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.303 British loads

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Category: Reloading
Forum Name: Reloading .303 British
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URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=45
Printed Date: March 28 2024 at 2:24am
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Topic: .303 British loads
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Subject: .303 British loads
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 1:25pm
.303 British loads I have several good starter loads if any one wants them.



Replies:
Posted By: Eric
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 3:17pm

Please, post away!!

Thanks, and welcome to the forum.

Eric



Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: January 26 2006 at 3:05am

150 grain Soft Point

IMR-3031   36.9 

IMR-4895   37.7

IMR-4060   38.5

IMR-4320   39.1 

H380          39.9

H414          42.9

These are all min. starting loads



Posted By: Xpert16
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 3:03am
I'm getting ready to start reloading and have been reading through the posts in this section trying to decide on a powder. I have read good comments regarding several powders particularly IMR 3031, IMR4320 and VIT N140.  Less good remarks about IMR4895.  My .303 is a No 4 Mk 2 (F) (mfg 1954) and is in almost new condition.
 
Most likely I will load 174gn for range and 180 gn SP for deer. I'm a little confused on how to choose a powder.  Any ideas for beginning reloader would help?
 


Posted By: SW28fan
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 3:24am
I have become very partial to  using 38-39 grains of varget for the 180 Sierra soft point.  There are several good powders for the 303 including H-380, H-414, Varget, IMR 4895 and 3031 all have a good reputation. IIRC 3031 was actually developed for US contracts to load 303 MK VII ball in WWI.  A side note on bullets; many 303 rifles have problems with boatails usually caused by the particular wear pattern cordite puts on the bore. You may not have any issues if not too much ammo loaded was cordite was fired in your rifle

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Have a Nice Day
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Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 3:30am
I use the IMR-3031 it is a very forgiving powder, works will and gives good results, Also easy to find. if you just getting into reloading get you several starter books and read, read and read somemore. Where in TN do you live, you can PM that information if you want to. I live in Northern, MS If you live close enough I can show you, but like I posted above read up and then read again and then read again. Ask questions if in doubt.


Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 7:01am
I'll vote for 3031 as well. It was the original powder after the switch from cordite.
4895 is a good choice as well.
My only problem with 3031 is the grains are really long & some powder measures have a hard time with them. I actually have an old Lyman #55 that is permanently set for my preferred load with this powder as the rotary chamber is the best at dumping consistent charges.


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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)


Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 11:41am
just got a set of dies myself , still needing to get set up but think this may be the year for me


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 11:45am
Shamu another good point IMR-3031 will be around for a long time


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 11:55am
http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2578&title=imr-3031 - http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2578&title=imr-3031
 
Here is a link on here for one of my posts that uses data for the .303 British using IMR-3031


Posted By: John Coleman
Date Posted: February 25 2011 at 11:20pm
All of the American ammunition companies (4 of them anyway) made 303 ammunition for the British from 1914 to 1918. Dupont developed Dupont powder number 16 in 1916. This was the first "Cordite substitute approved by the British" but they did use other powders from 1914 to 1918. Dupont powder number 16 was renamed IMR-3031 in 1934. The 4 digit IMR numbers are in order that they were developed, same for the older 2 digit Dupont powder numbers. For a long time I thought that the "303" in 3031 might be for 303 British, I don't know of any lower IMR 4 digit numbers. IMR-4064, IMR-4198, IMR-4227 and IMR-4320 are from 1935. IMR-4350 was developed in 1940 and IMR-4895 in 1941 but wasn't used in all 30-06 ammo in WWII until 1944.

The original 1916 Dupont number 16 load was 38.2 grains with a 174 grain bullet. Of cource cases, primers and bullets may be a bit different from what is available today.

The load guides are pretty consistent with 150 grain bullet loads. The max load of 42.0 grains of IMR-3031 is in nearly all of my manuals (IMR now shows a max of 41.0gr which seems plenty hot). The 174-180 grain bullets seem to vary quite a bit from load guide to load guide. One of my favorite hunting loads is one somebody in Canada gave me long ago and it's 43.0 grains of IMR-4320 with a 180 grain bullet.  I get good accuracy with the 180 grain Sierra.

IMR-4064 can be very accurate but can be "peaky" in pressure. IMR-4895 seems more forgiving in pressure but I don't always get great accuracy with it, unless I load to max or fairly hot. I can down load IMR-4064 and still get good accuracy.

I don't use a lot of ball powders but during WWII Winchester used Ball-C powder with a 175 grain bullet to load ammunition for the British. Hodgdon BLC(2) is the current version of Ball-C powder, changed to be cleaner for automatic weapons and reduced flash.

Remington primers usually seem the mildest with most powders, especially IMR powders, but when I tried H4895 and Varget pressure was higher with Remington primers than CCI primers. Federal and Winchester primers are usually the hottest ones.

I think the Lyman manual has load data nearest my results but other manuals are pretty good for some powders and bullets, but some loads seem very different.


Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: February 26 2011 at 12:23pm
GREAT INPUT, MATE!
Hoadie

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Loose wimmen tightened here


Posted By: Xpert16
Date Posted: April 10 2011 at 11:20am
I am having trouble finding the Sierra 174 gn HPBT #2315.  I haven't seen in any shop near TN, So. KY or So. IL and two dealers have told me their distributors don't have them.  Any sources known?


Posted By: Shooter55
Date Posted: April 15 2011 at 12:20pm
does anyone know the original bullet size that was used during WW2? for strictly target use, what size bullet would anyone recommend?


Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: April 15 2011 at 12:57pm
I have some ammo from 1936 Dont think it was for target use ..

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"White Rhino"

"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields


Posted By: Smokey
Date Posted: April 15 2011 at 5:10pm
I got a set of LEE dippers for measuring powder a while back. They are excellent for the long-grain extruded powders (such as IMR3031). Ball powders and short grain extruded powder(such as IMR4320) are good in adjustable measures.
What I like about IMR3031 is it burns very consistently with mild loads. I've had good accuracy using 36gr with the Hornady 150gr bullet. It's extremely mild and easy on the rifle and shooter. Smile


Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: April 15 2011 at 5:10pm
Standard mk v11 ball ammo. 174 grain flat based head velocity 2450 fps.  Sierra and hornady are probably the best heads apart from Lapua ( hideously expensive)  I personally use vit 140 41 grains behind a 174 grain head. It near enough duplicates the factory ammunition very flat shooting (velocity 2500fps) and clean burning. The other vit powder I use is N540 similar burn rate as 140 and same load data 41 grains behind a 174 grain head.

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Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!




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