Thread: Hand loading for 303

Took my recently purchased Enfield no3 or mk3 can't remember the proper name for it out for a shoot last weekend was managing to hit a 200m gong with it using irons and cheap ppu ammo so now got some brass what's a good load you guys have found that works

Photo of the rifleand ill give you my "secret personal load"

Ppu’s good brass.
I use 150gr Speers SP’s seem to suit my No1 MK111 well ( me too )
I have a nice soft AR2208 load for it.
As MH said, pics required !

Nothing wrong with that brass at all, with neck sizing only and not going too excessive in the loads (coupled with the odd annealing) and ive got brass thats lasted in excess of 20 reloads...... if you really want good brass try and find the old Canadian tracer ammo, get rid of the projectile and the cordite and reload that puppy for a LONG time!

Ive batch my ammo to specific LE's and the brass fire forms to that rifle and then it stays with that rifle, one trick to help keep an eye on brass life is that you can look for the ring of "arrgg F**K" near the base of the case or before you get caught out is get a paperclip, straighten it out and bend one end about 2-3 mils from the end at right angles, then you can use this as a feeler on the inside of the case to give you some warning around potential case separation / case life! I cut a once fired case length way to get a better visual idea on where the case separation was happening and then used the feeler to get an idea on the stretching that was happening. i hope that made sense?

I will have a hunt around for load data as well

All matching numbers as well

Originally Posted by Tertle

Nothing wrong with that brass at all, with neck sizing only and not going too excessive in the loads (coupled with the odd annealing) and ive got brass thats lasted in excess of 20 reloads...... if you really want good brass try and find the old Canadian tracer ammo, get rid of the projectile and the cordite and reload that puppy for a LONG time!

Some on Trademe right now. Auction number 1589154643. Trader's name is le303.

Originally Posted by systolic

Some on Trademe right now. Auction number 1589154643. Trader's name is le303.

Actually this stuff it tends to be over-priced, it has a crimp you have to remove so need a tool and its weight is all over the place. I also find with age this brass is failing sooner ie less reloads than new brass. As a result I just buy 100 new PPU brass I think its the best myself.

Bottom looks more "german" than the top one....nice....

Have found 174 match king and 46grn of 2209, fed 210 primer and ppu brass super accurate in my no1 mk3. always start at minimum in these old rifles though and make sure you have good headspace.

good luck!

Originally Posted by timattalon

Bottom looks more "german" than the top one....nice....

Bottom one is its m38 friend

Had headspace checked its good

The original mk V11 used a 174 gr flat base bullet. If I use boat tailed bullets in either my lithgow or long branch no 4 they throw them all over the target, I only get good accuracy with flat base bullets, the 180 prohunters are good for me.. PPU uses a boat tail bullet so if you got good results with them then the matchkings would be an option.

watching this post intently. These are for target shooting I presume not hunting?

Originally Posted by csmiffy

watching this post intently. These are for target shooting I presume not hunting?

Target shooting is very much going depend on the condition of your barrel (and its bedding). The 303brit SMK is over $1 a go but should work in a good barrel. Other options is try 308w HPBT, even 308w FMJs. Load would be around 42gr 2208 for milspec speed which for the resonance is close to what you want but 150~155gr can shoot very well also. My eyes have gone to crap so I cant shoot without a scope these days but a good No4 or P14 should do 1.75~2MOA.