Thread: How short on a 303?

Heys guys,

Want to follow this up. I have just switched jobs so have time on my hands again to get out hunting and follow up on all my ramblings...

Please let me know if I have anything wrong regarding my rifle as my Enfield Fu is weak.

So big thanks to @gundoc who shortened my PH Deluxe in 303 to 16", threaded and mounted a rail on the gun.

I have put a Sig Sauer W3 3-9x40 on with sun optics alloy rings and have been reloading with some 150 grain Hornady interlocks with 40 gr of WW748, BM2 and AR2208. I used the hornadys as they were in my projectile box and are .312" which is good for the old girl. I used some once fired PPU and S&B some of which was donated...yeah there were dramas.

I tried some 212gr cast lead from @shooternz with 30gr AR2208 but will need to up the charge as the LabRadar was set to Rifle and couldn't aquire (below 1800 fps IIRC). Groups were 4" plus so need to crank them up a bit or try some W748.

So factory S&B 150 gr is shooting one ragged hole at 50m and 1" or less at 100m which I was pleasantly suprised by. Av Vel from the 16" BBL and ASE Utra 2325 fps.

WW748 4" groups and 2010 fps @ 100m
AR2208 3" groups and 2310 fps @ 100m
BM2 1-1.5" groups and 2380 fps @ 100m



Nice and handy



I suffered from the classic case head separation and managed to remove it with some CRC Penetr8 and a 28 ga brass brush on a short rod.

Apparently this issue is widely known and can be avoided by only reloading brass fired in your gun and by running a small wire or paperclip into the fired cases to 'feel' if there is a rim / doughnut developing when the brass flows forward.

I have heard neck sizing should prevent this (to a point) and have on hand a 30 cal neck die and that will work well enough on the once fired brass to try to prevent this problem, I don't think 6 thou will be an issue... The R hand loaded round has been neck sized by the .308 Neck die and you can see the base of the bullet at the neck / shoulder junction. This was a test on a shagged bit of brass with a rim on the inside to see if it works.

Will see how they go...

F

there is in deep dark recesses of my memory a method using braces rubberbands (teeth braces) on the case for first firing to hold it against bolt face...and resizing appropreately from there on in.... someone with better memory than mine will know it.
very tidy rifle...good on ya for giving old girl a new lease on life.....
was using the same S&B factory stuff the other day..the projectiles look shorter than other fmj types we had misfire issues till gave bolt a plurry good dung out.

Use an o ring to hold the case against the bolt headfor the first firing. Neck size from that point on. I shoot 220 grain cast at 1800fps and don't size the neck at all. Most 303 have a .314 bore or bigger and using a 308 projectile will not be accurate.

Originally Posted by Driverman

Use an o ring to hold the case against the bolt headfor the first firing. Neck size from that point on. I shoot 220 grain cast at 1800fps and don't size the neck at all. Most 303 have a .314 bore or bigger and using a 308 projectile will not be accurate.

@Driverman O ring right down by the rim?

Originally Posted by Driverman

Use an o ring to hold the case against the bolt headfor the first firing. Neck size from that point on. I shoot 220 grain cast at 1800fps and don't size the neck at all. Most 303 have a .314 bore or bigger and using a 308 projectile will not be accurate.

Get the headspace checked if an O ring will let the bolt close you have a headspace problem, .303's headspace on the rim not the shoulder

correct but what fellas are doing is letting case grow on first firing and then keeping it long and sort of partial length resizing (minimal case movement) from there on in so brass lasts longer as its a close fit to chamber to begin with and isnt getting worked so much....

It's not the working of the case by sizing that causes case head failure it's flexing of the case by the Lee Enfield action that causes it,
cases last longer in the P14 action as it does not flex, using mild loads will help the original cartridge was loaded with black powder
also the military only use cases once, nobody reloaded the .303 until the mid 1960's, it amazes me that anyone still uses the .303
for hunting with the availability of much better cartridge/rifle combinations,
I'm not complaining I sell a lot of cast bullets to .303 shooters just surprised how many are still in use.

