Loading for ruger#1 303 British

[Eagleye]

Well, I got a chance to take my #1 303 Brit to the range today, and I must say, I was pleased with the results.
I had only two rounds of Steve Redgwell's excellent Mk 9 200 grainer with me, but shot a few 180 Sierras and a few 176 Chinchagas
I actually shot 5 or six groups that were 1" or less, and the two Redgwell bullets landed about 5/8" apart, although a bit lower than the 180 and 176's.
I will post a couple of groups for your perusal. I will obviously take this hunting this fall. Eagleye.

 

[gpracer]

Finally found an acceptable load for my #1 after about 100 rounds and numerous powder and bullet loads. Mostly trying the 150 sierra and the 174 hornady RN and match, also tried the 123 .310 vmax. Tried varget, N140, RL15 IMR 4350, all with very frustrating results. Best group was about 3 inches at 100 yards.

So just this past week I recieved my new Sierra load manual in the mail and it lists the accuracy load for the 150 sierra at 40.8 IMR 3031, so I loaded up a few sierras. I took some other 150 grainers and gave them the exact same load of 40.8 IMR 3031.

I fired a couple of fouling shots first and then proceeded with the 150 sierra. The first 3 shots gave me a 6.5 inch group, yes 6.5 inches!! Completely horrible... The next 2 groups were a different story, I shot the 150 Hornady interlock and it produced a nice group measuring .560 inches. Finally!! The first actual group for this rifle. My third group was with the 150 Barnes TSX and it gave 3 shots that were touching and measured .520 inches. I went back to the sierra and once again got a 6 inch group with vertical stringing, tried the Barnes and the hornady again and got 2 more groups well under an inch. The Sierra and the Barnes were seated at 3.075 inches, the Hornady was seated to the crimp groove and crimped.

Guess I'll take this rifle on my fall moose trip after all, was looking like I'd have to use something else!

Note Successful moose hunt with this rifle and load November 10 2011, took a large cow at aprox 105 yards.

 

[dthunter]

I have been shooting W760 & H414, behind 174gr. Hornady interlocks.
Great groups to 100! Around .750".
I am going to try this at 2-300 yards.

Fun gun to shoot!

BTW, what do you guys suggest for a (powder/charge) for shooting a 170 gr. Cast bullet with gas check?
I want to keep the velocity under or equal to 1500fps.

 

[Canuck44]

Using the Lyman 314299 boolit weighing 204gr I put it over 23 grains of IMR4227 with very good results out of my scoped Longbranch #4 rifle. Avg velocity 1741 with a SD of 8. Boolit was sized 313.

The Lyman 311291 at 170grains shot well with 20 grains of 2400 sized .309.

Another load was 19 gr of IMR 4227 under the 314299 boolit with an avg. velocity of 1536.

My Longbranch favours the heavier boolits. In both of the above cases the boolits were gas checked. All loads shot over a F1 Chrony.

Take Care

Bob

 

[gpracer]

For Cast Boolets I use Trailboss, I just fill the case to capacity without compressing the powder, light recoil and incredible accuracy.

 

[Bent Barrel]

303 B---Powder

I have viewed all the posts----no where/no one has mentioned 2520 powder---my Win P14 custom with original barrel shoots 150 Hornady,46 grs in less than 1"---with 150 Barnes -same load- about 1.25"--I have yet to "tweak" the load---Accurate manual lists 46 grs as max for 150 gr bullet-----Bent Barrel

 

[Enfield303]

IMR 3031 works very well, But I've found that my 303 brit likes only BLC 2. It all depends on the gun. My gun hates Varget. The 150 gr Sierra's are interchangable with the 150 gr Hornady's 46.5 gr of BLC 2 and BR 2's. 1/2 " group at 100 m

 

[bweese]

Anyone have any results to post with 215 gr. Woodleigh bullets? I just recently got my hands on a No.5, and am looking to develop a hunting load with them. I want to use the gun as an open-sighted back-up for inclement weather — deer, bear and moose — out to 100 yards. Thoughts?

 

[303EppsFan]

I purchased some Win 748. Used Horn 150 gr .312 dia, Herters cases, WLRM primer.
I have been loading with 308 Win data, start low and work up as usual, settled on 1/2 grain below max as per the Lyman manual. Lyman indicates very low pressure in their tests with 748.
The WLRM primers appear to leave the bore cleaner than standard primers.
I was zeroing a new scope on the rifle. Firing shots in pairs.Final four in 1 inch with 3 in one ragged vertical hole.
Will do some more testing with this combo when my chronograph comes back from repair.
(No I didn't shoot it. It's just 25 years old.)

Edit: Had the opportunity to chrono this load yesterday and 5 shots averaged 2767.3 fps, SD of 8.5 fps. Reminder this is for RUGER #1 only.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Anyone have any results to post with 215 gr. Woodleigh bullets? I just recently got my hands on a No.5, and am looking to develop a hunting load with them. I want to use the gun as an open-sighted back-up for inclement weather — deer, bear and moose — out to 100 yards. Thoughts?

