.303 bullets??
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Category: Reloading
Forum Name: Reloading .303 British
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Topic: .303 bullets??
Posted By: ArcherSix
Subject: .303 bullets??
Date Posted: December 19 2013 at 6:12am
| Has anyone had any luck finding .303 bullets for reloading lately? Everywhere I look is out. I'd like Hornady 150gr SP and 174 FMJ, but right now I'd be happy finding anything close to those..... |
Replies:
Posted By: SW28fan
Date Posted: December 19 2013 at 10:08am
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Nope. I got out bid for a box on Gun Broker. Sneaky fiend waited until 5 min before the auction was over an topped my bid by 50 cents. ------------- Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard |
Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: December 19 2013 at 3:00pm
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If you could find some 180 gr Highland/PRVI bullets, they seem pretty good. Accurate in my rifle and work pretty well on game. Trouble is, I can't find any!
Funny thing thing is we have Hornady in 150 SP and 174 RN and Sierra in 150 and 180 spitzers on our shelves. Not cheap mind you but fine for hunting where they might last for several years.
------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: Jon287
Date Posted: December 19 2013 at 3:27pm
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I just bought a box of Hornady SST 303 150 gr. .312 from Graf and Sons. They were not cheap but it was all I could find. ------------- Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their planet!! |
Posted By: Frenchieboy
Date Posted: December 19 2013 at 3:36pm
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Seems to be quite a shortage of them over on this side of the pond too. I had to search high and low before I could find any and had to settle for just one box of Hornady 150g Spire Points. Need some more pretty soon too! ------------- Wounding is not an option! |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 19 2013 at 8:49pm
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Hornady has "temporarily suspended" .311/.312 bullet production so there is a shortage. I've been snagging what I can find from various shooting forum swapshops & for sale posts. ------------- 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: December 20 2013 at 12:16am
| did they say why they suspended it ? did production get diverted to 308 ? |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 3:52am
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I don't really know. It was part of a much wider suspension of less popular calibers so they could concentrate on high volume sellers. Here is the direct link: http://www.hornady.com/support/availability" rel="nofollow - http://www.hornady.com/support/availability ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: SW28fan
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 5:17am
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Sierra has a bunch of Government Contracts and they said atleast six months before we see any more .311" bullets. I am pretty much Match Use Only on their 180 grain I have maybe 200 left. ------------- Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 6:10am
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At this rate I may have to buy a mold and cast my own. ------------- 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: Canuck
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 6:50am
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Speaking of casting your own...do you use wheel weights or do you have a more pure lead source for making bullets? I read that modern wheel weights have other alloys mixed in and would not make good bullets. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 8:42am
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I was going to the scrapyard in town and see if I can get some old scrapped lead pipe. I hate to think of the price of lead today. ------------- 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: hoadie
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 10:17am
Use that stuff on other firearms - not ENFIELDS  Seriously - don't do it. I'm fortunate..I have a source here (scrap yard) that will sell me real lead.(It's listed as a hazardous substance now, I understand) I only cast Minie balls with it..but I would NEVER shoot my rifle again if I only had wheel weights for fodder. Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Canuck wrote:Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 2:45pm
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Why do you say that, hoadie? In many ways the 303 Lee Enfield is ideal for cast bullets because of the nature of the throats, especially cordite eroded throats. It allows for larger, throat filling cast bullets that will properly seal the bore. But the bullets do need to be well profiled to each throat for best results. Gas checked bullets can be driven to 1900 fps with ease using 220 gr bullets. With a lot more effort one can get higher velocity. It's the twist rate that limits attainable accurate velocity. For long range work one can use 240 gr cast bullets. I've shot 260 gr cast bullets. Accuracy was pooh (alloy too soft) but there was no bullet yaw. Cast bullets can also return worn out bores to useful service and the low operating pressures can do the old war horse no harm. The alloy does need to be clean, meaning no abrasive inclusions but it's not difficult to clean the alloy. But there should be zero bore wear with cast bullets because they are lubricated and besides, lead alloys are quite soft with the hardest around BHN 22 and usually around BHN 13 (wheel weight) while bullet jacket alloy is around BHN 100 (85 to 125) There is another way to use lead alloy for bullets and that is by paper patching it. Muzzle velocities tend to be higher and pressure lower with paper patch because of reduced friction. However, paper does have a polishing effect on the bore and this leads to even higher velocity but sometimes one needs to increase the powder charge to ensure patch disintegration at the muzzle after the bore gets real smooth. Harder alloys allows higher velocity which can exceed factory velocity for the 303. The usual load for paper patch is the listed starting load for jacketed bullets, with slower powder being preferable. 303 shooters have an advantage in that standard 308 bullet molds can be used. For those who don't want to cast, 308 bullets can be paper patched for the 303. They get knurled between two files so the patch will not slip. And paper patching does not wear out bores either. Bore life can be expected to be better than with using jacketed bullets. Lower pressure is one reason (powder kernels erode throats and bores). ------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 6:32pm
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I put out the question and it seems agreed that inclusions in the lead alloy can damage bores if the metal isn't 'cleaned' by proper fluxing. However, I'd suggest that it would be a slow process and somewhat unusual. I doubt a bottom pour melting pot would have that problem as anything hard would float on or near the surface (where a ladle scoop would pick it up). ------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: Frenchieboy
Date Posted: December 20 2013 at 8:57pm
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I'm afraid that all of this moulding my own heads is a little above me! As luck would have it I have just been out to one of my "suppliers" for some rimfire ammunition and he had a box of 125g Spritzers put by for me so I have some in hand to load - All be it that I will have to develop a new load for these heads - Much better than running out of expanding ammunition! ------------- Wounding is not an option! |
Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 6:21am
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There is another option I have heard spoken of and that is bumping 308 bullets up to .311. I does mean having a bump up die and a strong press. One can also size down 8mm bullets which may not be the best idea as the jacket would have more spring in it than the lead core but apparently it does work.
------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 11:11am
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I cast all my projectiles with Wheel weights , I use Gulf wax that you find in the canning section of the grocery store to flux my lead! it will burst into flame , so beware that you dont jump and throw hot molten lead all over the place if your stirring it at that time!!!! ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: SW28fan
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 11:37am
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Graf's Has some Privi .311 bullets in stock
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/922" rel="nofollow - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/922 ?
They also have Lapua and the Hornady SST things (tried but did not like) ------------- Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard |
Posted By: Jon287
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 3:31pm
I was under the impression that "boat-tail" ammunition was not ideally suited for use in Enfield rifles. I have never tried it in my rifles. What kind of experiences have you guys had with it? I got out my Lee loader and mounted 20 rnds. of the Hornady SST ammo. I plan to go try it out, if it ever quits raining. ------------- Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their planet!! |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 11:03pm
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What is a good 303 bullet mold to get? ------------- 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: December 21 2013 at 11:34pm
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"I was under the impression that "boat-tail" ammunition was not ideally suited for use in Enfield rifles." Partly correct. Some, but no all Enfields keyhole violently with boat tail bullets. Mostly it happens with worn 2-groove barrels. The bad news is that the only way to tell is to load up a few & see how your individual bore handles them. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Jon287
Date Posted: December 22 2013 at 1:16am
I guess I will have to give the boat-tail ammo a try too. I am ashamed to admit that I don't know how many grooves the barrels of my No. 4 Mk1*'s have.  ------------- Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their planet!! |
Posted By: flanker
Date Posted: December 22 2013 at 4:32am
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Does anyone know if you can get Hornady HRN3135C or CCI\Speer 2213- .303 C bullets in the UK?
------------- Life is full of possibilities, 50% of them are likely to good.... |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: December 22 2013 at 5:12am
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Its easy to check, just pop the bolt out, prop the gun facing a blank white wall & stare in & count 'em! It is worth checking though as a lot of those "war simplified" rifles did have 2-groove ones. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Juno
Date Posted: December 22 2013 at 5:37am
I tried some 125gr a while ago and they were an absolute disaster, they are just nor long enough to grip into the case and still have enough to jump into the 'leade'. They are unstable as they enter the barrell and are still unstable when they exit. I had to take the rest of the box back to the RFD and get them taken of my 'purchases' so I could buy some 150s 150's are the smallest I've had any success with - prefer 180's given the chnace.
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Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: December 22 2013 at 9:18am
Paddy PM me after Christmas and I will get the No# off my mold for you , if you would like a few to reload and try I can hook you up with some ready to go. so you can see if you like them or not!! ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: December 22 2013 at 9:59am
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Thanks White Rhino! ------------- 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: 303Guy
Date Posted: December 22 2013 at 10:39am
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I'm using the 180gr BT PRVI bullets in my two-groove which is somewhat rust damaged but the general dimensions are undamaged. This bore was mint before the rust got it. It shoots those BT's very accurately indeed. Both my two-grooves have a simple taper throat unlike my five-groove barrels that have a two-taper throat (as indicated in the SAAMI specs that I have). PRVI bullets are .310 diameter. I have not tried other bullets in this rifle (don't fix it if it aint broke) so have no basis for comparison. With mold for the 303, do remember that that throats and bore vary greatly so a mold that works for one rifle might not work in another. I have heard good things about CBE molds (made in Australia). Those are made for real; heavy bullets, up to 240grs but they make molds to specification and aren't all that heavy. From what I can gather, heavy seems to be more likely to shoot accurately.
