Thread: 303 Cordite regulation load modern powder data

I'm just about to start reloading for a 303 double rifle

The regulation load printed on it is
Cordite 31 grains 210 grain Ball

Does amyone have any data that specifically is referenced against the old cordite data ?

I can easily work up the loads from scratch.
But a base line on what this cordite load was doing would be a good starting point.

Out of necessity i will likely use the Hornady 174 grain RN 312 bullet first up.

That change in weight of the projectile will throw your regulated load out the window. Mk vi did about 1950fps with a similar weight bullet if that's any help

Very similar to the .303 MKI-MKVI loads which all used 215grain ball (except MKIII) projectiles with 31 grains of Cordite (although several types were used).
They were all 2,000FPS or thereabouts out of a 30" Long Tom barrel.

so reverse engineer that 303MKI-MKVI load in quickload....... if indeed they were around the 2000fps area the job is so much easier.
guessing that one of the chunky ADI powders will be your friend here.
will have a dig around and see if can find anything more specific load data wise.

Greetings,
In my near new 2 groove .303 barrel 32 grains of AR2206H gave around 2,050 fps with late manufacture 174 grain Hornady RN. The later projectiles are blunter and gave around 150 fps more velocity than old ones that were in stock. .303 velocities are all over the place, perhaps due to differing amounts of throat erosion. Differences of up to 300 fps for the same load were found. Perhaps starting at 32 grains?
Regards Grandpamac.

I remember an article by Jack Lott on using 3031 in 303 singles and doubles to duplicate cordite loads but a quick Google does not bring up much.
Will search old Annuals and see what I can find.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings,
In my near new 2 groove .303 barrel 32 grains of AR2206H gave around 2,050 fps with late manufacture 174 grain Hornady RN. The later projectiles are blunter and gave around 150 fps more velocity than old ones that were in stock. .303 velocities are all over the place, perhaps due to differing amounts of throat erosion. Differences of up to 300 fps for the same load were found. Perhaps starting at 32 grains?
Regards Grandpamac.

interesting looking at ADI/THALES hard data...with 2206....2206h 34 start for 174grn both 2206 and 2206h
180grn has 33 and 34
215grn pill and just 2206 at 35 grn
now the weird bit that jumped out at me...NORMALLY as projectile weight goes UP..powder weight goes DOWN.... the velocities all around 2000-2200fps
so agree with GPM suggestion of 33ish grn start charge....

This could be an option to stick with the regulation speed and weight

Woodleigh .303 British 215gr WC SN

hell yes..almost as good as a taipan........ possibly even better.

Greetings again,
I have also seen it suggested that Cordite and IMR3031 are close in speed. Also but perhaps not much use I loaded 40 grains of old AR2209 with the 174 grain in an older and somewhat worn 5 groove .303 which gave 1,930 fps. This is close to data in a different used .303 and rather less than you would expect based on the Hodgdon data. As said this was old AR2209 and later production is significantly faster. Factory duplication for the 215 grain load listed a velocity of 2,188 fps in the old Lyman Manual. Keep us posted.
GPM.

Greetings Once More,
Any data, let alone pressure tested data is rare for the 215 grain .303 projectile but I did turn up some for the 220 grain in the 30-40 Krag. 43 grains of IMR4350 gave 2,205 fps in a 25.5 inch barrel with a pressure of 38,700 CUP. This is old data from the 1970's. The two cartridges are very alike with similar capacity. I offer it for what it is worth. Also some .303 rifles shoot the .308 dia projectiles well if any 220 grains can be found for a test. I tried 150 grain .308 projectiles in my two groove and they shot OK.
GPM.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Once More,
Any data, let alone pressure tested data is rare for the 215 grain .303 projectile but I did turn up some for the 220 grain in the 30-40 Krag. 43 grains of IMR4350 gave 2,205 fps in a 25.5 inch barrel with a pressure of 38,700 CUP. This is old data from the 1970's. The two cartridges are very alike with similar capacity. I offer it for what it is worth. Also some .303 rifles shoot the .308 dia projectiles well if any 220 grains can be found for a test. I tried 150 grain .308 projectiles in my two groove and they shot OK.
GPM.

Yes i treat the 303 and 30-40 krag as one and the same

Trouble is i couldn't get heavy RN bullets when i built the 1885 30-40 earlier this year

Seems there are RN 174s in both calibers in stick now

there are 180s around too.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

there are 180s around too.

Yes
Options in order of preference would be

Woodleigh 303 215 .312 RN
Speer 303 180 .311 RN
Hornady 303 174 .312 RN

It looks like there are a lot of recipes out there for powder and bullet options

Waiting to hear about the Woodleigh's availabilty

And the rifle is maybe 2 weeks away

Need to find some more decent brass

Some interesting reading.

http://nitroexpress.info/ezine/Nicku...esJackLott.pdf