Loading for ruger#1 303 British

I did some comparison of case volumes today, completely unscientific and no actual measurements but from greatest to least volume:

Hirtenberger 7.62x51 NATO
Winchester 308 Win
Federal 303 British
IVI 303 British
S&B 303 British

They are all very close and really the only difference in volume is between the Hirtenberger 7.62 NATO and the S&B 303, the 3 in the middle being very, very close in volume.

Based on this I have zero qualms with using 308 Win data in a Ruger #1 303.
 
Well it's not like 303 data is hard to come by. And it will give you pressures within the case design of the 303 rather than 308. (52,000 vs. 62,000)
 
Update on my No1-A 303, loads working for me

150gr Sierra ProHunter @ 3" OAL
44.5grs IMR 8208xbr
W-W brass
WLR primer
~ 2800 fps avg and shoots 1.5"ish

Barnes 150gr TSX @ 3.14" OAL
44.5grs IMR 8208xbr
W-W brass, WLR primer
~ 2735 fps avg, 1.5" avg

215gr Woodleigh Weldcore @ 3.13" OAL
46.4grs H4350
W-W brass, Rem 9.5M primer
~ 2270 fps, 1" group in early testing
 
Just looking at this thread and it seems it's been about 4 years since I used this rifle. Only hunted with it once, too. I really like it but most of the hunting around here is done in sloppy snotty wet weather and I always grab one of my stainless rifles. Hmm, maybe I will go shoot abear with it and use a 215gr Woodleigh, then put the rifle up for sale.
 
Gatehouse said:
Just looking at this thread and it seems it's been about 4 years since I used this rifle. Only hunted with it once, too. I really like it but most of the hunting around here is done in sloppy snotty wet weather and I always grab one of my stainless rifles. Hmm, maybe I will go shoot abear with it and use a 215gr Woodleigh, then put the rifle up for sale.
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Its been quite a while since You posted in here, I'm revisiting my 303 #1 I think, researching on the Loads used in the Ruger as I want to pep up the loads a bit close to 308 high end velocity.

seems with varget it can be safe to head up into 46gr to a 150gr projectile.... anyone else used varget in hotter loads?
 
WhelanLad said:
Its been quite a while since You posted in here, I'm revisiting my 303 #1 I think, researching on the Loads used in the Ruger as I want to pep up the loads a bit close to 308 high end velocity.

seems with varget it can be safe to head up into 46gr to a 150gr projectile.... anyone else used varget in hotter loads?
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I have never owned a Ruger #1 in 303 Brit, but I and many others have loaded for a P14 which is equally as strong.

I see no need for a long thread on the topic. What we did was simple - we used loads for the 308 Win. You can do that because the 303 Brit and 308 Win have nearly identical case capacities and bore diameters, so identical loads in either cartridge will produce identical pressures.

I used a full case (47.0 grs) of Varget with 150 gr bullets in 303 Brit in my P14 Hunting Rifle, and I use the same load in my Target Rifle in 308 Win.
 
Like in the 308, Varget will not give top velocity (although accuracy can be great)

Look at CFE223, Ramshot BigGame, Win748, BLC-2, H4895 with 150gr in the 303

With 180gr, Varget rises closer to the middle of the pack for performance, but still lags 50-75fps behind Win760, H414, and the above powders
 
Ok so things change, Almost throwing the Sierra 150s away for now and have got some 215gr Woodleighs which are .312 size!

this in itself should give me some hope!

manual says around 36-41gr of Varget for close to 2200fps
but ADI says 37-39.5 for 2260fps an 48k psi pressure?...... 215 rem proj.

Without wasting a box of Ammo , Where would ya start with it , not really chasing high numbers, want a fair kaboom and fingers crossed it bloody shoot straight!!

thanks!

TODBARTELL PM inbound
 
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I tested loads for my Ruger No.1-A .303 Brit with W760, Varget and CFE-223, using the Hornady 150 SP. CFE was the best overall, I tested 25 rounds each from 45.0 - 50.0 in one grain increments. 48.0 grains proved to be the most consistent and accurate... so that is what will be going on the freezer filler hunt once the bowseason is over.
 
