.303 vs deer
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Hunting with the .303 British cartridge.
Forum Description: Share your hunting stories with the rest of us.
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3145
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 8:18pm
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Topic: .303 vs deer
Posted By: charly45
Subject: .303 vs deer
Date Posted: July 22 2009 at 8:08am
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In my limited exp. the 180 grain corlok drop them right now(2)deer ,im trying the 150grain speer this year we will see what happens.anybody use the speer 150s??? ------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Replies:
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: July 22 2009 at 2:40pm
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I always use 150 gr for deer.I use 180 on moose.
I dont load my own (yet)..I use commercial loads. Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 5:43am
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Anybody use 150 speers or any other 150 on deer?? ------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: oldbikewrench
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 8:56am
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Until I get a bit more brass for reloading I use Federal Power-Shok 150 grain soft points right out of the box. Not what you were looking for as an answer but maybe a little helpful anyway. ------------- Love your neighbor as yourself.'...Mark12:31 He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. Luke22:36 |
Posted By: VAnimrod
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 9:16am
| Stay away from Federal brass. It sucks, to put it mildly. |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 9:39am
| Humm .303 vs a Deer? the deer would lose |
Posted By: oldbikewrench
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 10:28am
Warning warning thread hijacking in progress!!!
 Thanks for the input, but please tell me why Federal brass sucks. I really want/need to know. Thanks VAnimrod.
------------- Love your neighbor as yourself.'...Mark12:31 He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. Luke22:36 |
VAnimrod wrote:Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 2:15pm
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Guys, a 125 gr. bullet kills deer just as dead as any other round. The light recoil is nice too. All I've ever needed, it's really all about shot placement. The biggest baddest round in the world still wounds if the shot is poor. ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 2:37pm
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I find that 30.06 seems to do too much damage to the deer.(@ least @ the distances I'm shooting)
.303 in 150 gr has ALWAYS done well by me(for that matter-well placed has yielded quite a few parteidge,as well) The 180 gr seems to hit moose with all the "UMPH" req'd..even tho its usually longer distance than deer. But like I said before -I use factory loads out of the box till now.(If I ever get thru this day-vorce thing,I'll commence to loadin my own.) I wonder what grain I should use on those pesky,treetop huggin C-130's that buzz my place 
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 9:16pm
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Hi,what brand 125g bullet do you use?from my reading they are.310s for the 7.62x39.But they are in my reload book at about 3000fps,so they would be good if accurate. ------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: July 28 2009 at 9:23pm
Hey hoadie im guessin .50 gatlin with incedinary rounds would work good on those c130s,i live in west virgina and we got the new c5s and i wouldneed a little more gun lol ------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: sabretech2001
Date Posted: July 29 2009 at 3:15pm
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.303 vs. Deer?
Depends. If the deer have French rifles, you should be OK. If they've got Mausers, then you might have a problem. ------------- No4 MkI*, Savage 1943, FTR (F) 1954 Mk1/3 No4 Mk2 ROF(F) 5/50 No2A1 RFI 1966 |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: July 29 2009 at 4:58pm
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Well Charly-we bin gettin them C-5's as well.(They're flyin outta Trenton now as well.I imagine it wont be long afore they start to buzzin the trees @ my cabin with them.(Folks are correct in stating the 'skeeters are big there!!)
Those 130's knock the snow off the trees on ya when your tryin ta hunt...REALLY ticks me off Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 29 2009 at 9:24pm
Hoadie it is all about bullet placement. I use a custom hand load 150 gr federal ballistic tip. A shot into the chest cavity taking out the lungs and heart avoiding the shoulders results in minimal usable meat damage.
The .303 only being slightly ballisticly inferior to the 30-06 there will be damage of usable meat as well if the shot is not well placed.
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Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: July 29 2009 at 9:55pm
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MR.COOKIE
are those 150 bts the nosler type in .308??How do they shoot out of the enfield??  ------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: July 29 2009 at 10:02pm
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Also on the 303/3006 comparo.I get 2800fps with 150 grainers and 2600fps with the180s
with handloading with acc2520 out of my 25in barrel.Of course i loose about 200fps with my 18.5 jungle carbine but still more than adiquit.So only 100fps less then the great 3006.not bad in my book.and no critter would notice the differance anyway lol  ------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: July 30 2009 at 12:27am
Sierra soft point. They have always been accurate, even in my old military barrel. In my new match grade barrel they are great. ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 30 2009 at 4:04am
Yes those are .308dia projectile fired from a browning Bolt action rifle.
