I have been loading for my 303 British for several years but am not happy with the loads so far.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Jim Baker

I have been loading for my 303 British for several years but am not happy with the loads so far.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Jim Baker

Jim,

Are you shooting targets or animals? For target work I found the 174g Sierra Match bullets over about 41g of Vit N140 was very good, in fact it shot well out to 1000 yards from a No4T in classic competitions.

For game there are some good 150g soft points that should also go well over N140.

Sorry if I'm a bit biased on the Vit powders, but I've been round the houses a few time and still ended up back with Vit. Probably why it's popular with the Benchrest crowd - you know what they are like for picking fly sh*t out of the pepper!

Brgds English

Had some real good luck a few years back, with H-450 and 150gn sierra spitzers.

Hi Jim,

Yes, I would also endorse v-N140 and use 39.5 grns in my Maltby No4 Mk1. Have treid up to 41.5 (41.7 is max.), but bolt went sticky and group did not improve from 39.5, albeit the group raised by approx. 1" per 0.5grn. Lastly, I feel reducing the pressure on a 63 year-old lady is certainly worthwhile :-)

Currently using some S&B 180 FMJ heads - much cheaper than Sierra (50%!) and nonoticable difference - don't forget this is a military rifle and not a benchrester. We should be measuring our accuracy in MOP (minutes of people), not MOA.

Feed.

4320 was the old standard powder for 174 and 180 grain bullets in the .303 and is still pretty good, although IMR production is a bit faster than the old DuPont. Reloader 15 is my first choice now, giving mil-spec velocity at moderate pressure. Feed's data indicates that N140 is a bit fast, more like 4064, but rifles differ and I'd have to shoot it in my rifle before I'd make a firm conclusion.

As for accuracy, military surplus rifles range from excellent to dreadful, and it's the luck of the draw. I got lucky, and while my .303 won't shoot MOA all the time, it does it often enough that I'm not surprized when it does. It is more accurate than my Remington 700 in .30-06.

If it won't shoot with Sierra 180s and 4320 or Reloder 15, give the faster 4064 or the slower H414 a try. Both of them will cost you 100 fps. Another combination that works in many rifles is a Hornady 150 SP and 3031.

Bye
Jack

also, check the bore(slug it) some need a wider bullet than .311" to work well.

Thanks guys. I can't believe how long this thread has been hanging around. Good to get new replies.

I am mostly looking for hunting loads. Particularly for 180 gr. bullets.

I have tried 4320 and reloader 12. My best loads so far are with reloader 12.