Realoading for .303 British

[RonR]

The Hornady 174 grain FBSP is a good bullet in most 303 British rifles. It is .312" instead of .311", so fits the larger groove
diameter rifles better. That being said, one of the most accurate hunting bullets I have used in several 303's is the Sierra
Pro-Hunter, a .311, FB soft point at 150 or 180 grains. D.

I had a brand new Irish contract #4 that shot much better with the Sierra 174 Match. The other #4s (more barrel wear) were terrible with that bullet and shot much better with a flat base soft point.

The best bet for accuracy that will work well in any #4 is a flat base Sierra or Hornady.

FWIW, this is what I am starting to experience. Glad I took your leads.

I use 41 grains of IMR 4320 and the 180 Sierra Pro-Hunter. This was arrived at after scientifically determining that I had lots of the first and Cabelas next door had some of the latter. I can ring the hell out of my 650 yard silhouette with that load and my Ross.

Thanks for sharing the reality of that load development. Try what's on hand...I'm trying to think more like that with this one rifle. I think I was at Cabelas after you...shelf was empty lol.

Regards
Ronr

 

[Power Pill]

Use a neck sizing die. Brass will last longer and be matched to your chamber

 

[Mongo62]

well after many many years of shooting 303 out of god knows how many rifles, I have a tried and true load that will shoot very well out of most of them, and shot better out of better rifles, such as a target rifle and or sniper

43 gr of IMR 4320 with a sierra 174 matchking bullet. this will give 2450-2500 fps over the crony depending on your bbl. for me 4320 is the best powder for the 303. tried and true.

 

[flashman2]

Please do not tell us about shooting propane tanks or other non approved stuff. CFO in some provinces drop a load when they hear this.

Lololololololol.

What's non approved, exactly?

CFOs don't want you shooting wildlife either... do it on crown land and it's perfectly fine, as well blasting as those old round sheet metal valve devices.

How else do you depressurise all those 1lb cylinders from bush hunting trips?

 

[Dogleg]

I refill them.

 

[hoytcanon]

I had a No.1 303 a few years back and it liked the Hornady 150 SP's over 46.0 grains of RL-19... I sold that rifle and regretted doing so... but I have another one on the way in now from the same production run... I will start with that load again.

 

[Andy]

A good discussion of loads, but I'm guessing that the "Sniper" rifle is a scoped LE Bubba. If that's the case, the suggestion of bedding is an important step.

 

[rifleman762]

I refill them.

Same here. But I had one where the pressure relief valve was plugged. The bottle bulged out pretty good in warm weather. Now I'm more careful and make sure to shoot the bulged ones!