Shooting .308 bullets in a .303
- Thread starter Slooshark1
- Start date
I would expect some gas cutting. Not good.
I had a lot of 308 bullets and lot of used 308 target barrels with lots of life left in them. so installed a 308 barrel on a #4 and ran a 303 reamer into it.
Called a 308 Brit.
I had a lot of 308 bullets and lot of used 308 target barrels with lots of life left in them. so installed a 308 barrel on a #4 and ran a 303 reamer into it.
Called a 308 Brit.
DirtyOldSix
Regular
- Location
- Durbanville, South Africa
I often do it with mild handloads and 162 gr copper plated cast bullets with gas checks. Velocity is 1800 fps and shoots into 2 moa at 50yds. My 7 year old son can shoot it all day!
I set the Lee Factory crimp to give it quite a serious crimp otherwise the bullets can be pulled by hand!
I set the Lee Factory crimp to give it quite a serious crimp otherwise the bullets can be pulled by hand!
Campfireprophet
CGN Regular
- Location
- Moose Creek,On
Depends on bore size and wear.If the bore is .313 or bigger not so good.I you had a bunch of .308 kick'n around try it.but it's probably best to just get the proper sized bullet for the rifle. Most of the 303's I've owned have shot best with .312.My Ross shoot's very well with .311 and probably would shoot .308 ok.but I imagin The rifle your shooting is an Enfield. not saying there bad,I love my Enfield's but more often then not the bore is larger than the .311 it's ment to be.don't think It'll seal properly. But thats just my oppinion.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
My trials with 308, in several SMLE's was pretty dismal. Keyholing is what I got.
Wide variations in the 303 bore diameter have been reported. Anywhere from .308 to .318
I've personally never seen a .308 Diameter bore in an SMLE, and believe them to be very rare, but large numbers are at least .313.
Wide variations in the 303 bore diameter have been reported. Anywhere from .308 to .318
I've personally never seen a .308 Diameter bore in an SMLE, and believe them to be very rare, but large numbers are at least .313.
Last edited:
I've heard that some have had reasonable success using .308 bullets in No.4's with good condition two groove barrels. With less rifling that makes sense, but I wouldn't bother trying in any other bbl. All my Enfields are 5 groove, so I can't offer advice from experience.
I have a sporterized and scoped 1943 Longbranch originally in .303 and now a .303 Epps for the past few years.
While doing load work up for it in Epps' configuration I had nothing heavier than 180 grain bullets. Had a partial box of 220 grain .308 "Winchester Silvertips" and went to the old Lyman manual and did load work up to their 215 grain "accuracy load" useing the 220 grainers instead.
While I was at it I also loaded up some 180 Rem...165 Hornady and 147 gr. IVI Fmjs' ...125 gr, Nosler BTips...all in .308.. doing the usual work up in one grain increments with various powders.
At the range I shot off all the standard loads at targets and then the ones using .308 were fired.
The 220 Silvertip shot at the inch/100yds...2100 fps 3 shot avg.
The 180 gr Rem about 1.50 inch...the 165 Hornady (flatbase) 1.65 inch..the 147 grain FMJs 2.50 inch and the 125 grain Noslers at 1.25 inch.
I size the necks to .308 using a Lyman neck sizeing tool for .308 Win....very similar to the old LeeLoader untized kits' tool that you push the case into the neck sizer die and then tap it in with a rubber hammer and then out of the die with the appropriate metal rod.....resizes about 80% of the .303 s' case neck length only. This holds the bullet to a tight friction fit and then using a Lee crimp die ..crimp it in the cannelure if the bullet has one .
For everyone that misses the old 215 grainers for the .303....a .220 grain round nose .308 may work in your rifle.
Lymans #45 Accuracy load for .303 British useing Rem. 215 grain bullet is 39.5 grains IMR 4895 at 2183 fps...max is 40.0 grains at 2217 fps...quoted as shot from a S.M.L.E Mark III..25 inch brl.
edit........43.0 grains Imr4350 with the 220 grain Hornady Round Nose ( .308) also shot very well at 1.20/100yds at later testings.
While doing load work up for it in Epps' configuration I had nothing heavier than 180 grain bullets. Had a partial box of 220 grain .308 "Winchester Silvertips" and went to the old Lyman manual and did load work up to their 215 grain "accuracy load" useing the 220 grainers instead.
While I was at it I also loaded up some 180 Rem...165 Hornady and 147 gr. IVI Fmjs' ...125 gr, Nosler BTips...all in .308.. doing the usual work up in one grain increments with various powders.
At the range I shot off all the standard loads at targets and then the ones using .308 were fired.
The 220 Silvertip shot at the inch/100yds...2100 fps 3 shot avg.
The 180 gr Rem about 1.50 inch...the 165 Hornady (flatbase) 1.65 inch..the 147 grain FMJs 2.50 inch and the 125 grain Noslers at 1.25 inch.
I size the necks to .308 using a Lyman neck sizeing tool for .308 Win....very similar to the old LeeLoader untized kits' tool that you push the case into the neck sizer die and then tap it in with a rubber hammer and then out of the die with the appropriate metal rod.....resizes about 80% of the .303 s' case neck length only. This holds the bullet to a tight friction fit and then using a Lee crimp die ..crimp it in the cannelure if the bullet has one .
For everyone that misses the old 215 grainers for the .303....a .220 grain round nose .308 may work in your rifle.
Lymans #45 Accuracy load for .303 British useing Rem. 215 grain bullet is 39.5 grains IMR 4895 at 2183 fps...max is 40.0 grains at 2217 fps...quoted as shot from a S.M.L.E Mark III..25 inch brl.
edit........43.0 grains Imr4350 with the 220 grain Hornady Round Nose ( .308) also shot very well at 1.20/100yds at later testings.
Last edited:
