Thread: 17" barrel SMLE powder

Greetings Bumblefoot,
I think we must be cousins. I also started to handload for the .303 recently after swearing of it in the late seventies. Initially a .308 neck sizing die was used followed with a pass with a .303 neck expander button but recently I have gone to a Lee Loader. Currently there are two .303 rifles here, both number 4's called scoped .303 and iron sight .303 here for convenience. Initially the iron sight .303 was loaded with 40 grains of older AR2209 was loaded behind old production 174 grain round noses which chronographed 1,930 feet per second from its 25 inch barrel and was quite accurate. The scoped .303 has been loaded with 32 grains of AR2206H behind new production 174 grain RN. This chronographed 2,080 feet per second and was very accurate from the near new 25 inch two groove barrel. I also tried 150 grain Norma projectiles with 34 grains of AR2206H which chronographed 2,050 feet per second and was also quite accurate.
I made the distinction of old AR2209 as my experience the current production is much faster. Early production Hornady 174 grain round nose projectiles also chronographed 1,950 feet per second in the scoped .303 with all other components the same. Hodgdon publishes data for reduced loads using AR2206H (which it calls H4895). Worth reading. At these speeds AR2206H does burn a little dirty but without any unburned grains left in the bore. I will probably increase these loads a little over time but at this level cases can likely be neck sized just about forever with a candle anneal after each third loading. Head separations are unlikely to be a problem.
Some may believe that any load producing around 2,100 feet per second is likely to bounce of a hare let alone a deer. We need to remind ourselves that Bell shot a shit load of elephants between 1902 and 1914 using a .303 with full patch 215 grain projectiles at this velocity.
Regards Grandpamac.