What are you shooting in your .303?

migrant hunter

migrant hunter

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Maybe more of a reloading question, but here goes.
I have/had a sporter .303, which is sitting in the basement in peices ready to be built back into full military configuration.
I shot a few rounds of .312" sierra 180 grain pro hunters out of it with the 2 position battle sight and was getting about 4" groups at best. I tried .3105 175 gr fmj first and they were tumbling right out of the barrel, I'm guessing they were undersize.(I was using a mid-range load of R15 for both)
I now have the adjustable aperture sight and with the full wood, I'm hoping the the barrel might be more rigid.
What's anyone using? I'd kinda like to go fmj, but It's not essential.
 
The 180 gr Sierra is an accurate bullet. Proven propellants in the .303 include all of RL15, IMR 4895, 4064, 4320, and 4350 as well as W760 and H414.

The No4 is sensitive to proper bedding which means a tight fit of the stock on the sear lugs as well as full receiver bottom contact with the stock around the guard screw and under the center of the chamber portion of the barrel. Military bedding specs involve full clearance of the barrel in the stock, except under the chamber and at the forend tip where 3-6 lbs pressure is required to lift the barrel out of contact with the stock. That said, I have had sporters shoot well with upward pressure at the end of a shortened forestock.

Bore and crown wear, as well as trigger pull, are also factors which bear on accuracy.
 
2-step process.

Step 1: read what PURPLE sez. He knows what he's talking about!

Step 2: use your 180 Sierra Pro-Hunters with 38 grains of IMR-4895 nd seat to the OAL of a factory BALL round. REST the rifle on sandbags. Aim AT a 4-inch square of tarpaper, shooting for the lower left-hand corner; aim with the URH CORNER of the front sight, very carefully. Fire ONE round from a dead-cold barrel. Fire a SECOND round in 1 minute or less. This is what you can expect of your rifle in a field or hunting situation.
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I read some of the guys in the US are slugging there barrels and if there tight enough they are loading 7.62/308 projectiles into there 303 cases and running them in there NO4 enfield rifles has anyone tried this mine aren't tight enough other then a 2 groove i have and my NO1 rifle.
 
What works for me on my #4 Parker Hale is 150 gn 311 with 38 grains of 4064
I slugged my bore and 312 would be a bit much. I use 150 grain for target shooting as it is a bit lighter on the brass for reloading. I get a 3" group at 100 yards. I haven't played around with a lot of loads as I am happy with these results.
Bottem line is that you have to experiment with these surpus rifles as they all have their own oddities.
 
I tried .3105 first because that was all I could get. I was worried when they were keyholing at 50 yds. I bought a box of 180 gr Remy corloct just to see if it was the ammo or the gun. They shot into 3 or 4", so I miked a bullet and it was .312. I have some .312 round nose interlocs, will try them next.
Might have to do some bedding too. Not expecting miracles, but would like to be able to hit my 8' gong at 200 yds.
 
migrant hunter said:
Maybe more of a reloading question, but here goes.
I have/had a sporter .303, which is sitting in the basement in peices ready to be built back into full military configuration.
I shot a few rounds of .312" sierra 180 grain pro hunters out of it with the 2 position battle sight and was getting about 4" groups at best. I tried .3105 175 gr fmj first and they were tumbling right out of the barrel, I'm guessing they were undersize.(I was using a mid-range load of R15 for both)
I now have the adjustable aperture sight and with the full wood, I'm hoping the the barrel might be more rigid.
What's anyone using? I'd kinda like to go fmj, but It's not essential.
Click to expand...

Let me guess. This was also a boat tail bullet. Some enfields will shoot them well but most don't. Stick with flat based bullets and you'll have no problem.
 
The BRITISH ARMY found that out better than 100 years ago.

Sometimes there are reasons for things.... such as sticking with "obsolete" flatbased bullets for half a century after the Americans adopt something "better".

Barrel life with boat-tailed bullets also is about 10% LESS than it is with flatbases. More obsolete information.
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185 gr Cast bullet out of the Lee mold with a gas check and proper wax. 30 gr of 4895 powder. This give me very decent groupings at 100 meters since the last 3 years in all my No1, NO4 and P14.
 
I used commercial 150 grain Federal last week on my BSA sported P14. Unfortunately, my lack of experience with a peep sigh limits my ability to say if the result was good or not. I had some 3 rounds groups touching at 100 yards but that may have been pure luck. I will have to check if the Federals are boat-tail or flat based
Denis
 
I shoot a lee 312-155-2R (made for 7.62x39) that comes out to about 168 grains with a gator gas check and dragon bullet lube's yellow dragon. Quenched wheelweight.

For podwer, the sweet spot i've found it 3-4" at 100 yards with the peep sight. Been running 40 grains BL-C(2). I've since mounted a scope and haven't done any firther development since, so that's the best i can offer. My groups were about 12" with 38 grains, about 6" with 39, 3-4" with 40, 6" with 41, and 12" again with 42 (probably due to excessive speed with a lead bullet).

CCI #200 primers in IVI .303 British brass and a full woof #4 mk 1* Longbranch.
 
I am using Sierra Match King 174 Gr and RX15 powder. Neck sizing only on reloading. The gun is a Savage No4 with a non-drilled scope mount and a 6X Scope. The load seems to work well for me and the very best 3 shot 300 yard group last fall was 1.5inches. Don't think I will ever duplicate that again.
 
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