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Posted By: wolfie1
Date Posted: August 31 2009 at 5:15am
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up til now, I have shot Wolf Gold and Federal 150 gr. factory loads. The federals are ok, but rather pricey, the Wolf's sorely lack hitting power and cost us two deer last year. Decided to reload last year and got some Hornady 150gr. SP INTERLOCKs and had good success with them. The 150's, in general, have been a really good load for us. I have a few left and plan to use them for pronghorn. I wasn't able to get 150's this year, but was able to pick up some Hornady 174gr. RN INTERLOCKs and am going to try them for deer in the woods this year. I like the 150s best, but can't get them at least for now. I have to work up a load for the 174s and see how they will work. Was wondering where a guy can get 125gr., I'd like to try them on deer and pronghorn myself. ------------- Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome the vote |
Posted By: No4Enfield
Date Posted: October 18 2009 at 2:12am
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The 30-30 cartridge is famous as a deer gun, and the .303 performs like the 30-30 so id say it would be fine. I use 150s and it works on everything ive tried it on |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: October 18 2009 at 3:26am
Performs like a 30-30 id like to think not 150gr at 2760 fps more like a .308 id say
------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: October 18 2009 at 4:36am
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"the .303 performs like the 30-30 "
Yes it does, but it does it for about another 250 yards  ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: October 18 2009 at 8:43am
Nothing against 30-30 of course But just doesnt compare..
------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: No4Enfield
Date Posted: October 19 2009 at 10:14am
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Im not sure how I went from thinking .308 to typing 30-30 I am no longer drinking Coca-Cola anymore as of a few days before I posted so i blame that, Im a mess I meant .308 |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: October 19 2009 at 10:20am
Ok roger that No4 im gettin old to lol
------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: October 20 2009 at 9:00am
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All these old farts around here that cant see ..guess I will keep that eye Doctor appointment this Friday........
------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: No4Enfield
Date Posted: October 20 2009 at 10:03am
What'd you say? I didnt hear you! |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: October 21 2009 at 9:08am
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What??? Speak up I cant hear you ....
------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: October 22 2009 at 1:53am
HUH??I cant see what hes saying!..who farted??  who you callin old?!  who the hell are you?? what was I sayin???  time for my nap..
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: October 22 2009 at 7:52am
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Matron !!!!!! Hoadie has not been taking His Meds ............
------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: October 22 2009 at 9:00am
hoadie i got your geritol lol
------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: October 23 2009 at 5:12am
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Matron !!! Ya got to keep Hoadie and Charley45 separated they are swapping Meds again !!!!!! I Bet Hoadie doesnt give up His Viagra !!!! ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: October 23 2009 at 5:20am
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Rhino is that the blue pill or the purple one(damn alshiemers)can never keep them stright lol
------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: October 23 2009 at 8:28am
Blue !!!! and dont take a whole one ....it will make you have flash backs of High School............ Picture taken in South Africa ???? ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: October 23 2009 at 8:39am
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Yes sir thought i would it wake hoadie up lol,never taken one lol my older friend said he was in pain for hours lol ------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: October 23 2009 at 8:50am
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I was just worried the girls in the barn would walk into the gun room before the Wife got home and embarrass the hell out of me ....But I was having them High School flash backs .... Pulled the shirt out my pants to hide the evidence...Just in case some one came into the Gun Shop ...LOL!!! Good thing I didnt have any customers that evening ..... not that I needed the things ..but was just curious if they worked ....I got them from my Wife's Uncle .... ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: October 23 2009 at 3:13pm
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i REMEMBER 1ST TIME i TOOK ONE(WAS IN tORONTO W/THE WIFE FOR WEEKEND)took a pill-didnt feel anything hour or so later so I took another(whole pills)Lemme tell ya what happens when ya overdose on that stuff...1st ya turn beet red(geeze hon-isnt it awful hot in here?George-how can you be hot?Your outside in March in a T shirt) Then your head starts to pound(could actually see the viens on the side of my head pulsating!)nausea off & on..I'm hungry but cant eat.