------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: flanker
Date Posted: December 23 2013 at 2:41am
I had some 125 Sierra Spitzers and they worked very well, I have a couple of boxes of 150s but for Roe deer they might be a bit much. The Hornady ones look like they have ballistic tips, I'd like to try that. ------------- Life is full of possibilities, 50% of them are likely to good.... |
Posted By: bristol boy
Date Posted: January 05 2014 at 2:07pm
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I have 200 Hornady 174 gr. and 200 Speer 180 gr., what have you got in the Enfield line to trade? ------------- BB |
Posted By: Frenchieboy
Date Posted: January 05 2014 at 2:47pm
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Fortunately I have now found that my rifle quite likes the Sierra 174g HPBT heads and also that my local supplier has something like 4 thousand in stock so I will be goiong to get a few hundred some time this week to stock up with.
As it was he was willing to exchange the 100 125g Spritzers that I bought from him for a box of the Sierra 174g HPBTs too for me to try so that also solved the issue with the short OAL with the lighter heads for me! ------------- Wounding is not an option! |
Posted By: c-monkey
Date Posted: January 05 2014 at 9:58pm
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I'm really disappointed in Hornady. The company's logo has a spitzer type bullet along with a round nose style, both within a capital H standing for Hornady.
However, round noses have went the way of the dinosaur, and Hornady offers but a few now. I personally love them for closer range hunting such as we have here in Michigan. But bullet companies keep coming out with bonded this, solid core that, plastic tipped whiz bangs.
Young people nowadays view the ads for hunting, and feel they have to climb Mt. Everest during a blizzard with an angry look in their eyes, with a black gun...and God forbid they not be wearing their Underarmor. I guess those are the fools that the bullet makers cater to.
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 06 2014 at 12:26am
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Lots of different ways to enjoy the hobby/sport. I go with each unto his/her own. Lord knows I'm a stick in the mud, but I finally tried the newfangled double based powders & found out they work just fine as long as you learn how to make progress work for you. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: MJ11
Date Posted: February 05 2014 at 12:13pm
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Have friends in lowly places. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/montereyjack/media/DSCF0002a_zps421b40dc.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  ------------- The Spartans do not ask how many the enemies are but where they are |
Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: February 05 2014 at 1:03pm
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Aah! I see some 174gr but are they SPBT's? It looks like that on the packet but it's a bit unclear to me. And some 180gr SP's too. One of my rifles shoots 150grs just fine but the chamber and hence throat was shortened a little (so it has a tighter chamber). ------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: MJ11
Date Posted: February 05 2014 at 10:30pm
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150g SPFB for the older rifles to 300 yards. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/montereyjack/media/243c48c2.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  174g Match Kings HPBT for 300 to 600 yards in the newer barrels and rifles and for all rifles past 300 where they lay down and receiver whip effect ends. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/montereyjack/media/9574d582.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  http://smg.photobucket.com/user/montereyjack/media/DSCF4775_zps7206ef22.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  124g for who knows what, just part of the deal. Back yard I would think. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/montereyjack/media/DSCF00032_zpse781295c.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  ....................MJ................. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/montereyjack/media/d239848f.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  ------------- The Spartans do not ask how many the enemies are but where they are |
Posted By: 303Guy
Date Posted: February 06 2014 at 3:43am
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Right, 174gr HPBT - I missed the Match part on the box. So you're saying the match bullets are inaccurate inside of 300yds with older rifles and barrels? Is that for all SMLE's or just the older ones? I was given to believe the SMLE did that with the MkVIII bullet. That was for target selected SMLE's with Target selected MkVII ammo (but assuming all SMLE's, just that the random ones might not be accurate at range anyway). Do older No4's do that too? ------------- 303Guy |
Posted By: MJ11
Date Posted: February 06 2014 at 4:10am
