Back at it!
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Reloading
Forum Name: Reloading .303 British
Forum Description: Enfield-Rifles.com accepts NO responsibility for any loads that may be used by persons reading this forum. USE CAUTION WHEN TRYING ANY NEW LOADS!!! ANY DATA DEEMED UNSAFE WILL BE REMOVED!!!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13314
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 8:18pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Back at it!
Posted By: Honkytonk
Subject: Back at it!
Date Posted: April 16 2024 at 12:21pm
| I actually didn't shoot any of my Lee Enfields last summer as I quietly gathered loading components and concentrated on shooting a new receive bow. I produced several hundred rounds for my rifles so I'm ready to hit the range! As powder is getting tougher to find in my area, a few years ago I decided to stick with H4895 for all of the Lee Enfields. I found that some rifle prefer 150gr bullets over 180's so once that was identified, powder charge was adjusted to fine tune each rifles performance. All my rifles are stock, and groupings are usually around 2" @ 100 yds with those with scopes, and 3 -4" without. Very happy with this performance. Oh, yes, all shots off a bench with a rest. None are tack drivers, but then, I'm far from a sharpshooter! |
Replies:
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: April 16 2024 at 1:31pm
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That's a very respectable result HT; and right in the zone of what is achievable with these rifles. It takes a lot of work and even more practice to get these rifles to shoot under 2 MOA. Don't get fooled into thinking these are sub-MOA rifles. H4895 is also a great powder, and works very well with light bullets. I use it in the .30-06 with 125 grain bullets.
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Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: April 16 2024 at 1:40pm
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I only shot my No4 three times in a little over a year. Two pig, three shots. ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: April 16 2024 at 3:27pm
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My No4 Mk2 definitely prefers 150 gr bullets over anything else. It
also prefers the Hornady (far Left) to the speer (Far Right) offerings. I think because of the
different bullet profile engaging the lands sooner with the Hornady's
profile. The SMLEs both much prefer 174~180 gr pills though. 4895 is my preferred powder but supply is a problem currently. Middle 2 bullets are MkVII ball (L) & i74gr Hornady (R) all are arranged representative of seating position.  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: April 17 2024 at 1:27pm
Interestingly, my Long Branch does very well with 150gr. bullets too, especially Hornady SST and LeHigh solids. My CLLE prefers 174 and 180 gr. Speer. The common denominator is they all love Varget.
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Shamu wrote: