Reloading for .303, 174 Gr. Hornady

[M1Garandfather]

That Hornady 174 gr RN-SP bullet

I've tried the Hornady 174 gr Round Nose-Flat Base in doing some reload testing and managed to recover some expanded bullets that were shot into a course sand gravel pit bank. I was impressed how they held together , almost turning themselves inside out. See the two pics below. The reload I mostly use is 41.0 grs of IMR 4064. But the other suggested loads on this thread would produce the same good results.

I also have some Norma 215 gr RN-SP's with the mild steel jackets , now there's a serious game bullet when run up around Max velocity , penetration is amazing.

All the best with your reloading project.

 

[Auggie Doggie]

My #4MK2 also likes the Hornady flat base 174gr bullet. I push it with a mild load of 38gr of IMR4320. Accuracy isn't stellar, but is the best I've been able to cook up for it so far.

Auggie D.

 

[gunn69]

I worked up to 44 gr of BLC-2 and a CCI magnum primer with the 174gr Hornady FMJBT. This is suppose to be the military load that Winchester used to load there military rounds. I actually have 2 boxes of Winchester 303 FMJ and took one round apart. The powder charge was 44gr of ball powder. My #4 and jungle carbine both like this load.

 

[Ganderite]

I worked up to 44 gr of BLC-2 and a CCI magnum primer with the 174gr Hornady FMJBT. This is suppose to be the military load that Winchester used to load there military rounds. I actually have 2 boxes of Winchester 303 FMJ and took one round apart. The powder charge was 44gr of ball powder. My #4 and jungle carbine both like this load.

Was the bullet in that Winchester round a flatbase or a BT? I would expect a military round to be flatbase.

 

[gunn69]

It was flat based.