Thread: Working up a load workflow

Calm the farm please!

Greetings Bumblefoot,
Having read through this thread and revisited your earlier one I suspect your head may be spinning. Hopefully, without adding any more confusion, here is my take on loads and loading the .303 with a Lee Loader.
Case Prep.
Sort out a batch of your empties with the same head stamp and decap them and give them a good clean. A rub with a Scotchbrite to any grubby area and a buff up with a Chux is all you need. Next try them in your rifle chamber to ensure the bolt closes without too much effort. If it doesn't you will need to find someone with a press and a .303 FL die to size them just enough to chamber. Trim them with your Lee trimmer and chamfer inside and out, especially on the inside. This helps with seating the projectile. If the primer has been crimped in place you will need to remove the crimp with a small knife. Now you are ready to size.
Sizing and Capping.
Follow the directions that came with your Lee kit and go easy seating the primer.
Loads.
With the 150 grain projectile I would suggest 36 grains of H4895 which is the start load listed By Hodgdon. I have loaded 34 grains of AR2206H, which is exactly the same powder as H4895, which shot very well in my .303. 36 grains should produce about 2,200 fps in your rifle. I would fire some of these loads to check for accuracy and that the fired cases chambered freely. You may also note that the primer has backed out a little. This is good. You may wish to stop at this point but if not you could try 37 and 38 grains of H4895. I wouldn't bother working up in small increments as the aim is to find a load that allow the cases to be reloaded using the Lee Loader and give acceptable accuracy. I used 38 grains of AR2206H behind the 150 grain projectile in my .308 as a soft target load. These were only neck sized and never needed FL sizing. In fact a tight case fired with this load chambered freely thereafter.
In summary I suspect that somewhere between 36 and 38 grains of H4895 you will find a happy spot that gives acceptable accuracy and velocity plus allowing the cases to be reloaded in the Lee Loader repeatedly.
Regards Grandpamac.

@grandpamac Thank you so much. I've got a heap of Highland/PPU brass that has been shot through this rifle. Funny; like a dork I bought a set of full length dies by mistake! I saw the dipper in the ad and automatically thought it was a Lee Loader without reading the ad properly... Dumb-arse moment.... However; the dies have the new 2.8g spoon and charge page which is helpful. I am still thinking about getting a press so will keep the dies in case I have to do the occasional FL re-size. If not; I'll sell them. Here's the new charge sheet

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

@grandpamac Thank you so much. I've got a heap of Highland/PPU brass that has been shot through this rifle. Funny; like a dork I bought a set of full length dies by mistake! I saw the dipper in the ad and automatically thought it was a Lee Loader without reading the ad properly... Dumb-arse moment.... However; the dies have the new 2.8g spoon and charge page which is helpful. I am still thinking about getting a press so will keep the dies in case I have to do the occasional FL re-size. If not; I'll sell them. Here's the new charge sheet

Attachment 178792

Greetings Bumblefoot,
I would definitely hang on to those FL dies. With them you only need to find someone with a press. FL sizing for a .303 takes some care. You only want to size the case just enough to chamber and no more. I start with the die a couple of turns away form the shell holder and turn the die down about 1/8 of a turn at a time until the case just chambers and no more. This is the key to decent case life with the .303. I was without a .303 in my cupboard for almost 40 years but still kept my dies. You just never know when you might need them.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Bumblefoot,
I would definitely hang on to those FL dies. With them you only need to find someone with a press. FL sizing for a .303 takes some care. You only want to size the case just enough to chamber and no more. I start with the die a couple of turns away form the shell holder and turn the die down about 1/8 of a turn at a time until the case just chambers and no more. This is the key to decent case life with the .303. I was without a .303 in my cupboard for almost 40 years but still kept my dies. You just never know when you might need them.
Regards Grandpamac.

This is great info and just what I was going to post when I saw you fretting about having brought full length dies.

@grandpamac Yup; I'd probably just get a Lee Anniversary kit or similar. I just like basic stuff that gets the job done Plus; I'm really ony reloading for the fun and would never go through a heap of rounds because I'm not into target shooting etc.