When I was talkin to Doc later he asked how it worked for me.I told him that I couldnt understand how folks could have sex-when you have a headache like THAT.When he found out how much I had taken he told me I was lucky I didnt croak!!He meant for me to take 1/2 to 1/3 of ONE pill!! Be careful with that stuff! He also told me that if the erection should last 4 hours or longer to call him right away.I asked what HE intended do do with it..& told him I wasnt like that.If I had one that lasted THAT long-I was gonna show it to all the old ladies on my street!!! 
Woody ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: October 24 2009 at 12:06am
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Im pissin My self laughing Hoadie ...Ya need a stand up routine ....Ya killin Me !!!!!! Yea , 1/3 to 1/2 is all I need to have them High School plash backs ...... ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: October 24 2009 at 10:48pm
I think something WAS standing up Rhino he just didn't know what to do with it. When I was talkin to Doc later he asked how it worked for me.I told him that I couldnt understand how folks could have sex-when you have a headache like THAT See he got it wrong again!! SHE has the headaches hoadie lad not you! ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: LE Owner
Date Posted: December 06 2009 at 12:25pm
I downloaded the accurate Arms loading manual to try to figure out what sort of load you were using. Theres no data for the .303 in this issue of the manual but the data for the .308 Winchester using 2520 and a 150 gr bullet lists a velocity of 2832 fps and a chamber pressure of 61,000 PSI.
If the load you are using is generating anywhere near 60,000 psi to get 2800 fps its not one I'd consider using or recommending.
Loads that hot have been considered proper for the P-14 and a very few other .303 rifles, but Ive never heard these recommended for the LE actions.
The 150 gr bullet loads I use are in the neighborhood of 2600 fps, plenty enough punch for deer sized game and with far less stress on the rifle. Groups are consistently sub moa, and as others have said shot placement is a factor.
As for the little blue pill , I've never had need of them, but if I paid good money for such and it lasted no more than four hours I'd want my money back.
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Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: December 07 2009 at 6:32am
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She didn't seem to notice I smacked her with a 150gn Sierra Game king  Consequently neither did she
 So in closing I'm sure if I can come across a buck in the rifle area he'll have no problem with that either
AFD
------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: charly45
Date Posted: December 07 2009 at 9:16am
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Howdy airforcediver did you mean sierra gameking, or speer 150g??just curios THanx Nice shootin on the bird!!! ------------- Im here to kick a$$ and chew bubble gum, and im alll out of bubble gum!! |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: December 07 2009 at 10:07am
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Lol dam lack of Coffee this morning, it has profound affects on me
Sierra
thank you
AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: LE Owner
Date Posted: December 08 2009 at 4:36am
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I'm looking into information on the development of the .303 and recently found mention of the "Velopex" bullet designed by a gentleman named Leslie B Taylor who worked for Westley Richards.
Its stated that the Velopex was the basis for the lightweight nose plug of the MkVII bullet.
I'm sorting through some other sources which suggest that a 150 grain version of the Velopex was tested for the .303, which may be where the suggestion of a 150 gr bullet at 2,600 fps would have been an ideal infantry rifle load for the .303.
The Velopex was marketed for use in much larger bore Express rifles, the wooden plug allowed the light bullet of the express loads while allowing a large enough bearing surface, and the size of the bullet was about the same as that of a heavier bullet with all lead core.
The Velopex was tested alongside the "Swift" pointed long range match bullet designed by Captain J H Hardcastle. Near as I can tell the 225 grain swift would have been very nearly the same size and profile as the later MkVII, the substitution of the Velopex style shortened lead core with light weight nose plug reducing the weight to 174 grains.
I have no doubt that the standard military MkVII bullet has taken far more game than any of the commercial sporting loads using conventional soft point bullets, though its notable wounding action may not be consistent at all ranges.
I believe the prior use of the Velopex as a game bullet should put to rest apologists claims that the light nose plug was adopted due to its ballistic efficiency rather than its wounding effects, especially after the British had issued both exposed lead and even hollow point bullets to increase killing power of the lower velocity pre WW1 .303 ammunition.
Some after action photos I've seen of Poachers killed by Indian Game Wardens using the .303 have shown wounds to the chest so large that the landscape is visible through the hole, and almost all of the muscle torn from the upper arm of a survivor, the entire bone being exposed.
In recent years theres been some discussion on whether such bullets should be used by our own military, and the Russian "poison bullet" certainly had a similar effect.
The high velocity of the 5.56 can produce horrific wounds, but at longer ranges the effect is greatly reduced, and the shorter barrel of the M4 carbines doesn't always give enough velocity to generate much more than a through and through bullet sized hole that has little manstopper effect. Use of slower twist barrels like those once used with the 55 grain bullets allows the heavier bullets now in use to destablise but at the cost of reduced long range accuracy.
PS
I use the Hornady 150 gr .312 bullet in loads for my No.4.
Due to the generous throat of my Savage barrel I seat the bullet with the cannelure exposed and don't crip, I made an undersized exander plug to allow enough neck tension so the bullet will not be driven back into the neck when cycling the bolt.
By not using a crimp the variation in pull strength is greatly reduced, and this allows a high degree of accuracy. I also only size .2" of the neck. Once a case has been fired twice rotating 180 degrees on the second firing, leaving a bit of neck unsized results in the now evenly expanded case to center perfectly, which along with the reduction in jump allows the optimum positioning of bullet to throat . These are old benchrest tricks that work well and very nearly eliminate the deletrious effects of the often loose chambers and throat of Milsurp rifles.
To insure smooth feeding I use each fired case once as a snapper for dry fire practice, the striker blow is just enough to loosen the fit of the expanded case slightly so it will feed smoothly in the field.
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Posted By: Hugo Steiglitz
Date Posted: January 04 2010 at 12:36pm
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Mine is simple..150 grain Sierra Prohunter over 41 grains of IMR 4895. Excellent in my #4. ------------- I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: August 16 2010 at 4:31pm
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As mentioned earlier in Birthdays section..Hatchet confirms hes going to be hookin up with me & my mob for whitetail this Nov @ my cabin.(This is gonna be a treat!)Got the #5 all spruced up,just for Hatchet.
Think he may be in for a bit of a shock.Huntin goats & camels in your sandals is alot different than hunting whitetail in the cold Nov woods.(They put a new meaning to "fast food" Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: August 17 2010 at 12:48pm
LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: August 17 2010 at 12:51pm
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Tell Hatchet, He welcome down here in the Swamp if He wants ...all is open ... cept gators !!!!!But I could hook Him up LOL!!!!
------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: August 17 2010 at 4:38pm
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I'm sure he'll be along toreckly,Rhino!
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: August 18 2010 at 1:59am
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Don't you go leading the lad astray Hoadie!
------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: No4Enfield
Date Posted: August 18 2010 at 5:31am
| I almost didnt get into enfields because of the availability of ammo here at the time, Im dang glad i did, looks like it'll take anything i want taken LOL |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: August 18 2010 at 4:42pm
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It'll take anything you can hunt on this contenent
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Huntermb
Date Posted: August 19 2010 at 2:47am
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Posted By: No4Enfield
Date Posted: August 19 2010 at 11:52am
| I sure do love the .303! |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: September 17 2010 at 1:38pm
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This is what happens when a Blacktail meets a 180gn pro hunter at 200yds with 36gn of IMR 4064 behind it.  He was facing the other way when i hit him and he was almost perfectly broadside, he moved all of 3' (prolly all do to the cartwheel effect
)Oh and I hit him on the second day of Rifle
 AFD
------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: September 19 2010 at 10:51am
HMMPH!  Wasted meat there-looks like a lung shot-No matter(neck wudda bin better) but @ 200 yds..HATS OFF MATE!! Hopin Hatchet gets one with me this year-that'll be the cats pyjamas!! 
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: September 19 2010 at 4:02pm
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I only lost half of what Mcdonalds claims to be a 1/4 pound and yes double lung
AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: Target
Date Posted: July 06 2011 at 2:04am
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Crap now i gotta figure out how i can legally hunt with a Lee Enfield here in Michigan. WE got a 5 round cap for magazines for hunting, But no cap for anything else so you can have as many rounds in your gun as you want, you just cant use it for hunting. I wonder if a plug would work (kinda like a shotgun), im gonna have to get on the horn with the DNR and see if that would be legal. Also I gotta figure which of my Lee Enfields i would hunt with. I think it's between my savage No.4mk1* or my No.5 Mk1. Irons of course, None of my rifles have scopes on em. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 06 2011 at 5:29am
Not sure if it's krectly legal there but there was an old trick where you'd pop the mag spring out, slide either 5 empty cases, or a pre-carved bit o' wood into the shell then re-insert the follower & spring.
------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: July 06 2011 at 5:55am
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Have You tried looking for a 5round Mag ??? I have one thats made for My Fake No5 J.C. It was given to Me after I failed to buy one some one told Me about ..... ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: July 06 2011 at 6:01am
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https://www.mainemilitary.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=171&idproduct=1311 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=380899 Try these places !!! ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: cebal101
Date Posted: July 06 2011 at 9:27am
| Isnt that the same as using a pencil to limit the number of shells a shotgun can take Shamu? It sounds like it should be cool, but I guess the key word is "should" hahaha. I dont know how legal or illegal it is with hunting rules though. I hear they can get pretty strict. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 06 2011 at 9:10pm
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Pretty much a "bunny plug" for a box magazine. Check the local regs though as they vary from cross the "T", dot the "I" serious through "Whatever, Dude!" ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: July 07 2011 at 11:03pm
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5 round mags are out there.Tend to be somewhat pricey these days, tho Here in Canada, we have a similar law. BUT... I found that the M-1 Garand & the Lee Enfield are specifically EXEMPT from the magazine law. I still only load 5 into the magazine, anyway.(If I cant take it with 5 rounds, I better give up hunting!) Sold the Garand back to the U.S. Army numbe of years back, so thats no longer an issue, either. Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: 303carbine
Date Posted: July 10 2011 at 6:31am
| I use 150 grain and 180 in my Enfields, they both work great. The lighter grain gets used for small deer and the heavier bullets are used for moose and such. |
Posted By: Dux-R-Us
Date Posted: July 21 2011 at 1:47am
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Based on my +35 years hunting experience; Avoid damage to meat by not shooting the deer though the shoulder blade. Avoid bone. Go for a broadside lung shot if possible. This type of shot usually does not anchor the animal in its tracks. Often they will run 50-100 yards and sometimes do not leave a very good or any blood trail. The neck shot is very effective and destroys little meat. But this is a smaller target. If you are the ultimate meat hunter and good marksman, the head shot is the best of all. Both these shots anchor the animal stat, but only if done perfectly. Else you might be end up with a fleeing deer with only half its teeth. A shoulder shot may not always anchor the animal immediately. Deer can run very well on three legs. However, it is my opinion that the shoulder shot is the best shot of all to assure killing and retrieving the animal. When the buck of your dreams is in your sights, go for the shoulder. Break bone. Of course (as it has been written before ad naseum) the placement, type of bullet and its terminal velocity are the most critical factors when hunting. Calibre is less so and deer are never impressed with fancy bullet delivery systems (AKA expensive rifles with lots of bling ). K ------------- Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx |
Posted By: saffer
Date Posted: July 21 2011 at 8:13pm
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Can't say I disagree with you on any of those points. The nice thing I like about the 303, is the velocities do not do exceptional damage to meat like my other hunting partners rifles do with their 270's, 338 magnums, etc.
But all said, bullet construction is important. I am hunting with 180Gr Corbon Core-LOKT bullets, and I have never messed an animal up. However our local manufacure of bullets, PMP, make a 174Gr JSP, that explodes when it hits an animal, and what is left is dog food. ------------- Not a complete idiot. Still missing a few parts. |
Posted By: BCguy
Date Posted: November 14 2012 at 3:06am
| I use 150 in my No5. Ample hitting power for deer, probably has a flatter trajectory. My mule deer from early October dropped like a bag of hammers. |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: November 14 2012 at 3:40am
| I got my mule deer this early October using the same as BCguy...namely 150 grain soft point factory loaded Federal power shock. I don't see a need really for anything of a larger weight. I keep 5 rounds in a plastic case with 180 grain power shocks in case I come across a bear which I always carry a tag for. My hunting partner uses a Winchester 30:06 with 180 grain bullets and yes, the damage to the meat is substantial. That is overkill in my opinion but he insistes that a 30:06 bullet will graze by small branches and twigs on the way to the deer, without altering its' travel. I disagree, but that is something we discuss over a few drinks around the campfire at night. I agree with you BCguy, 150 grain is ample hitting power for mule deer and that the trajectory is somewhat flatter due to the lighter weight. In my other Enfields, I use 174 grain handloads using Hornady Interlock fmj's and Privi Partisan brass for target shooting, un-scoped through iron sights with the bayonet attached. |
Posted By: Paulie
Date Posted: November 15 2012 at 11:42am
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I have hunted whitetail every year, for over ten years here in the US southeast . Out of that time, I have carried my beloved No.4 Mrk 1 90% of the time. I have used both 180s and 150 softpionts of various common manufactures. With iron sights and with a scope. The 150s do fly much flatter, and straight. The 180s dropped considerable at 200 yrds for me. With the 150, my best shot so far on a nice buck is 190yrds. I put it right through his pump station, while he was moving. I was standing with the rifle braced to a tree with my left hand. So i was fairly stedy. He dropped about 20ft from where he was hit. With the 180s, I missed a fat doe at 170yrds. I had the rifle resting on a fence rail this time, so again, I had the rifle in a stedy position. The round dropped ,pulled to the right, and went right under the belly of the doe. It hit the small doe standing behind and to the right of the her. Unfortunatly, the round went through both of her rear knees! Obviously, she couldn't go very far, so I was able to find her quickly. After that, I only shoot 180s at paper! ------------- Cuir air Lagh....Tairgibh....Siuthidaibh! |
Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: November 15 2012 at 1:22pm
------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: glass to the arson
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 10:20am
| I know this post is quite old, but cookie's question was never answered. I advise against using .308 bullets in an Enfield as most of these rifles, like my 1949 Long branch, slug between .311 and .313 caliber. I have tried loading my .303s with Sierra Match Kings in .309 diameter, but never had good accuracy at all. I see no harm in using them for pinking, but I would not hunt with them: a waste in my opinion, unless you have no other use for them. try casing you own loads, then you can size them to both .309 for a .30-06 or 7.5x55 and .311 for the Enfield. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: December 23 2012 at 7:45pm
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Question on ammo. At last gun show I picked up a box of WOLF GOLD in .303.Never used this brand before(never seen it, either.)Anyone got the skinny on this stuff? Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 23 2012 at 9:26pm
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It used to be re-branded Prvi Partizan (PPU or nny headstamp). I'm not sure what it is currently. If its PPU/nny then its good reloadable non corrosive stuff. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 1:30am
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My Maltby won't shoot the Privy but Loves the Wolf Gold. The soft nose bullets I pulled were flat based. Non-corrosive, and great brass for reloading. If I find it cheap at the gun show I'll always pick up a box . Ed
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Posted By: flanker
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 1:51am
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I wish I could pick up some 303 ballistic tip 125 gr heads. They look like a good deer round. ------------- Life is full of possibilities, 50% of them are likely to good.... |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 2:13am
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What was the headstamp on those rounds the rifle liked, ED?
------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 2:17am
I've reloaded some of the Hornady ballistic tip 125 grainers for short range plinking. They shoot pretty wel out to a hundred yards or so, but you do need to keep velocity down to 30-30/ 7.62X39 levels or you will find some just disintegrate as they exit the muzzle at higher velocities. I don't think they're legal for deer inthe UK are they? I thought there was a 150 Gr lower limit on deer loads there. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: flanker
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 2:32am
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No, they're fine. 55gr 223 vmax is a good roe deer round here.
