Source for .303 projectiles?!

Knottybuoy

Knottybuoy

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I walked into Reliable Gun this last weekend to pick up some projectiles to load up some cases, and I was met with a strange look from the guy behind the counter, looking at me like I was from Mars asking for .311 or .312" bullets...

I was told that they're no longer made? It's an "odd" size? WTH I thought .303 British was a highly common and popular cartridge in North America...?

Do I need to learn to cast my own, or is there still a reliable supply to be had somewhere?
 
Maybe just the guy behind the counter? I was looking to get some .303 sp's (factory made) at Gobles in Tillsonburg ON. Guy behind the counter tells me .303's are rare...... ummm ohhhkayy.... some people... Im just starting to reload. I did up a bunch of .303 ... I was given the dies and bullets.... I also read somewhere (likely here...) that you can pull 7.62x39's apart and use the bullet and powder for 'plinker loads' ...
 
Some of the "big" manufacturers have put .311 and .312 production on hold - there's just simply not enough demand for it. Demand for .308 is much bigger - it can be used in .30-06, .30-30, .308Win, .300WinMag, .300RUM and so much more. Enfields aren't as big in the states as they are in Canada, but every American and their dog owns either a Garand, M14, .308 AR, or at least some hunting rifle chambered in one of the above.

If your rifle can stabilize .310 without tumbling, pulled-down surplus ammo might be your best bet. All the Russian 7.62 ammo (x25, x39, and x54R) use .310 or .3105 bullets. x39 surplus is by far the most economical, especially when bought in bulk.

Otherwise, take a look at smaller manufacturers. Here in Canada, Bullet Barn sells .313 cast bullets at $58/$59 for 200.
 
I was buying hornady .312 bullets before the crunch. Used to see them everywhere at all the major retailers. I think the above poster is correct that the factories are pumping out bullets in the common calibers right now until they catch up. If you are shooting a Lee Enfield or similar, they work very well with a quality cast bullet and easier on the bore.
 
Jorkapp said:
Some of the "big" manufacturers have put .311 and .312 production on hold - there's just simply not enough demand for it. Demand for .308 is much bigger - it can be used in .30-06, .30-30, .308Win, .300WinMag, .300RUM and so much more. Enfields aren't as big in the states as they are in Canada, but every American and their dog owns either a Garand, M14, .308 AR, or at least some hunting rifle chambered in one of the above.

If your rifle can stabilize .310 without tumbling, pulled-down surplus ammo might be your best bet. All the Russian 7.62 ammo (x25, x39, and x54R) use .310 or .3105 bullets. x39 surplus is by far the most economical, especially when bought in bulk.

Otherwise, take a look at smaller manufacturers. Here in Canada, Bullet Barn sells .313 cast bullets at $58/$59 for 200.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for mentioning Bullet Barn, I've never heard of them and they're local in BC - I might have to start doing business with them...
 
Sounds like another case of gun-counter-idiot-not-knowing-what-he's-talking-about.

As Jorkapp said, many of the larger manufacturers put .311" and .312" bullets on temporary hold to try to meet the demand for other more popular calibres (popular in the states, meaning .224" and .308"). Hornady has resumed production, I don't know about any others, and European manufacturers never stopped. Once the stock in Canadian stores and warehouses was gone, they were nearly impossible to find. Since so many people used up what they had and couldn't find more, there is a large number of Canadian reloaders all looking for the same bullets at the same time. This means any new shipments that come in get bought up quick. Many reloaders who didn't stockpile are now essentially panic buying everything they can find so they don't run out again. The panic buying routine is a vicious circle. The guys that normally buy one box a year are now buying all 5 boxes on the shelf as soon as they see them.

.311" and .312" bullets can be found here and there. Budget Shooter Supply got some Prvi bullets in at one point, both SP and FMJ, but it looks like the FMJ are sold out but there are still 150gr SP's at Budget ($38.85/100).
I saw some Hornady on a shelf earlier this winter but they sold quick. I think one guy just bought all 5 boxes. There were also some Sierra .311" behind the counter but they were all presold with post-it notes with names on them.
My 303's eat almost all cast bullets so the couple boxes of .312" bullets I have from 2-3 years ago are all the stockpile I need for the time being. I have one 303B rifle that can't even shoot .312" bullets if I actually want to hit anything; it has a .316" groove diameter so I shoot cast .317" bullets.

The fact of the matter is the US market is MUCH larger than the Canadian market and 303B is not very popular South of the border. I've read many times that in many places 303B ammo is special order at smaller gun stores where as in Canada it's so common it's carried at Walmart and Canadian Tire even if they only have 2-3 small shelves of ammo. The US has huge numbers of 30-06 surplus rifles where as Canada got many more 303B surplus rifles. Both exist in both countries but which is more common (by far) is different.
 
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Recently bought cast .303 projectiles for plinking, still have my stash of Hornady 174's and PRVI 150's for more 'exact' shooting.
 
There are other considerations if you are shooting cast bullets. I would recommend picking up the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook.

Gist of it is you want the bullet to be .001" to .002" larger than your groove diameter (different from rifle to rifle, should slug your bore to find out). There is also a velocity limit with cast bullet but this varies from rifle to rifle and is effected by the hardness of the alloy, type of lube, if it has a gas check or not, roughness of the bore, and various other factors.

If you don't compensate for these factors you can get bad barrel leading which is a PitA to scrub out and you might be shooting barn-door sized groups.
 
Thanks for the advice LUTNIT. I'd been concerned about any variances between cast and jacketed am,o and recently discovered R&R Bullets in Maitland, ON which is close as I too, live in Ottawa. He cast me 250, gas-checked, dragon lubed .313 diameter bullets after I'd slugged my barrel to determine its true bore. Have since loaded them all in RP/Win range brass, SS tumbled and neck sized only. Put in a reduced loaded of Varget. Waiting for the snow to melt before I get my LE no. IV Mk. 2 to the ranger to test.
 
I have a decent supply of .311 - .312" bullets for my 3 - 303 British rifles.

Ran into a bit of luck a while back, and bought several hundred Norma and Sako bullets for reloading the 303.
They are 180 grain SP, with the bronze colored jackets. The Normas are without a cannelure, while the Sakos have one.
In checking them with a vernier micrometer, they are very similar in diameter, .3116"....perfect in my Epps and my ERA.

The 1910 Ross will shortly sport a new .311 barrel, so it will probably work fine with jacketed bullets right down to .310"
I have about 150 Winchester 180 grain Power-points which are .3106" in diameter. They should work well in that Ross.

Also have RNSP, 180 grain Cor-Lokt Remingtons, and 174 grain Hornady RNSP on hand, plus a few Speer 180 SP and 200 Grand Slams.

Additionally, I have about 60 pieces of the excellent 200 grain SPFB bullet by Steve Redgewell. They are .313" in diameter. [shame he no longer makes them.]

Obviously, I am not suffering for jacketed bullets.

FWIW, another Canadian source for 303 bullets is Chinchaga [Dale Janzen] He makes an excellent 176 grain RBTHP bullet in .311" diameter.

Regards, Dave.
 
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