Thread: Best .303 handload combinations for Lee enfield No4 Mk1

What do you use and is effective for 303 lee enfield?

Primer:
Projectile/bullet:
Casing:
Powder:

Need help as am a newbie to all this want to know what will be the best round for a No4 Mk1

Well it depends what for, Service rifle or target I'd suggest you order Barnaul 174grain flat base FMJs $127ish will get you 400. Or its about $36ish for 100.

At the moment I mostly use 1943 brass but that needs a military primer decrimper tool unless someone has done it for you. Its too irregular in neck dimensions to use a neck bush die so use the Lee neck die, use a wee bit of sizing lube in the inside of the neck every 5 rounds or so.

S&B brass also needs a primer decrimp and apparantly doesnt last long, I'd suggest avoiding it. Im testing some at the moment to see.

That leaves new privy brass $140ish for 100, I have not got any yet but Im about to in the next month or so. Highland is also privy I undersatnd, I have not tried any yet.

I use Federal 210 primers more because its what I can get at a sane price.

I use ADi2208 at starting, about 38grains ~ 38.5grains is fine to 600m.

If you are going to hunt and want a soft point, I'd suggest highland ammo and reload it.

As a note after a summer season of firing 20 x S&B 303 brass and the same 20 x 1943 brass, I have not yet had a S&B brass case fail, but I have had 5 x 1943 brass failures. I also had 20 Winchester brass which I shot about 1/3rd as frequently and 4 failures though that was while resizing them, the neck's collapsed like they were very soft brass.

This summer I intend to shoot privy and Winchester on the range and the above at WSRA.

I use highland brass(I buy 180gn sp-then reload)
Fedeal primers
38.5gn 2208
174gn hornady fmj pill

This is for service rifle, not hunting. When I have in recent years hunted with a 303 I have just used the 180gn highland-but have probably only used one packet for this

How have you found the 180s to shoot?

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

How have you found the 180s to shoot?

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They shoot much closer to mil spec ammo than the 150 stuff. And seem to kill goats just fine
If I had a .303 that was only a hunting rifle is would use the 150gn stuff.

Only asked because I have only tried 150 hunting in my new barrel, thought possibly 180 may shoot better.

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If you're going to be shooting at less than 200m or so, the Hornady 174gr RN is a good choice too (they are a .312 proj, which can be a good choice for a worn barrel).

I use 41gr 2208 with a 150gr Hornady SST for hunting, in my no4 mk1. Shoots inch groups and hits animals hard. Superb for the 100-200 yard range.

cheers L R

Originally Posted by Land Rover

I use 41gr 2208 with a 150gr Hornady SST for hunting, in my no4 mk1. Shoots inch groups and hits animals hard. Superb for the 100-200 yard range.

cheers L R

1 inch MOA would be an exceptionally accurate non-std no4. so how did you achieve this?

Originally Posted by steven

1 inch MOA would be an exceptionally accurate non-std no4. so how did you achieve this?

Hi Steven. I purchased the book on Accurising the Lee Enfield, picked out the bits I thought would help the most. First I bought a semi inletted stock from Boyds USA and finished it to suit. Then I re crowned the barrel. Bedded the barrel, free floating it, bedding the recoil lugs, making sure the trigger guard not touching the sides, bedding the butt stock to the wrist and that's about it. It is sporterised with a Leupold VX! 3x9x40 scope.

Here's the old girl Longbranch No4 Mk1 Lee Enfield. I also have an 1896 LE1 sporterised open sights and a 303-25 no4 mk1 Lee Enfield

my own no4mk1*longbranch 1943 just wont tolerate 150gn rds -sprays em like a mad womens shit .180gn rds though -luvly jubbly-most satisfying to hurl down the range and watch the destruction.Iactually have a 7.62x39norinco as a wee bro to it(both share the same silencer)and its hates 123gn rds ,but is a honey with 125gn loads.
great fun to let a mag of 7.62 go ,then roll sideways and let my heavy artillery speak!!
from what ive gleaned from talking /reading about the longbranch rifles-the 2 land/groove barrels have a reputation for being somewhat temperamental,so its something i just live with. If its gonna be dead at the other end ,idont think 100fps either way is gonna be of concern to the fatality.
actually whilst im here -anyone got a subsonic .303 recipe load.?????

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Originally Posted by Loggie

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