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What’s your faverite bullet weight ?
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Ed Hill View Drop Down
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Points: 1394 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Hill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2006 at 10:29am
OK to stay on topic I should firmly say that Enfield rifles are useful as bear protection.
There was an article in the Seattle Times last summer, not only do bears have a good nose, they have pretty good eyes and a keen memory. One had developed a taste for a local beer (Ranier Ale) and would break into cars where the beer was visible. In several cars, he left 6 packs of Budweiser but took the Ranier Ale.
Ed
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Points: 9680 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2006 at 12:46pm
Hey! I read bout that! They even had a commercial bout that on T.V a while back!(Wait a minute....ya don't think he was TRAINED, do ya?)
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Points: 1394 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Hill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2006 at 12:54pm
Hoadie, the dang things are smart. I saw video of Yosemite park where the bears could recognize the "pop out" rear windows on mini vans, and did indeed pop them out. Insert claws, twist, and in the van in 10 seconds. They can also recognize what an ice chest looks like under a blanket!
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hoadie View Drop Down
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Points: 9680 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2006 at 1:11pm
Oh yeah.I KNOW theys smart!.Ever seen one around a bait barrel? You aughta hearthe stories I get from the Ministry of Nat Res. rangers!!
If you look @previous page, I talk bout file footage they showed us when I wuz a cadet(before we ended up in the wild).
The fact is - they got brains to go with that muscle!
I dunno if you ever hunt for bear, or hunt where bear is, but you REALLY get a funny feeling when the dog smells bear, sits down & starts shakin!!!
(Thats when your glad you got your trusty L/E!!)
Did you see the news videos of that guy trapped in his cabin last spring - bein attacked by POLAR BEARS !!?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2006 at 5:04pm
I suppose when it comes down to it Bears are of the Pig family & pigs are said to be one of the most intelligent animals ! I recon that you'd be wel armed with a .303 & 180 gn bullets though to take one on. I would say they would expand enough to do the Job.

    Dave
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hoadie View Drop Down
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Points: 9680 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2006 at 10:51pm
Yeah - Polar bears are MUCH bigger than blacks - & the Inuit(Eskimos) have NO trouble puttin 'em down with gov't ammo.They're issued L/E's by the Cdn gov't, along with ammo.(Believe it or not-THEY are supposed to be OUR northern line of defense!)
Course, why N E 1 would WANT to invade thru the north baffles me.We should just put a customs station upthere, & if N E 1 wants to invade in winter, customs could tell 'em,"sorry-we're closed.You'll have to come back in spring." That should give us time to get the YANKS up there!
Although, the Inuit DO prove they're worth, quite a bit.They're always the ones to save your bacon when it comes time for military exercises.They're also the ones that (somehow) seem to know where a plane has crashed & usually are on site before S & R can find 'em!
But they sure get a charge outta Black soldiers when they're up there for exercises!Everything is WHITE.Snow, parkas, sleds, boots, even your rifle is wrapped in white.In the middle of it all, are these black faces.They find that an endless source of fascination.& they LOVE to get the Black guys to laugh.The big white teeth & big white eyes in that venue just cracks them up.
hoadie
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180gr you say...has anybody shot Igman .180 softpoints?  They're the only box of .303 Brit's that I can find out here for less than 15$...
Defend your right to arm bears!

Do you know what the chain of command is? It's a chain that I beat you with if you don't do what I say...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 31 2006 at 10:38am
Originally posted by Dukeoflawnchair Dukeoflawnchair wrote:

180gr you say...has anybody shot Igman .180 softpoints?  They're the only box of .303 Brit's that I can find out here for less than 15$...


 This is the reason I advacate reloading the .303 as there just is'nt the sources of what I feel to be flexable ammo avalible ! Igman is a brand unknown to me so I really can't give a opinion on them but I'm sure one of the other Canucks will be able to help on this one!

     Dave
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hoadie View Drop Down
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Points: 9680 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 31 2006 at 12:15pm
Right-O, I usually buy Remington, or Winchester - factory loads. I PREFER 150 grn.People will argue with me. Always sayin: If U MUST use .303-use 180grn.So I do have some 180 grn in inventory. But theres Always 2-1 150 grn vs 180 grn in the cabinet.
As a re-enactor, we used to host an event outside of Rochester.N.Y.(They still do) N E way-few years back, we started having an interunit shoot.150th Ny,144th Ny vs 22nd Va.Once the tourists left,we'd have a competition.Stipulation: Must be military issue, No scopes, No autos.The prize:a keg of beer. I wold bring my 1916 L/E(Vimy Ridge vetern).
The 150th & 140th started to complain.:"your not gonna bring that AS*H**E with that stupid British Rifle again, R U ?!"
Well, it don't take roket science to figger it out!
We were gettin drunk - every year - @ they're expense!
Most yanks just don't understand the value of the Enfield!(Gets back to their:NOT INVENTED HERE mantra.Damn near cost us the war!!)
But I digress...Most places sell .303 Brit@ $18.00(Cdn) box 20.
So,If U R gonna shoot alot - do like Dave says...Buy a loader etc.
Hoadie



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Drax View Drop Down
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Points: 15 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Drax Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 28 2025 at 11:39pm
180 is what I use.
But regardless of preference, if it's between 123grn and 220grn and at optimum velocity it's going to hurt. Angry
Jobs not done until you've bled on it.
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Points: 1737 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sapper740 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 31 2025 at 3:56am
Great thread to revive, thank you Drax.  Lately I've been in the unfortunate position of working up very accurate loads for one or more of my Lee Enfields just to have the manufacturer discontinue the bullet.  Two cases in point:  My Long Branch absolutely loves the Hornady 150 gr. SSI shooting into 1 MOA from a Lead Sled only to have Hornady discontinue the bullet.  My CLLE loves the 180 gr. LeHigh solids only to have, yes you guessed it, the bullet discontinued.  Moving forward I'm going to stick with the tried and true 174 gr. SMK for target shooting.  
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hoadie View Drop Down
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Points: 9680 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 31 2025 at 1:05pm
I use factory loads. I use 150m grn for deer & 180 for moose.
Thats more than ample.
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Drax View Drop Down
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Points: 15 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Drax Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 27 2025 at 7:36pm
he!!o Sapper740.
I've never been recoil shy with 303's.
My only hunting Enfield has been shortened and lightened to the point that it feels more like a standard 22. (Just what I want for thick bush).
Even with its original brass butt and 180grn'ers I find it quite manageable.
But... your 30-06, how did you lot put up with 220grn coming out of an "03" ?
Jobs not done until you've bled on it.
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Sauron View Drop Down
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I'm going to work up a load with PPU 180gr SPBT bullets.  Factory PPU ammo using those bullets got me the below results at 75 yards with the iron sights on my new No4 MK2.  Minus the flyer on the left the group is slightly more than 1/2".   Including the flyer, it's still just a bit less than an inch.  I'll take it.   :)

I don't have any Hodgdon 4895 or Varget handy.  What's the collective wisdom between those two choices?  They're both pretty versatile powders.

Best,
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britrifles View Drop Down
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For 174 and 180’s, I use Varget.  40.0 gr With 174’s has given me 10 shot groups of 1 to 1.5 MOA out of several of my No. 4 rifles. 

This was out of my No. 4 T before I started messing with it! 10 shots in just under 1 MOA. Not average, but about as good as it gets for 100 yds. 
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Points: 90 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sauron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 29 2025 at 10:14am
Nice!  Time to buy some Varget.  

Best,
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