------------- Life is full of possibilities, 50% of them are likely to good.... |
Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 2:57am
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Comparing the 125gr, 150gr and 180gr Sierra Pro-Hunter bullets, the 125gr with a muzzle velocity of 2950fps is flat shooting to 215m, the 150gr with a muzzle velocity of 2700fps to 200m and the 180gr with muzzle velocity of 2500 fps to 190m. Not much to choose from from a flat shooting point. My definition of flat shooting is plus and minus 45mm (1 3/4") from line of sight with a scope mounted 50mm (2") above the bore. The 180gr bullet is still doing 2000fps at 190m. Max attainable velocity using Hodgdon powders are; 125gr - 2966fps 150gr - 2756fps 180gr - 2563fps The latter two are with lower pressure! Apparently the 150gr can be driven to 2800fps or more using some European powders. Vihtavouri show a starting load of 2753fps and a max of 2949fps !!!! My limited experience with 150gr Hornady spire points on antelope is that at 2700fps they are too fast for close shooting, causing ruptured blood vessels some distance from the impact point (shoulder). 174gr Hornady RN's on the other hand had very good penetration and good performance without excess damage as did Speer 180gr RN's. I now use PRVI 180gr .310" bullets in my two-groove and those work real well. I do not drive them to max. They will stop within a goat with a frontal chest shot and do no periferal damage. So far I see no need to change from them. They are accurate, have reach and just work!
------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 5:19am
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Shamu, I'll have to check Wed., I've got guests in the "Armory" and a big group showing up for dinner tonight. Ed
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Posted By: flanker
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 5:57am
This article pretty much sums it up: http://www.fieldsportsmagazine.com/Stalking/choosing-the-right-calibre.html  ------------- Life is full of possibilities, 50% of them are likely to good.... |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 24 2012 at 7:30am
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Excellent article, thanks for the info. I'd forgotten the differences between Scottish & English laws. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: December 26 2012 at 8:28am
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Shamu, I dug in the safe, and the first box of Wolf Gold I grabbed was 174 grn fmj and last time I pulled a bullet it was flat based. Head stamp is 303 British and nny ( which I believe is PPU ) However, I haven't had any luck with Privi and this shoots great, so go figure. At one time it was $10.99 to 11.99 at the gun shows and I picked up 4 or 5 boxes to shoot and for the brass. Ed
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 26 2012 at 8:45am
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Yep, nny is cyrillic for Prvi Partizan(PPU). I have some of that & some PPU marked stuff as well, I think the nny was earlier before they really went after the western market. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: December 27 2012 at 3:19am
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I did some googling on Wolf, it is a U.S. Company that sources ammo from various former Eastern Bloc manufacturers. I'm not sure if it's made to order or they are buying "off the shelf" components. Ed
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Posted By: flanker
Date Posted: December 27 2012 at 3:55am
------------- Life is full of possibilities, 50% of them are likely to good.... |
Could we ask them to do a line in ballistic tip 303 ammo? You do get ballistic tip 7.62x54/39 and that's got a .311 headPosted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: December 27 2012 at 11:27am
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They have a 150 grn soft point at 2690 fps. Swapping for a ballistic tip shouldn't be hard.. Ed
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Posted By: flanker
Date Posted: December 27 2012 at 8:15pm
I sent them an email. it's a long shot, but who knows: nothing ventured, nothing gained. ------------- Life is full of possibilities, 50% of them are likely to good.... |
Posted By: Dux-R-Us
Date Posted: December 29 2012 at 1:29am
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just my $0.02. In response to the orignal post about the Speer 150 gr. Hot-Core. My Pap and I have used the 150 gr. Speer Hot-Core in .270 Win and 30-06 for years, accounting for about 50 deer. In the 30-06 I load to approximately .308 Win. ballistics. This bullet has always performed well. A shoulder shot will drop a whitetail most of the time, and a behind the shoulder heart-lung shot is always fatal, though they might run anywhere between 30 and 75 yards. It is a devestating bullet. Distance of shots were within 150 yards. I would expect similar bullet performance with 150 gr. Speer Hot Core in the .303. As stated ad nauseum, bullet placement is the over riding factor in bagging game. K ------------- Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx |
