New Campro 303 Bullets

D

dariush49

Member
Rating - 100%
12   0   0
Location
Markham, Ontario
Hi, has anyone had any luck with the new Campro copper plated 303 (0.311) bullets? They're a replacement for the old 180 grain soft tip jacketed ones, but I'm getting really poor results with it. I've tried it in 303 carteidges shot out of Enfield and Ross rifles, and in 7.62x54R out of a mosin.

I've used Varget for 303 and N150 for Mosin but no luck. Has anyone come up with a decent load?

Thanks
 
dariush49 said:
Hi, has anyone had any luck with the new Campro copper plated 303 (0.311) bullets? They're a replacement for the old 180 grain soft tip jacketed ones, but I'm getting really poor results with it. I've tried it in 303 carteidges shot out of Enfield and Ross rifles, and in 7.62x54R out of a mosin.

I've used Varget for 303 and N150 for Mosin but no luck. Has anyone come up with a decent load?

Thanks
Click to expand...
What is the issue, poor accuracy or something else? I haven't tried these yet but plated bullets can go wonky if pushed too hard. What velocity are you hitting?
 
jethunter said:
What is the issue, poor accuracy or something else? I haven't tried these yet but plated bullets can go wonky if pushed too hard. What velocity are you hitting?
Click to expand...
Unfortunatly I don't have a chronograph so don't know the velocity. It's my first time using plated bullets so used the data for the jacketed bullet of the same weight. Issue is accuracy, the groups are two wide compared to the jacketed bullets I used as benchmark
 
I recently bought a few hundred of these and was disappointed to find out a random sample of 25 measured .310 in my dial caliper so I don’t have high hopes for accuracy in a no4 mk1 issued rifle. They are clearly advertised as .311.

Regardless, I’ve done up 2 loads that attempt to replicate the MkVII ball:

37.0 varget, 2250fps. Bullet is seated about 20 thou from the lands (about halfway between the flat base and cannelure).

42.0 IMR4350, same speed and seating depth.

I hope to get out next weekend and will post group pics. Will be from a bag, iron sights at 50 yards. I’m going to try using the old trick of aiming with the upper right corner of the front sight post at 9 o clock on a 3” orange sticker. Or I might throw the Badace scope mount on to get maximum consistency of aim point with an optic.
 
dariush49 said:
Unfortunatly I don't have a chronograph so don't know the velocity. It's my first time using plated bullets so used the data for the jacketed bullet of the same weight. Issue is accuracy, the groups are two wide compared to the jacketed bullets I used as benchmarka
Click to expand...
are you using a reloading book or website/app to come up with recipes?
 
OP, IMHO, the powders you're using are too slow.

Cam Pro 303 bullets are plated copper over lead.

You know this, but some people don't

You need to treat these bullets as if they are cast lead, that you can get much better velocities with.

Cast lead bullets usually do best with faster burning powders, which help them to obturate into the lands much faster.

Basically what the copper plating does, is eliminate hard to remove lead fouling, when the bullets are pushed at higher velocities.

You can't use standard jacketed bullet loads and expect to get decent accuracy.

Powders around 130-145 on the burn rate charts are closer to what you need.

These include H4198, VVN120, H322, VVN130, Benchmark, VVN133, H335, maybe IMR8208.

I believe H4198 is still readily available, and it would be my first choice for these bullets in the cartridges you list.

xxreloading.com says they've worked out several loads for these bullets. It's not likely that there will be anything available in most manuals.

I bought a hundred of the CamPro bullets this spring, and used 40 grains of H4198 as a starting load over Federal 210 LR primers, in some old Winchester cases. I loaded for a No4 Mk1*, 1943 date rifle with a .313 bore diameter.

They shot about 2.5 inches off a rest/bench at 100yds, with the load I settled on.

I likely won't be buying more, but only because I have a lot of jacketed .310-.313 bullets on hand in the 150-180 grain range.

My starting load gave me appx 2350fps, and I added from there until I was satisfied these bullets would shoot well. None of the loads went over 2500fps.

I used H4198 because it's a "bulky" extruded powder and gave a better case fill.

No issues with pierced, blown primers, or excessively flattened primers in my rifle.
 
Going to agree with Bearhunter on this. Treat them as cast lead and use that data. I’ve used IMR and H 4198 in many 303’s and they worked well. Another powder I use is Alliant 2400 with cast bullets. I had some 308 campro that I used with 2400 and they shot just as well as my lead bullets.
 
dariush49 said:
Unfortunatly I don't have a chronograph so don't know the velocity. It's my first time using plated bullets so used the data for the jacketed bullet of the same weight. Issue is accuracy, the groups are two wide compared to the jacketed bullets I used as benchmark
Click to expand...
Thats the problem. You cannot drive plated bullet at the same speed than jacketed. Reduce load. Starting load for jacketed should be your max..load downward.
 
Lefty #### said:
Without knowing the nominal diameter of the OP’s bore…. Who can give any advice worth a plug nickle…….
Click to expand...
Plated bullets are not the same as jacketed bullets.

When they get a very fast initial pressure, they tend to obturate better into the grooves, and bore diameter isn't as important.

When I first started shooting bullets using J4 jackets, I had to learn that lesson the hard way.

J4 jackets are very thin, not as thin as plating though.

Even though their great thickness uniformity helped with accuracy, it also helps to aid consistent obturation, so bore diameter isn't as important.

This lesson was learned by many militaries when they left the bases of their bullets exposed so the lead could be pushed hard into the bullet to help it obturate to the bore diameters.
 
It may also be worth looking at the seating pressure or neck tension on the bullets as they are being seated.

With no neck expansion, prior to seating, lead and plated bullets can be damaged by the open edge of the neck as they are seated. Seat a couple and then pull them to see this effect.

Lots of guys loading cast bullets suggest to run and expander mandrel through the neck to open it up and reduce damage to the bullet. Then crimp after seating to keep the bullet in place and create consistent neck tension.
 
Where are people buying these? I haven't been able to source them locally or from any of the CGN vendors yet.
Are you ordering direct from Canam?
 
recce said:
Where are people buying these? I haven't been able to source them locally or from any of the CGN vendors yet.
Are you ordering direct from Canam?
Click to expand...
Last Kamloops gun show, found some RL26 as well.

It was a fellow selling off an estate, bought all of what he had.
 
Always thought if we could get a copy of the original military bullet it would be great. FMJ with exposed lead at the base. I’ve pulled dud military 303 and loaded them with good results.
Most of my military surplus shooting is done with lead bullets. 303’s I size to 0.312. Those are shot in multiple rifles and they will expand up to fill the bore if needed. Never had much luck with reduced rifle powders. Always used IMR/H 4198 or Alliant 2400.
It is good that Canpro is putting out a new bullet for the 31 cals. Definitely cheaper alternative for non bullet casters. These bullets aren’t made to be driven at maximum velocities.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom