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bullets for 303 british |
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m106 
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Joined: April 23 2023 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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 Topic: bullets for 303 britishPosted: April 23 2023 at 4:56pm |
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just bought a no 4 mark 2 but there are no heavier grain bullets like Sierra or hornady in stock anywhere. What are my options for this rifle ?
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Sapper740
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Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737 |
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Posted: April 24 2023 at 1:07am |
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Graf and Sons has Hornady and PPU currently. I've picked up a lot of .311" bullets from online auction sites too. The bullets are out there you just have to look a little farther these days.
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Goosic
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Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8842 |
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Posted: April 24 2023 at 6:01am |
Welcome from Phoenix Arizona m 106. If you are planning on reloading for your No4Mk2 and intend to mainly target shoot with it, it is totally fine to use 150grn FBSP/ flat based spire points. Do not worry about the lack of Sierra or Hornady bullets. Instead, locate PPU bullets. They range in weight from 150 through to 200, with the 174grn FMJBT mimicking the original MkVII ballistics identically...
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Shamu
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Posted: April 24 2023 at 11:28am |
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As long as you aren't shooting above 300yds then this^^^^. If you want to shoot long range with the issue sights then dig around & find something closer to the 174Gr MkVII ball as that's what the sights are set up for. You can still use them with things like the 150 Gr, but the markings will be "off" so you'll have to record & set by using "clicks" (roughly 1/2MOA per click)
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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britrifles
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Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Online Points: 8404 |
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Posted: April 25 2023 at 5:50pm |
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I just ordered some .303 (.311 dia) Prvi 174 gr FMJBT bullets from Graf & Sons to try in my No. 4. I’m curious to test for myself how they compare to the SMKs at 200 yds. $182 for 500 bullets plus $12.95 flat rate shipping (I had other things in this order, so quite economical in shipping costs).
They also have .303 Prvi cases. So you guys in the US wanting cases and bullets, you better jump on it.
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britrifles
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Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Online Points: 8404 |
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 9:40am |
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Making up some test loads with the PPU 174 gr FMJBT bullets vs Sierra MK 174 gr HPBT based on my regular match load:
Case: PPU Primer: WLR Powder: 40.0 gr Varget Bullet: 174 gr SMK and 174 gr PPU COAL: 3.05 in. Shoot four groups of ten shots for each load at 200 yards (prone in sling), compare the total score on the SR target and record group center to center spread. I think this will be the minimum needed to determine if there is a significant difference in accuracy with the two bullets, for me anyway. |
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Shamu
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 11:35am |
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I'd agree with everything except the prone slung. Theses are tests of the bullet, so removing the human factor is one less variable? I'd bench & bag it for this session myself.
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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britrifles
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 11:58am |
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Agree; except the matches I shoot in are in position, not off the bench.
I usually shoot better slung up prone than off the bench (I know, sounds crazy but it's true for me anyway, might have something to do with no forend back pressure from the sling or up pressure from the support hand when on the bench). And to me, it's all about how well it shoots in position.
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Goosic
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Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8842 |
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 1:25pm |
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This is one of those moments that kinda need you to have the rifle setup on the bench. I have tested the PPU, Sierra and Hornady 174grn with the rifle on the bench and bagged using a 24x target scope and there is very minimal to no differences at ranges under 200 yards. It was testing at 300 plus yards that the PPU bullets started to spread out. At 600 yards the Hornady bullets outperformed the Sierra with the PPU coming in dead last.
Using my French Resistance No4Mk1 with the PH5C target sight, I tested out to 200 yards with the rifle benched and bagged as well with the results being nominal in regards to accuracy with no difference between the three bullets. Your results will no doubt vary differently from mine due to differences in our shooting disciplines. Have fun testing though...
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Strangely Brown
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 1:30pm |
I actually had this same conversation with a fellow member of the Army club at Bisley this morning; Martin is a disabled Afghanistan vet who cannot use his right arm which he keeps strapped across his chest. We both agreed that the prone position provides a far more stable position due to the extra contact on the ground. I should add that the benches at Bisley at pretty crap anyway! |
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Mick
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britrifles
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 2:10pm |
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It’s not that uncommon that prone in sling gives me better results than bench. But, I suspect that has a lot to do with the shooters experience level. I’ve done very little bench shooting over the last 10 years, so I’m just not good at it. Prone however, I am much more consistent with head position, head and hand pressure on the rifle, etc. I’ll typically get 7 or 8 shots out of the 10 round string into the X ring.
Ultimately for me, it’s about how the PPU bullets compare to SMKs shooting the CMP 200 yard matches. I understand that’s not what most of our members do here. But, I’d wager most of us on the forum would be happy with a 1.5 MOA ten shot groups with iron sights regardless how we support the rifle. And if the PPU is capable of that, I’ll be sold and will use them in matches. Besides, we may never see any more SMKs or Hornady BTHP Match bullets, and my own supply will run out one day. |
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Shamu
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 2:36pm |
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Just to clarify. I'm not suggesting going to a bench slung instead of prone slung. I'm talking about the bags fore & aft on a bench.  |
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Goosic
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 2:38pm |
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No4Mk1 Maltby with factory sights when this was done.
174grn FMJBT PPU projectiles CCI #34 primers Winchester cases 40.0grns of VVN540 OAL 3.075" 10 shots at 300 yards with a rolled up jacket for front support. All shots inside 3.55"
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britrifles
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Posted: April 26 2023 at 2:46pm |
Yes, that’s what I understood. |
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britrifles
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Posted: April 29 2023 at 11:17am |
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Had some time to kill today, and my PPU .311 174 gr FMJBT bullets arrived. Out of curiosity, I weighed and mic’ed the diameter of 10 bullets, both PPU and 174 gr Sierra Matchkings.
PPU 174.9 min, 175.4 max, .3108 min, .3116 max SMK All weighed 174.0, all measured .3114 diameter. This doesn’t mean the PPU bullets wont shoot that good. But, they don’t have the consistency in weight and diameter that the SMKs do, that is for sure.  |
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Strangely Brown
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Posted: April 29 2023 at 11:35am |
I may need to up my game, my Mitutoyo digital calipers only read to .000.5"thou. |
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Mick
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m106 wrote: