Question for reloading .303 Brit

Melnibonean

Melnibonean

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For all of you just neck re-size your .303 brass.........what do you use to seat the bullet? Do they sell a separate .303 seating die, or do you use a .308 seating die, or do you buy an entire die set just to get the seater?
 
A standard set of dies comes with two dies, a sizing die and a seating die. You require the seating die for seating the bullets, regardless of how they are sized.
You likely don't want to crimp the brass, so leave the seating die with sufficient clearance of the shell holder, like 1/8 to 1/4 inch away, when the handle is full down. Lock the die in place.
 
I had the three die set from lee, fl size, seater and fac crimp, bought the collet neck sizer separate. I shoot mostly cast and flare case mouths so the factory crimp was essential to remove the flare.
 
Yeah, I'm afraid it looks like I'm going to have to buy a FL die set (with the seater) AND a neck sizing die separately if I want to just re-size the neck and not work the brass any (like would happen when using the FL die)

Thanks guys
 
You'll likely want to bump the shoulder back eventually after enough firings when they get really stiff to close the bolt on. You'll need a FL die for that. Just don't bottom it out to push the shoulder back as far as possible; turn it in slowly while testing sized cases in your rifle. Once the bolt closes easily, lock down the ring on the die.

90% of my .303 loading is with a neck sizing die but I still do use a FL sizing die from time to time to bump shoulders.
 
LUTNIT said:
You'll likely want to bump the shoulder back eventually after enough firings when they get really stiff to close the bolt on. You'll need a FL die for that. Just don't bottom it out to push the shoulder back as far as possible; turn it in slowly while testing sized cases in your rifle. Once the bolt closes easily, lock down the ring on the die.

90% of my .303 loading is with a neck sizing die but I still do use a FL sizing die from time to time to bump shoulders.
Click to expand...

Buy a .303 British case forming and trim die to bump the shoulders back and the body of the case will not be touched.

Below a fired case in the case forming die and my little finger is keeping the fired case from falling out of the die. Meaning this die will only push the shoulder back and not touch the body or neck of the case.


caseformingdie_zpsd75208f9.jpg
 
bigedp51 said:
Buy a .303 British case forming and trim die to bump the shoulders back and the body of the case will not be touched.

Below a fired case in the case forming die and my little finger is keeping the fired case from falling out of the die. Meaning this die will only push the shoulder back and not touch the body or neck of the case.
Click to expand...
Is that an RCBS die? I've heard of case forming dies but I've never looked into buying one.
 
Lee makes a neck sizer and seater set. They also do some 3 die sets that have full, neck and seating die included. I have 3 die set, never used the full lenght.
 
They (lee) goes not sell the 303b collet die separate in order to get that die I had to but the collet die set then bought the factory crimp die (because I'm using .3105 bullets and seating die in set doesn't crimp) and case trimmer from Higginsons shipped to ont 85.00 2 weeks ago
 
I've always full length sized for 303
Unless the guns headspace was questionable
Or had a big chamber and stressed brass
For most part I use IMR4350 , ex accuracy and
Low pressure powder, 45 gr is load I use with .312 174 gr
Hornady round nose, makes 2300fps, 2"at 100 yards in my
#4 sporter, and cases last a long time
I'm on my 12th firing and no issues
I've annealed them once, what load are you using
 
I use to use 39gr of H335 and found it was hard on brass
In Lee. Enfields, p14 were much better to work with as the actions were
Alot stiffer and cases didn't stretch
But for most part if you keep.loads moderate and don't hot rod it
Brass will last while
But slow burning powders help with lower pressure curves
Any load pushing the 174 gr bullets to 2300fps is ample enough
To drop any deer or moose , alot of guys frowned on me for using IMR4350
but it works fine, I use alot of older load books, lots of powders listed then , u don't see listed now
Also I used IMR4320 at 44gr, with same bullet
Little higher velocity but brass lasted well
And I recommend magnum primers in any 303 load
I've actually seen group sizes shrink and. More consistent
Velocities over the cronograph
 
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