Thread: 303 reloads

Moving into my next calibre of 303.

Any tips / recommendations ? Just had a look through the ADI catalogue, they're suggesting AR2206H can work, various loads from 125gr - 180gr. Handy for me, got oodles of it so 150gr, from 36gr powder with OAL 2.995", 180gr gets 3.075"

Soley for target shooting, it's not a bush gun, so any suggestions folks ?

I think I was running 44 gr 2208 150gr. Would have to pull one to check

Ive used 2207 and 2208 and settled on 2208 as it's my main powder. Didn't do so well with 130 gr pills (some unburnt bits) but with the 180s mint. Use 43 gr for 150 and 40 for 180
If they recommend it then it'll work. Never noticed any difference in accuracy between them but with a 303 accuracy can be somewhat subjective depending on it's previous life.

The powders to look at are 2208 and 2209. 2209 is presently being considered the "in" powder for target work. Grains will depend on what projectile and also barrel resonance if its a No1, No4 or No5. A pattern 14 (No3) wont care too much.

If its a No4 say somewhere between 39gr and 41gr 2208 on a 174gr target projectile. I know some ppl are using 47gr of 2209 but I have not tried 2209 yet so cannot comment. Start light and work up as per normal.

An Enfield also wont like boat tails very much if its throat is worn which is usual.

A std No4 in good nick should do 2MOA at 100yds and a good highly tuned target one 1moa but they can be cranky f*ckers frankly.

Cheers all, ta

Originally Posted by steven

The powders to look at are 2208 and 2209. 2209 is presently being considered the "in" powder for target work. Grains will depend on what projectile and also barrel resonance if its a No1, No4 or No5. A pattern 14 (No3) wont care too much.

If its a No4 say somewhere between 39gr and 41gr 2208 on a 174gr target projectile. I know some ppl are using 47gr of 2209 but I have not tried 2209 yet so cannot comment. Start light and work up as per normal.

An Enfield also wont like boat tails very much if its throat is worn which is usual.

A std No4 in good nick should do 2MOA at 100yds and a good highly tuned target one 1moa but they can be cranky f*ckers frankly.

Amen to that last line

if you can, try and get Canadian Tracer brass, and keep it specific to that rifle, that brass will last if treated well, hell ive batches for some rifles that I gave up counting the reloads for after well over 20 reloads, admittedly now they have been put aside for lead caste rounds only but still great brass.

also I will see if ive still got a bloody great article on the ADI 2209 and let you know or post it here, well worth a read if I can find it!

2208 for me, I've got a nice soft 150 gr load for playing at the range. Actually outshot a guy with a scope last sunday.
Think all the stars must have been aligned. I tried hard to look casual, like I always shoot that good !

I like 2208 its great powder in pretty much anything from 223 up

Originally Posted by Tertle

Amen to that last line

if you can, try and get Canadian Tracer brass, and keep it specific to that rifle, that brass will last if treated well, !

Just buy privy brass, its way more consistent in weight and volume than old milsurp brass and lasts longer. yep, I have brass per rifle, neck sized so milsurp brass is used in the service rifle as its only 100yds. Privy for long range target no4, Winchester for my Winchester p14. S&B another, no4 etc.

303 mill spc im sure used to be a very big bullet over 200gn im pretty sure in later years they droped it to arround 170gn an expert could tell you more
I had a p14 and i ran that on 175gn smk bullets i think cant remember for sure but the gunsmith told me to shoot heavys for best accuracy to keep with what it was dezined to shoot

174gr flat base was the standard since before WW1. 200~215gr will be round nose and will have a job getting to 600yds as they so drop fast, but carry a huge punch close in apparently.

Also, I have used 150gr 308w hornady FMJs on the target range with good success, it depends on if you have a good barrel or not. The thing is with the 303 is having a flat base that seals the grooves well.

Mk v 215 gr round nose mv around 2000 fps replaced in 1914 by the mk v11 a 174 gr spitzer at around 2450 fps both were flat base bullets

Originally Posted by steven

An Enfield also wont like boat tails very much if its throat is worn which is usual.

Hi Steven. Specifically, why won't the LE like boat tails? Is it related to the accuracy of the projectile? Too much "swing" after the projectile leaves the casing? Just wondering as I have a '43 LE that has seen some work (re barrelled at some stage) and am looking to do reloads to save costs, but don't want to reload with something that may make me look an even worse shot than I currently am . Cheers

39 gns 2208 behind a 174 flat base projectile
Best load for range shooting and is mild to shoot

Originally Posted by misha2001

Hi Steven. Specifically, why won't the LE like boat tails? Is it related to the accuracy of the projectile? Too much "swing" after the projectile leaves the casing? Just wondering as I have a '43 LE that has seen some work (re barrelled at some stage) and am looking to do reloads to save costs, but don't want to reload with something that may make me look an even worse shot than I currently am . Cheers

@misha2001 Simply that a boat tail and the Enfield rifling do not mix well especially when the throat is worn. Now the new Criterion No4 match grade barrels are probably a different case.


BTW, HBC will be making match grade FB 0.312 by the end of the year, Im gagging to try some but HBC are having machinery delivery issues