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It will depend on the barrel and throat. Lots of stories out there but I tend listren to some of the people I have met and talked to over the years. I have several rifles with new barrels that shoot boat tails fine at all ranges but also some that will only shoot flat base well. I will let someone else explain receiver whip for you. Ask Pete Laidler or Nigel Greenaway who explained it to me. Ask muffet he has an opinion opposite theirs with a lot of interesting pictures. Read their notes and articles. I'm am no expert but I listen well and they have never been far off the mark. I did notice that on some #4Ts accuracy would tighten up past 350 yards and hold hard through 600 yards. There are good notes on this in Capt.Laidlers books and they are a good read. Remember never say never when talking Enfields. Back to the beach. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/montereyjack/media/Costa%20Rica/8fafaacd.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  ------------- The Spartans do not ask how many the enemies are but where they are |
Posted By: Wrangler Hunter
Date Posted: February 15 2014 at 7:25pm
I am just curious, was the contract on .311 bullets or another size so they quit making the .311? Trying to think of what guns the US Govt has that uses .311
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: February 15 2014 at 9:56pm
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I agree with the comment about tightening up. But its not that it gets smaller groups as it goes further, it's that the dispersion gets less at longer distances. I knew of several match shooters back in the U.K. that would switch from 7.62 to .303 at 600+ yards. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Toten Kopf
Date Posted: April 19 2014 at 9:18am
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I have a very short supply of the Hornady 174gr. FMJ/Sierra 174gr. MatchKings and a Midway backorder for 1200 Sierra 174gr. MatchKings (which are listed as "OVERDUE"). And another order from Widner's for an additional 1000 bullets (listed as "OUT OF STOCK").
I haven't looked at the Hornday's because they have just about stopped all production of this bullet. But I will say that the Hornady bullet does shoot quite well.
I visited a local store that had some .311 Sierra 125gr./150gr. bullets (hunting) some 180gr. as well. I didn't buy them but perhaps I should.
Now that I'm shooting .303 British, wouldn't you know that everyone is out of bullets.
------------- "It Takes A Strong Man To Be Kind", Sgt Nathan Wilson, 5th SFG (1970) |
Posted By: SW28fan
Date Posted: April 19 2014 at 10:01am
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It is extremely unlikely that we will see any .311" or .312" bullets made in the U.S. until 2015 all the makers are trying to catch up with the more popular diameters. All those people who felt they needed 25,000 rounds of ammo (plus three packages of non GMO seeds and a change of underwear) in their survival hoard to survive the Tackywackywookie really created a shortage. ------------- Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard |
Posted By: Toten Kopf
Date Posted: April 19 2014 at 10:15am
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Well, I hope that your comments are incorrect, but probably true.
I do need to get some velocity data and I'll use what I have sparingly. As well, I need 700-800 Yd. data as well.
We can only hope that the manufacturers produce what we need. ------------- "It Takes A Strong Man To Be Kind", Sgt Nathan Wilson, 5th SFG (1970) |
Posted By: rico567
Date Posted: August 27 2014 at 1:21am
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Hard to buy any .311 - .312 bullets over 150 gr. Got a bag of Prvi Partizan, which are just OK in my Mk. V, loading 4350 to start, then switching to some Varget loads. Finally found some Woodleigh 215 gr. at Midway, not cheap. Anybody have any luck ordering those Quest bullets from South Africa? I guess the only way to get them is order them from the web site, pay in Rand and the whole thing.... ------------- "Arms and the man I sing." -Virgil, The Æneid |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: August 27 2014 at 4:21am
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*ahem* Gents, is this any help? http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7006" rel="nofollow - http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7006 ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: W.R.Buchanan
Date Posted: September 21 2014 at 9:19am
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Hi guys,,, This is my first post here but I am known by some I have seen here from Cast Boolits.com. 303guy being a buddy from that site. I just completed my redo of a #4Mk1 Sporter I picked up at a local gunshop. I have Cast boolits from Lyman mould 314299 from Wheel Weights with 2% tin added. Am in the process of loading them as we speak. I have been shooting 311299 in my .308's, .30-06 Springfields, and Garands for many years with no barrel wear visible. They are lubricated and lead is much softer than any jacketed bullet so there isn't going to be any barrel wear. My lead contains no amount of impurities. I am also looking for some Hornaday 174 gr RNSP's and Woodleigh 215 gr RNSP's as well, for hunting loads. The Cast Boolits will be used for all shooting other than hunting and I expect great accuracy from this gun. The only real difference between this gun and my others which exhibit excellent accuracy is the fact that this one spins the Boolit in the opposite direction. IE Left Hand twist. Look forward to shooting this one a lot. Randy ------------- It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,, It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: September 21 2014 at 9:17pm
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Welcome aboard, pop over to the intro section & tel us about yourself. http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=21" rel="nofollow - http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=21 ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: W.R.Buchanan
Date Posted: October 19 2014 at 11:32am
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We should be seeing bullets in the next few weeks. Hornady is now producing all of it's lower production bullets, and .303 bullets are among them. Also Woodleigh bullets are arriving soon from AUS. I was told this by in the last week by both Hornady, and Midway. Randy ------------- It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,, It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do. |
Posted By: SW28fan
Date Posted: October 19 2014 at 11:42am
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Midway got a small amount of 180 gr Sierras last week and doled them out I was lucky and got one (the last?) box. ------------- Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: October 19 2014 at 12:29pm
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Good news on the ammo being produced again! THIS time I am going to stock up in spades. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: W.R.Buchanan
Date Posted: October 19 2014 at 1:45pm
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Yes Midway also got some 215 gr Woodleigh's in but they would only let me order 1 box of 50 so I passed. With shipping they would have been nearly $1 ea! I didn't need them that bad as they will be strictly for hunting but I at least needed 100 for load development and hunting. You guys really need to get into boolit casting. If you run out you just go to the garage and make some more. For 99% of your shooting they will fulfill your needs just fine. A completed .303 round loaded with a Cast Boolit is worth about .09 cents US. .03 for gas check on the boolit, .03-4 for the primer and .02 for the powder. The vast majority of my shooting with Centerfire Rifles and handguns is done with boolits that I cast myself. .30-30,.308,.30-06, .303Brit, 44 and 45 pistols and .45-70. I know it sounds complicated but after you get set up (< $100) you can make good boolits quickly. Lyman has a new Cast Boolit Handbook that they just revised for the first time since 1978 and it has virtually everything you need to know about the subject. I started with a Lee .44 cal. mould, a lead dipper, and small cast iron pot used on my kitchen stove. I made thousands of boolits with that setup. I shot every one of them thru my S&W M29 revolver. I still have all those tools, except now my wife would make me use my little one burner Coleman Stove outside. I have much more equipment accumulated over 40+ years, but I could go back and make good boolits with the above mentioned stuff at a Camp Site if I needed to and load them with a Lee Loader. I started Casting Boolits in 1976. I find it to be one of the most interesting facets of the shooting hobby. About the only factory ammo that I shoot now is .22LR. and I can load any of my Centerfire rounds for less than .22's are currently going for. Randy   ------------- It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,, It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do. |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: October 19 2014 at 4:42pm
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I would love to get some of your recipes for .303 , 30-06 , 30-30 ,308 cast !!! I have been trying some for the .303 and the .308 but thought you may have something that is better than what I have found !! ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: W.R.Buchanan
Date Posted: October 20 2014 at 12:12am
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Kresten: I am currently using 20.5 gr of 5744 powder with Lyman 314299 boolits for the .303. Still refining that load as it still needs some work. For the .30-06 it is 25 gr of 5744, and the .308 gets 21 gr of the same powder and the boolit is 311299 which is the same as 314299 except .003 smaller. For .30-30 the load is Lyman 311041 175 gr with 20 gr of 5744. I use a lot of 5744 just because it gives consistent results across many cartridges. I also have 10 lbs of it. there are plenty of other powders that will give good results in these cartridges 2400 being one. If you get ahold of some older Lyman Reloading Manuals they will show lots of loads for common IMR powders in these cartridges. I got some from Lyman 45, which I have had since 1976. There is also good information for Cast in these cartridges in Lyman 49 which is the current edition. 5744 didn't exist as we know it in 1976 but it is very popular now due to it's lack of negative issues when loaded. It is not position sensitive at all. It will leave some unburned powder in the barrel depending on your load but that really doesn't do anything negative. It is also not really Heat sensitive to a great degree which is desirable when shooting in hot climates. The powder was originally designed for the 5.56 cartridge as 4475 but was rejected in favor of ball powders which meter better in automated machines. I have used it in .223's but it doesn't flow thru the small neck of the cases very well which was the exact problem it got scrapped by the US Mil originally. It was sold to a Russian who brought it back to the US as 5744 . It eventually ended up at Accurate Powders. It works well in LOTS of cartridges for midrange type loads like cast boolits. Randy ------------- It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,, It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do. |