Is 303 British Premium Ammo/Bullets available?

N

Northman999

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
225   0   0
Location
Southern Yukon
I just developed a nasty and unexplainable addiction to Lee Enfields and as a hunter I obviously want to fill my freezer with one at some point. I am a real fan of premium bullets for taking game, but I can't seem to find and premium 303 factory ammunition (plain jane 180's only), or even premium bullets to reload. I read about TSX's coming out for the 303 on this site, but I checked Barnes's site and found nothing.

So, anyone have any info on premium factory ammo or premium reloading components for the 303? If anyone has any pet loads with heavy bullets for moose etc they'd like to share, Id be interested too.

Thanks in advance!
 
Northman999 said:
I just developed a nasty and unexplainable addiction to Lee Enfields and as a hunter I obviously want to fill my freezer with one at some point. I am a real fan of premium bullets for taking game, but I can't seem to find and premium 303 factory ammunition (plain jane 180's only), or even premium bullets to reload. I read about TSX's coming out for the 303 on this site, but I checked Barnes's site and found nothing.

So, anyone have any info on premium factory ammo or premium reloading components for the 303? If anyone has any pet loads with heavy bullets for moose etc they'd like to share, Id be interested too.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


I reloaded some 180 grain (.308 diameter) Nosler Partition's for my No5 Enfield, good accuracy and a premium bullet.
 
303carbine,

I've heard of this being done. Being able to load .308 bullets would give me the greatest selection of bullets around. I was wondering if my dies would properly crimp the bullet though, have you had any problems with loose bullets?
 
Sierra makes the Blitzking in 125, 150, 174, and 180 gr. versions. Don't know if you'd classify them as premium or not. Winchester, Remington, and Hornady all make a bulk soft point jacketed versions as well.
 
Hi-Standard said:
Sierra makes the Blitzking in 125, 150, 174, and 180 gr. versions. Don't know if you'd classify them as premium or not. Winchester, Remington, and Hornady all make a bulk soft point jacketed versions as well.
Click to expand...
The bblitzKing is not a big game bullet, I think you are reffering to the prohunter, which I have loaded extensively.
There is no nneed for a "premium "bullet in the .303 brittish.
The Seirra 180 works just fine for everything from deer to moose.
You can take that to the bank.
There are many of us here that have hunted with Lee Enfields.
Also, there is no need to crimp your bullets, the recoil is not ebough to move theem in the magazine if you have proper neck tension.
Cat
 
2008 Barnes will come out with a 150 grain TSX for the 303...IIRC Federal once loaded a 180 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw in their premium line
 
"...if my dies would properly crimp..." Not that you need a crimp, but as long as your die is set up properly you shouldn't have any problems.
Plain Jane 180's have killed moose since long before there was such a thing as a 'premium' bullet.
Sierra makes a .311" 180 grain "Pro-hunter". (They make a .311" 174 grain Matchking too.) Hornady makes a .312" 174 grain Interlock. Mind you, it won't matter if your barrel is .313" to .315".
 
Working man,

Thanks for the link. Just what the Doctor ordered. I've got my moose for this year, so I'll wait for those 303 TSX's to come out!

Thanks for the rest of the info guys!
 
Northman999 said:
303carbine,

I've heard of this being done. Being able to load .308 bullets would give me the greatest selection of bullets around. I was wondering if my dies would properly crimp the bullet though, have you had any problems with loose bullets?
Click to expand...

I decap my brass with the expander plug from a .308 in my 303 FL die, the neck tension is usually enough to hold a 303 bullet. I have found that the recoil from the Brit is not enough to push the bullet into the case.
If you have already sized your brass with a regular 303 FL sizing die , then simply remove the expander plug and run the brass through again. This usually squeezes it down enough to get a good hold on a .308 diameter bullet. A little experimenting and it will work as well as the .308 diameter 180 grain Nosler Partition's that I have tried out my No5. I hope to get a deer with one of these premium pills in the old Brit.:50cal:
 
What a wake up call! I've killed deer three years in a row with one shot, using the Hornady 150gr. Better run out and get a premium bullet.
 
Andy said:
What a wake up call! I've killed deer three years in a row with one shot, using the Hornady 150gr. Better run out and get a premium bullet.
Click to expand...


I agree Andy, I have not shot any game with a premium bullet out of my 303 yet, but I have taken lots of big game with plain Hornady's in the 303.
Shooting premiums in the Brit is just something a little different and should get results similar to the .308 Win with the same bullet.
 
That having been said, I look forward to the new Barnes TSX 150gr. However, if it doesn't shoot at least as well as the Hornadys, I won't use it.
 
Speer 180gr round nose will do in a moose just fine.
Why do you want a premium bullet? You are just going to ruin it inside of a moose or deer. Also keep in mind that if the bore is not fully sealed by the bullet the passing gasses will erode both the bullet and the barrel at a far greater rate than normal.
 
Federal offers a line of hunting cartridges topped with Sierra's 180gr. Prohunter bullet which never fails to please my .303 Brit No.4MkI Enfield sporter.
In that particular rifle, it is m.o.a. fodder.
I suspect that the flat base configuration of that bullet is soft enough to upset on firing and give good obturation.
PP.
 
If you want to try a great bullet in your 303, talk to Steve Redgwell and order up some of his Mark 9 bullets sized to match your groove diameter. (mine is .313") These bullets weigh 200 grains, are in semi-spitzer design, and shoot like blazes in my 303. Groups are often in the 1" area, some are less. Otherwise, The most accurate bullets in my P14 are the Hornady 150 Interlock and the Sierra 180 Pro-hunter, both spitzers. I also have a bunch of Norma 180 grain RN bullets that shoot well in my 303. I use Vihtavuori N540 with the 150's and W760 with the 174-200 grainers. Regards, Eagleye
 
Eagleye said:
If you want to try a great bullet in your 303, talk to Steve Redgwell and order up some of his Mark 9 bullets sized to match your groove diameter. (mine is .313") These bullets weigh 200 grains, are in semi-spitzer design, and shoot like blazes in my 303. Groups are often in the 1" area, some are less. Otherwise, The most accurate bullets in my P14 are the Hornady 150 Interlock and the Sierra 180 Pro-hunter, both spitzers. I also have a bunch of Norma 180 grain RN bullets that shoot well in my 303. I use Vihtavuori N540 with the 150's and W760 with the 174-200 grainers. Regards, Eagleye
Click to expand...

I do have Steve's web site and I had planned on contacting him once I got my goove's measured. His prices seem pretty good, and I like the heavy bullet fot the 303 at close range. I think if I do up some 200 grain Mk9 reloads and some 150 grain TSX's, I'd probably never run into any situation where I needed anything else.

Thanks again fellows!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom