Recommend a .303 FMJ bullet

Grouse Man

Grouse Man

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I'm trying to replicate .303 Mk VII for just target work, not match quality, but something to shoot out of my P 14. Can anybody recommend a 174 FMJ bullet, and perhaps a load to start with? This will be one of my first reloading projects.

P.S. The search function really doesn't work well, does it.
 
FYI, those Hornays are excellent bullets. Their normal .303 bullets are .312 of an inch.

However, for some reason they used to make that 174 FMJ Boattail at .3105. I don't know if they still do this or not, but a few years ago they did, and this was indicated in small print on the box and confirmed with a micrometer.

If they still make that bullet at .3105, you might find that the accuracy is spotty in your P-14 because most of those barrels were made at .314.

Now Sierra normally makes .303 bullets at .311. However, a little-known secret is that their 174-grain BT Match bullet is actually .312. (I've confirmed this with a micrometer, too.)

It's an outstanding bullet, and generally provides decent accuracy because of its (unadvertised) fatter diameter.
 
p-17 said:
Now Sierra normally makes .303 bullets at .311. However, a little-known secret is that their 174-grain BT Match bullet is actually .312. (I've confirmed this with a micrometer, too.)
Click to expand...

Are you sure about that? I have a box of Sierra 174gr HPBT Matchkings that mic to .3105. Are measuring the same bullet?


I found this article on the net you might find interesting:

During the course of World War I, as with the production of the P-14 rifle, Britain turned to the United States to help with ammunition production. This call was answered by Dupont and their IMR 16 single based nitrocellulose powder, which was officially adopted for use in 1916. IMR 16 closely duplicated the performance of the cordite loading, but had the advantage of not burning as hot. As this powder offered the same ballistic characteristics as the cordite loaded round it kept the Mark VII classification, but with the addition of a "Z" (Mk VIIZ) to denote the propellant change. The nitrocellulose powder also offered the added benefits of not having to alter existing or future rifles sights changing bullet weights and because of its cooler burning, prolonged the normal service life of the Enfield barrel. After the war, this powder was offered for public consumption as IMR 3031.

There probably are better powders out there for the 303 brit that will give you the magic 2440 fps you're looking for but if you're a purist then IMR3031 might be the powder for you :)
 
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