What is your go to 303 british projectile

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crogers

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Hello new to the Lee Enfield addiction. I am wondering what all you No1 and No4 enthusiasts are using for projectiles in your reloads, and where you are finding them. Not wanting a soft point, looking for something in the 180gr range with a hard tip. New to this calibre, so any recipes and powder information you have very interested in all your opinions. Thanks.
 
I've only reloaded hunting bullets. Remington UMC with the 174gr fmj bullets shoots well in all of my Lee Enfields (several No.4, two No. 5 over the years.) The only fmj bullets I've found are Hornady 174 gr FMJBT, .3105" and though I bought a box some years ago I haven't gotten around to using them. Many sources say flat base bullets work better with Enfield rifling.

All that I have reloaded have been soft tip hunting bullets and of these only Speer Hot-Cor 180gr round nose gave poor results. Those are .311" diameter, like the Sierra 150gr and 180gr that have been good. The best by a small margin that I attribute to their slightly larger diameter, .312", have been Hornady 174gr round nose Interlock.
 
"180 gr range, not Soft Point, something with a Hard Tip".

Does that mean you're not hunting with it (it's for target shooting), and you specifically want Full Metal Jacket? If it's for target shooting (or "plinking"), the hardness of the "tip" is irrelevant, although its shape might be for long range shooting.

Regardless, my advice generally is to look for a flat-based bullet (not boat tail) and a diameter of 0.312" or greater as suggested by "TheTooner".
 
We call those pointy things "bullets". This is a firearm forum. Use the correct word. We all know what a bullet is.

It would help us if you explained what the application is. If it is cheap gravel pit practice, cast bullets are perfect (and cheap). If it is for 200 yard accuracy work, I would suggest a flat based pointed soft point.

Soft points are generally more accurate than a FMJ.
 
The 174 grn FMJBT with 4895, 4350 or the equivalent approximates the Mark VII round from WW 2. Earlier ammo used the 215 grn FBRN. No. 1's and early No 1 Mk 3's like a long flat based bullet with lots of bearing surface on the rifling. Your rifle may not shoot well with boat tail rounds although all of mine do. Some don't because throat erosion allows gases to get up along side a boat tail and upset it when it leaves the muzzle. A flat based bullet will obdurate in the bore and seal it. Google "303 loads" or search on here. There are a million answers.
 
I've used 174gr FMJBT Hornady and 150 gr SP and both have shot well in my 2 Mark 4's and my Mark 3. I use IMR 4064 and it has been fine as well.
 
You're going to have a hard time finding a 180 gr fmj in .312. 174 gr is the standard .303 load.

I use Sierra pro hunter in a 180 sp spitzer with varget. Kills moose every time!
 
Thank you everyone for the info. I had heard somewhere not to use boat tails. I feel factory soft points tend to get marred when feeding into chamber especially the last round, was looking for a more traditional military type "bullet". I did buy an NOS magazine from Surplus1 here and will try it for better feeding. No intention on ever hunting with it just targets or an old stump if the range is busy, simply wanted smooth action and "bullet" to go out barrel with a bang and hit what it was pointed at. As for the weight 180 was a range I had in mind, 174gr sounds good is in that range IMO. For the amount I would ever shoot it Winchester power point factory ammo probably would suffice it's cheaply priced and goes bang. I was curious what components you Lee Enfield folks where using. Probably stick with M1917 when I feel the urge to fire a bolt action, good way to empty factory 30-06, then I have brass to reload for my Garands with readily available "bullets".
 
crogers said:
Thank you everyone for the info. I had heard somewhere not to use boat tails. I feel factory soft points tend to get marred when feeding into chamber especially the last round, was looking for a more traditional military type "bullet". I did buy an NOS magazine from Surplus1 here and will try it for better feeding. No intention on ever hunting with it just targets or an old stump if the range is busy, simply wanted smooth action and "bullet" to go out barrel with a bang and hit what it was pointed at.
Click to expand...

You might be able to tweak the mag lips a bit to feed a bit better.

Soft point hunting ammo does tend to get beat up a bit, especially for hunters who load the rifles and then unload a few times.

Two things to consider:

You can take a sidecutter and a file and trim the pointy lead off the bullet. Dress it with a file so you have a small flat point bullet with a strong jacket around the tip. This will tend not to get smeared during loading.

Or, just ignore it. The shape or condition of the bullet tip (the meplat) has nothing to do with accuracy within 300 yards. The part of the bullet that DOES affect accuracy is the heel and base. The big accuracy advantage a softpoint has over a FMJ is that the bullet bases are much more uniform. This suggestion on choosing bullets came to me a long time ago from Joyce Hornady. I rekoned he knew what he was talking about.

So, if accuracy matters, buy softpoints, and unless the barrel is new and tight, buy flat base bullets.
 
Thanks for the advice I won't worry too much about the tip of bullet and I will play with my mag or put in my new one.

Ganderite said:
You might be able to tweak the mag lips a bit to feed a bit better.

Soft point hunting ammo does tend to get beat up a bit, especially for hunters who load the rifles and then unload a few times.

Two things to consider:

You can take a sidecutter and a file and trim the pointy lead off the bullet. Dress it with a file so you have a small flat point bullet with a strong jacket around the tip. This will tend not to get smeared during loading.

Or, just ignore it. The shape or condition of the bullet tip (the meplat) has nothing to do with accuracy within 300 yards. The part of the bullet that DOES affect accuracy is the heel and base. The big accuracy advantage a softpoint has over a FMJ is that the bullet bases are much more uniform. This suggestion on choosing bullets came to me a long time ago from Joyce Hornady. I rekoned he knew what he was talking about.

So, if accuracy matters, buy softpoints, and unless the barrel is new and tight, buy flat base bullets.
Click to expand...
 
I found some copper tubing from Swagelok that measures .314, cut to the right length fill with lead, cheap and easy jacketed lead projectiles. and it all comes in 20' lengths, and in various wall thicknesses
 
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