The .303 with 150 SP over 48.0 CFE-223 will fill one of two doe tags, the new No.1-A .30-30 will fill the second tag... taking does in our area is a guaranteed deal. Here is a cartridge picture for comparison... left to right;

.30-30 w/130 SP
.303 Brit w/150 SP
.35 Whelen w/200 RN
.405 Win w/300 SP
 
Any body used the 174 GR Woodleigh PPSN offering?
i ordered 215s grainers again but a box of 174 PP rocked up from Woodleigh factory down here in Victoria.................

has anyone used these for loading shooting or hunting game?
 
WhelanLad said:
Any body used the 174 GR Woodleigh PPSN offering?
i ordered 215s grainers again but a box of 174 PP rocked up from Woodleigh factory down here in Victoria.................

has anyone used these for loading shooting or hunting game?
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I've been killing deer with mine since the beginning of it all, with everything from 150's to the big 215 C.I.L. bullets with all the major manufacturers (including Barnes) using both Varget and 4895.
I have some Woodleighs but haven't killed anything with them yet.
Furthest shot was just shy of 250 yards IIRC, closest was about 40.
I still really like the 180 grain Speers, though.
Cat
 
Well, I tried to get the 174 Woodleigh’s to work and although the accuracy was acceptable they built way too much pressure and the cases tended to jam so I will not load any more .
however last weekend I took a good bodied white tail just inside 150 ( lasered after) yards and a moose calf at 252 ( lasered before the shot) yards with the big 215 grain C.I.L. PSP’s . Both were one shot kills
The load is 41 grains of Varget and although it is on the light side it is very accurate and I am super satisfied with the trajectory with a 200 yard zero and POI at 50,100, and 300 yards:cool:
this Ruger has never failed to perform for me year after year with 4 different bullet weights since Leeper built it for me!
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
Well, I tried to get the 174 Woodleigh’s to work and although the accuracy was acceptable they built way too much pressure and the cases tended to jam so I will not load any more .
however last weekend I took a good bodied white tail just inside 150 ( lasered after) yards and a moose calf at 252 ( lasered before the shot) yards with the big 215 grain C.I.L. PSP’s . Both were one shot kills
The load is 41 grains of Varget and although it is on the light side it is very accurate and I am super satisfied with the trajectory with a 200 yard zero and POI at 50,100, and 300 yards:cool:
this Ruger has never failed to perform for me year after year with 4 different bullet weights since Leeper built it for me!
Cat
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thanks for your info Cat, always enjoy listenin to what you have too say about the Ruger 303.
 
One thing I have found with the 215 grain C.I.L. KKSP’s is that
A: they are danged accurate
B: they will REALLY mess up a critter when you hit big bones!!
They don’t stop and take anything in their way out the other side with them!
i haven’t recovered a bullet yet from any of the deer I have killed with the Ruger but haven’t found evidence of fragmentation either as far as little bits and pieces
The last two deer I Shot were very hard acute angled shots quartering to me and the exit rounds were enormous with bullet carrying through and the amount of bone that came out the other side . Both deer were hit inside 150 yards and the one today was inside 100 yards .
Cat
 
With my No.1, I found that FL resized reloads were very difficult to chamber. Have to push them very hard to get them into the chamber deep enough to close the action. I have troubles with once fired Rem and Fed brass. It may be a problem with my FL resize die. Not sure. Never a problem with neck or FL resized ammo in my LE or Ross. No surprise there.
I have chosen to use factory ammo for hunting with the Ruger. The Rem 174 gr RN works just fine and gives acceptable accuracy for hunting purposes in my rifle. Never a problem chambering factory ammo.
I still shoot reloads at the range with the Ruger and find that the 180 gr sierra is a very accurate bullet, as it is in both my LEnfield and Ross.
 
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