Posted By: Dux-R-Us
Date Posted: December 29 2012 at 1:44am
Of all the places I have lived in and hunted and fished, the Game Officers in Michigan were the biggest butt heads I have ever encountered. ------------- Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx |
Posted By: Gun Nut 4
Date Posted: December 08 2015 at 4:45am
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Well Richard you're quite right about 125 gr bullet doing a number on deer. I took my first deer with 100 gr bullet out of a .243 Win, he went about 35 yards and dropped. I tried to repeat feat on an eight pointer a year or so later, had the cross-hairs on him 3 times, but I was in a different location and the firing lane was a wash with twig soup, which made the old buck virtually bullet proof. After that I move closer to the ravine with a shotgun and round ball load, that proved successful on a couple of occasions, so I thought I'd try switching back to a rifle. Someone put me on to a 200 gr over sized (.314) gas-check cast bullet for the .303 British, which he suggested running up to 2000 fps. My Pattern 1914 love it. I calculated with that much weight it was not likely to be deflected by twigs . It wasn't! I struck a young buck about 1 1/2" behind the point of its shoulder ( I'm shooting down from a tree platform) the bullet pierced its scapula, busted a rib, went through the boiler room and out through the floor of the chest cavity. The deer left the scene carrying it's right shoulder, and disappeared through the long grasses. I took up the trail after a bit. I found it about 75 yards down range, it appeared to have done an end to end flip. When I dressed it out, the chest cavity was awash in blood and tissue pulp, the heart was pretty much intact except one of its upper chambers was blown away. Yes, those light bullets are great, if you have a open and clear shot, but I would suggest they might not do all that well if you have to shoot through a bit of twig soup. ------------- Gun Nut 4 |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: December 08 2015 at 10:48am
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Hmmm...stuffed deer heart. ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: December 08 2015 at 1:15pm
Try Henry Kranks they are the main stockists for privy in the uk. Failing that use 150 grain sierra soft points in 311. They're very good. ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: Ecclectic Collector
Date Posted: December 12 2015 at 3:17am
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I also like the 150 gr. bullet. I generally use the Speer spire point. I have two loadings that I load to service load velocities (@2450 fps). One is using Reloader #7, the other is with H4895. I won't give reloading weights on-line lest some uninformed person misunderstand then, but both loadings came straight from reloading manuals. I still haven't punched my ticket on a deer with either, but that part is up to Mr. Deer who has so far avoided walking into sight when I'm hunting. However on my range in my pasture I can shoot 1-1.5" groups all day long with either load. ------------- Enfields are like chips, can't stop at just one. |
Posted By: klondike
Date Posted: June 11 2016 at 9:05am
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Hi everyone.Iam new here .but very interested in this post. On hunting with the 303. Couldn't get the 174 gr.rn.so I picked up a box of the Speer hor-cor 180 gr. Rn. Bullets. Has anyone tryed theses at range's from 40yds.to 125. I have taken more deer at 40yds.out to 75 yds. Than any other distance . |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: June 11 2016 at 2:47pm
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A bit "Industrial Strength" IMO, they'd be perfect for Elk, Moose or Bear though. Are you stuck for 150 Gr bullets? If so let me know & I'll trade you a box of the Hornady #3120 150 Gr .312" SP for the 180s. I need some 180's for my No5 which prefers them & I have several boxes of the 150's. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: June 11 2016 at 3:19pm
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150 grain are ideal for deer, over in the UK we use them for Sika, Red, Roe and Fallow usually out to 150 yards max. Sika are real hard cases they run on adrenaline and take some stopping. A well placed shot will drop a 16 stone red easily. ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: June 11 2016 at 3:49pm
For us "Yanks" a "stone" is 14 pounds. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: klondike
Date Posted: June 11 2016 at 4:03pm
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Thanks for the replys. I have a couple box's of the Hornady 150 gr.use them for my 7.7 jap.too. seen elsewhere guys saying that they liked the heavyer slower bullets for closer shots. Years ago I used the Hornady light magnum 150 gr. But they don't offer that anymore. I have all summer to try different stuff. That's the fun part getting to shoot more. |