
46.0 gr. IMR 4895...2557..2572..2560...2 shots 1.60..3 at 3.00 inches
180 gr IVI KKSP
42.0 gr. H335...2341..2354..2343..fps..2 shots..0.75..3 shots 2.50/100yd
43.0 gr. H335...2380..2377..2373... 3.0 inch
44.0 gr. H335...2468..2450..2440....3 shots..0.60 inch
174 fmj pulled from 1950's DAC .303
45.0 gr Reloder 15.....2410..2446..2439..fps..1.50 inch/75 yds
46.0 gr Re 15...........2429..2476..2449........0.77 inch
47.0 gr Re 15...........2556..2526..2529........1.40 inch
48.0 gr Re 15...........2538..2555..2587........1.20 inch
**********************************************
220 gr Win Silvertip...(308)
38.0 gr. Imr 4895...1915..1893..1968 fps........1.13 in./75 yds
39.0 gr. Imr 4895...1998..2005..2018.............1.20 in./75 yds
43.0 gr Imr 4350....2036..2021..2012 fps...0.53 in/75 yds
165 Hornady Spz Flat base (.308)
44.0 gr IMR 4895 No chrony readings.....1.30 inch 3 shots/100yds
45.0 gr IMR 4895................................1.10 inch 3 shots/100yds
125 gr Nosler Bal. tip (.308) COL 2.989 inch
47.0 Gr H335..2728..2761..2741 fps...0.75 inch/75 yds..and 1.30 in. /100yds at next range session....48 gr at 2810 and 49 gr.at 2880fps avg. 2.50 inch/100 yds.
85 Gr Hornady .312 HP-XTP IVI 1986 Mil. Cases Win Lrp
37.0 gr Imr 4198... no readings........1.75 inch 3 shots 75 yds
38.0 gr Imr 4198..2935..3025..2959 fps 1.50 inch/75 yds
39.0 gr Imr 4198..2979..3093..3041 fps 1.75/75 yd
40.0 gr Imr 4198..3157..3160..3146 fps 0.85 inch/75 yds
Fireforming for 303 Brit to Epps was done #1: useing 11.0 gr REDDOT....shotshell buffer to top of case tamped down and sealed with wax plug........no failures in 200 cases of once fired misc. HXP..Win. and IvI Commercial cases.
#2 fireforming load.. to alleviate boredom..17.0 gr. Blueddot powder 174 surplus FMJ at 1600 fps avg. ..20 shots at 100 yds in 3.6 by 3.5 inch group Avg. and no failures in 80 once fired 1986 IVI Military cases.
These loads worked fine in my rifle...plse work up if you use any of this data.
cheers.......
I have an Epps as well, built on a Remington P14 Action. I really like the Epps variant because, not only does it give a bit more pizzazz to the venerable 303British, but also brass seems to stand up extremely well. [I realize that the front locking P14 action is the big factor in this] My pet loads use a good charge of RL 15 or W760 with the 174/180 grain bullets. I also use Steve Redgwell's Mk 9 200 grain bullet, sized to my groove diameter [.313"] I load a Higginson's powder, 47N, behind it. HS4570 has listed some loads that are probably as far as you want to go in a Lee-Enfield. Mine are a bit higher for the P14, and seem very safe. I have some cra**y FC cases that are on their 6th firing without any indications of high pressures. I have chrony'd a couple of my loads with the 180 Sierra spitzer at 2685 & 2705 fps. This is right close in to 30-06 territory [with factory loads] I have yet to shoot this Epps in it's latest incarnation, since it is being screwed into a new receiver and worked over by Bill Leeper. Some dough-head prior to me screwed up the feed rails royally, so it would not feed any cartridge properly. Hopefully, I will get a chance to use it on something this fall. Regards, Eagleye.
The 303 Epps is very cool, and adds quite a bit to the performance of the 303 Brit.
Another option is the "303 Win Mag" that a couple of people on CGN have done. Take a 300 Win Mag reamer and run it into the 303 Brit chamber. 300 Win Mag brass is used with 303 (0.311" or 0.312" bullets) and up to 300 Win Mag loads - in the P14 action only! The P14 bolt mates perfectly to the belted magnum casehead and they usually feed well with minimal or no work. The only additional step is that with most reamers the chamber will not allow sufficient neck clearance with a 303 bullet, so some neck reaming will be required before first use.
It's as simple as that, no need to find a scarce reamer, no fireforming, no expensive dies, and much greater performance.
Another option is the "303 Win Mag" that a couple of people on CGN have done. Take a 300 Win Mag reamer and run it into the 303 Brit chamber. 300 Win Mag brass is used with 303 (0.311" or 0.312" bullets) and up to 300 Win Mag loads - in the P14 action only! The P14 bolt mates perfectly to the belted magnum casehead and they usually feed well with minimal or no work. The only additional step is that with most reamers the chamber will not allow sufficient neck clearance with a 303 bullet, so some neck reaming will be required before first use.
It's as simple as that, no need to find a scarce reamer, no fireforming, no expensive dies, and much greater performance.
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Years ago, I did the same same with a 308 Norma reamer; the real 30 cal magnum. There are still references to the "303 Norma". BITD, lots of P14s were adulterated into something just a bit different.
What I like about the Epps is that it is almost exactly a scaled-up K-Hornet!
The Winkels still had several of old Ellwood's original reamers in the back room the last time I asked.....
What I like about the Epps is that it is almost exactly a scaled-up K-Hornet!
The Winkels still had several of old Ellwood's original reamers in the back room the last time I asked.....
I had one of those once, could never get it to feed proprtly!!
I had mine done at Ellwood Epps. Can't remember the cost at the moment but it was about $125.00 IIRC.
As to getting dies, try CH4D.com. They have dies for at least four .303 variants among their huge selection and can also supply neck-sizing dies. I've had mine shipped to a US address but I believe they will ship to Canada.
My P-14 certainly doesn't like RN bullets. I have a Dayton-Traister Tru-Feed kit which is supposed to help but haven't got around to installing it.
Stuart