A while ago, I picked up my 5th No. 5.

When I first started out big game hunting in the BC interior, my Dads choice of ammo for use on Moose in our sporterized 303s was the old 215gr Dominion load. For reasons of nostalgia, I acquired a 'quantity' of the 215gr Woodleigh bullets. While I haven't done any serious load testing with them, a couple of loads that seem to work fairly well are from the Ken Waters Pet Loads manual. 46 grs of either IMR 4350 or IMR 4381.

 

[joe-nwt]

I tried some unknown, bulk 174gr fmj's last weekend just for grins.. They didn't "pattern" worth a damn in the #1.

 

[Gatehouse]

Tried the 215gr Woodleighs at the range yesterday. 39.5gr Varget gave me 2250FPS and groups about an inch at 100. I'm not sure what the original velocities they had with the 215gr bullets back in the old days when they switched form black powder, but I would guess something close. I don't see this as a long range load.

 

[OntarioThe Free]

Jumping in here. Brand new to reloading. First loads will be .303 Brit. I'm using Hornady Interlock 150 gr sp .312" with IMR 3031 powder and CCI primers. Anything I should be aware of, or if you guys have any tips/advice for me that would be great. The guy at Epps set me of with this stuff so I would think I'm on the right track. I will be reading my "Modern Reloading" manual (LEE) before I start. Thanks guys!!

 

[Gatehouse]

Jumping in here. Brand new to reloading. First loads will be .303 Brit. I'm using Hornady Interlock 150 gr sp .312" with IMR 3031 powder and CCI primers. Anything I should be aware of, or if you guys have any tips/advice for me that would be great. The guy at Epps set me of with this stuff so I would think I'm on the right track. I will be reading my "Modern Reloading" manual (LEE) before I start. Thanks guys!!

Just so you are clear- the loads listed in this thread are specifically for the RUger #1. Probably not safe in many .303 rifles.

 

[1899]

Has anyone shot game with the 215 Woodleighs yet?

 

[mbonner]

Slug the bore, I have 2 friends with this No1A in 303 British and both of these bores measure .314. I cancelled my order as I did not think it would shoot. My friends report that theirs do not shoot. One of them contacted the Ruger plant and they confirmed that the bores are 314. Why Ruger did that I do not know. I had a 1A in 7mm Mauser which I never should have sold, it was very accurate and I wish I had never sold it.
Slug your bores, maybe Ruger went to 311, if so good for you

 

[oldphart]

Given the amount of #1 303s that got sold to members here at CGN, this thread should have a sticky.

I have one coming in on the second batch.


.

What are thoughts on the .303 Epps? I am very tempted to convert. Supposedly velocity close to a 30-06

 

[Ryfleman]

Any of the various "improved" variations in 303 British shoot very well. Steve has an excellant book on the subject at .303British. My version is a No. 4 that used a reamer from JGS. less than .007" total taper; 30 degree shoulder; the neck is longer than the Epps version at .300". Gives 2600 fps with 175 grn. Hornady and figure eight groups at 100 meters without undue pressure. One cavet: it is very important that you use new cases and fireform to your chamber prior to full power load. Otherwise, I get incipient head seperation by 3rd reloading. I suspect this may be due to the original oversize military chamber. I have never cast the chamber to find out. I am not about to attempt any correction as the rifle shoots so well otherwise.

 

[bigedp51]

I don't own a No.1 Ruger but from reloading for my Enfield collection I can pass on some information.

1. A .303 case forming and trim die can be used as a shoulder bump die that will not touch the neck or case body.

2. I use 100 grain .312 Hornady pistol bullets with reduced loads for case forming with an o-ring against the rim of the case.

The o-ring holds the case tightly against the bolt face and prevents case stretching in the web area on the first firing.

After fireforming then neck size only and let the case headspace on the shoulder instead of the rim.

American ammunition companies don't know where to put the shoulder of the case on .303 British "foreign" ammunition.

But "foreign" Commonwealth military made ammunition is made correctly.

In 1914 the .303 Enfield chamber was reamed larger in diameter and longer to make room for the mud of Flanders fields. Below shows how much longer the military Enfield chamber is after a cartridge is fired in its longer chamber.

Below, the European CIP the equivalent of the American SAAMI states that the .303 British cartridge has a headspace problem. This is the distance from the bolt face to the datum point of the chamber, and this creates two problems. The majority of american made .303 cases have a rim thickness at the thin end of manufacturing tolerances and with the rifles longer headspace settings you end up with too much head clearance.

Firearm cartridges with otherwise problematic headspace
There are also some firearm calibers with problematic headspace listed by C.I.P.
The headspace defined by:
Depth of rim recess
.303 British

 

[Skaal-tel]

Good post Biged, thanks. Where did you get that case gauge?