loading 308 bullets for 303 enfield
- Thread starter neotekz
- Start date
The 50% longer answer is 'Yes'
Sure.
It won't hurt anything at all and the rifle may or may not be accurate with them.
My Jungle Carbine shoots .308 bullets just as well as it shoots 'proper' sized bullets.
You need to either substitute a .308 expander from some other die in your .303 British die or remove the expander all together and go without one, just seat the bullets in the sized down neck.
Have fun, if your rifle likes them you will have all kinds of things to try.
Sure.
It won't hurt anything at all and the rifle may or may not be accurate with them.
My Jungle Carbine shoots .308 bullets just as well as it shoots 'proper' sized bullets.
You need to either substitute a .308 expander from some other die in your .303 British die or remove the expander all together and go without one, just seat the bullets in the sized down neck.
Have fun, if your rifle likes them you will have all kinds of things to try.
I used to have 2 SMLEs, and one would only shoot .311 bullets well. The other one I tried with .308 bullets, and they worked like a charm. It's definitely worth a try. You may have gotten lucky and found a rifle with a tight bore.
Erik.
Erik.
Takujualuk
CGN Regular
- Location
- Whitehorse, Yukon
I use to shoot 225 grain .308 Barnes originals out of mine into about 4" groups at 100 yards. It was a Jungle Carbine that was quite a shooter with .311 or .312 bullets.
Slugging the barrel means pushing a lead slug through the barrel then measuring the diameter of the slug with a micrometer, to see what size the barrel is.
In your case it is a waste of time. The 308 bullets will either shoot satisfactory, or they will not. Shooting them is the only way you will know.
In your case it is a waste of time. The 308 bullets will either shoot satisfactory, or they will not. Shooting them is the only way you will know.
I hope they inderstand to use a LEAD SLUG and not a jacketed bullet.
There you go, getting all practical again!!!
Great advice. No fooling around, just load a few and go to the range and give it a try.
Just for the record, EVERY 303 Br I have tried 308 bullets in, has shot them plenty well enough to use for hunting out to 200 yd. Some shot even better.
Ted
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
H4831 and Why Not? got it right in my opinion. I've fussed and fuddled with slugging bores a handful of times and personally think it's a total waste for this scenario.
Load some .308 dia bullets in your 303 brass and just try the darn things.
I've tried in two rifles I own and the groups at 100 yards are just as good as with .311 bullets.
I don't switch expanders in my dies to do the job either - here's a simpler way - use a .308 win, or 30-06 or any other .308 dia set of dies to just neck size. No fussing with taking apart dies or anything. I use the proper shell holder for .303 british and my .308 win die to neck size/deprime (a few screws of the depriming pin adjusts the die to deprime and neck size), then throw in some powder and a .308 dia bullet and done is done.
Load some .308 dia bullets in your 303 brass and just try the darn things.
I've tried in two rifles I own and the groups at 100 yards are just as good as with .311 bullets.
I don't switch expanders in my dies to do the job either - here's a simpler way - use a .308 win, or 30-06 or any other .308 dia set of dies to just neck size. No fussing with taking apart dies or anything. I use the proper shell holder for .303 british and my .308 win die to neck size/deprime (a few screws of the depriming pin adjusts the die to deprime and neck size), then throw in some powder and a .308 dia bullet and done is done.
Last edited:
Good idea.
Tried the 30-06 die but it only gets maybe 3/16 down the neck and doesnt make much difference in tension. Still can slip the 308 bullets in by hand. 308 die is shorter so of course works fine.
