powder for .303 britsh?

[.Ben]

im planning to start handloading .303 soon and im wondering what would be a good powder to start out with?

also feel free to suggest some bullets or even loads to try

 

[Northman999]

303 is pretty forgiving for powders I find. I use IMR 4895, 4350 and 4831. 4895 is better for short barrelled rifles, like the 18.5" J/C's, while the others are better in full length 25" bbls. I find Sierra ProHunter 180's to be very accurate as far as bullets go.

 

[Ganderite]

Any powder that is good in 308 will work in 303.

My mint #4 gets better groups withthe Sierra match bullet. My ordinary #4s do better with flat base round nose bullets.

Don't load hot. the brass will stretch and fail quickly.

 

[al100]

I have used 3031, 4320 and 4064, is my 303. So far the best combo Ive come up with is 40.6 4064 pushing a 174g fmj bt,

 

[303carbine]

IMR 4064 ,IMR 4895, H4895, Reloder 15.
I have had good luck with all these powders.

 

[josquin]

I use RL 15. No problems. And get yourself a neck-sizing die; it will extend your brass life quite a bit. See Steve Redgwell's website (303british.com) too.

Stuart

 

[Eagleye]

RL 15 is hard to beat in the 303 case. Another stellar performer is Vihtavuori N540 but this one is not always easy to get. The new IMR4007 should also work well, but I have not tried it in my 303s yet. Eagleye.

 

[Lefty Dick]

Varget, 4064, 3031

 

[Paulinski]

Varget / RL-15 / IMR 4895

 

[Infantry-Soldier]

I use 4064 for my .308 and .303, also 7.62x54R.

 

[Baribal]

I'll add to the Varget/RL15/IMR 4064 familly the BL-C(2). Magnum primers work with any of these powders, too (reduce load and work up). (IMR) H 4895, H380 also work. IMR 4064 is definitely a favourite of mine.

 

[Colin]

I bought 4320 for my .303 but then could not find any data on it. So I got some H414 and late last night set up my double disk system to drop 42 gr for a 174gr CMJ. Haven't tried it out yet.

 

[Garand]

Another vote for IMR 4895 & 174gr Sierras

 

[mbogo3]

Try reloadersnest.com for oodles of free data for darned near everything new and old..............Harold

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I bought 4320 for my .303 but then could not find any data on it. So I got some H414 and late last night set up my double disk system to drop 42 gr for a 174gr CMJ. Haven't tried it out yet.

I'm away from home at the moment, the island', but I've recently picked the Hornady 7th edition, on my last shopping trip. In it they have loads listed for the 150gr and 174gr bullets using IMR 4320.

 

[Colin]

Yea I saw that at the gun store, whre I used that book to select a powder for both .308 and .303 th was in stock, but then I could not find the data elsewhere.

 

[woodchopper]

another vote for IMR 4895 and 174 grn Hornady RN

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Yea I saw that at the gun store, whre I used that book to select a powder for both .308 and .303 th was in stock, but then I could not find the data elsewhere.

There's probably quite a number of powders that would work well. Another I've had good luck with is IMR 4064. When I return home I'll check my Sierra manual as I've found in a number of instances, their listings for 'accuracy loads' is usually a good quick starting point.

 

[chise]

I use Sierra 180grain SPT's with H380 (38.5g load)

It's a really light load with a big bullet, accurate out to 300 yards in my No.1 Mk.III with a 3-9x40 scope.

I do plan on building up to 40.5 grains now that I'm fireforming and neck sizing my brass. Your .303 will hate you and destroy your brass if you use full length sized brass with hot loads. You also have to check your bolt head number, if it's a 3 or 4 you have less to worry about with the headspace. If you have a 0, 1, or 2 you better stick with minimum loads.