Originally Posted by shooternz

It's not the working of the case by sizing that causes case head failure it's flexing of the case by the Lee Enfield action that causes it,
cases last longer in the P14 action as it does not flex, using mild loads will help the original cartridge was loaded with black powder
also the military only use cases once, nobody reloaded the .303 until the mid 1960's, it amazes me that anyone still uses the .303
for hunting with the availability of much better cartridge/rifle combinations,
I'm not complaining I sell a lot of cast bullets to .303 shooters just surprised how many are still in use.

It's probably the nostalgia. Playing Barry crump and the whole experience of hunting with an old rifle. I plan on getting a good one using it in the bush.

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Originally Posted by shooternz

It's not the working of the case by sizing that causes case head failure it's flexing of the case by the Lee Enfield action that causes it,
cases last longer in the P14 action as it does not flex, using mild loads will help the original cartridge was loaded with black powder
also the military only use cases once, nobody reloaded the .303 until the mid 1960's, it amazes me that anyone still uses the .303
for hunting with the availability of much better cartridge/rifle combinations,
I'm not complaining I sell a lot of cast bullets to .303 shooters just surprised how many are still in use.

well please excuse me as i find my beloved no4mk1.303 is extremely effective for composting possums.in fact the last one that got a 18ogn RN blowjob ended up spread as a fine mist over nearly two grid squares..not that DOC would thank me for it. they also make an extremely effective chainsaw in an emergency!-namely removing dead possums from high up trees too high for this podgy wee bastard to climb!

seriously ive had more than one case separate at the head
.Ive actually got a.303 shell remover from my TF days -but a rat tailed rasp will suffice if youre bloody desperate.
me -inspect all brass........ minute shiny ring in front of rim..... -biff it no shaggin round!
i rank the .303 up there with me 12g as my heavy artillery.
luv it clap of thunder and whoa -bloody great hole if im on form.Its asn allround sensual experience.
alas old thunderguts sulks in the cabinet as the chinese twins 7.62x39&.223 often get a wee workout instead.

Originally Posted by shooternz

It's not the working of the case by sizing that causes case head failure it's flexing of the case by the Lee Enfield action that causes it,
cases last longer in the P14 action as it does not flex, using mild loads will help the original cartridge was loaded with black powder
also the military only use cases once, nobody reloaded the .303 until the mid 1960's, it amazes me that anyone still uses the .303
for hunting with the availability of much better cartridge/rifle combinations,
I'm not complaining I sell a lot of cast bullets to .303 shooters just surprised how many are still in use.

Actually performance is only a little behind the .308. For pest goat shooting a 303 is probably still one of the best rifles for the job. Fast reload with chargers, speediest bolt action out there, and plenty of energy to tip things over.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Actually performance is only a little behind the .308. For pest goat shooting a 303 is probably still one of the best rifles for the job. Fast reload with chargers, speediest bolt action out there, and plenty of energy to tip things over.

I've got a Marlin XS 7mm-08 and to be honest; prefer using the old "three oh" more..... It's short, I used to use it as a pig gun. It has a 2.5x Weaver on it and still shoots 3" at 100 yards with factory ammo. I've bought a Howa Mini 223 recently, but am seriously thinking of putting a 4x on the .303 and selling the Marlin. I really enjoy using a 74-year old gun to hunt with. And really a .303 through the boiler room is going to kill a deer as dead as a .308

Mind you; I am thinking of buying a Lyman Trade gun or Deerstalker to hunt with; so maybe I'm a bit strange......

^^^Shooting possums out of a tree with a center fire because you’re too fat and useless to climb it?!? And claiming it on a public forum.

Fuck you’re a unit!

Originally Posted by Proudkiwi

^^^Shooting possums out of a tree with a center fire because you’re too fat and useless to climb it?!? And claiming it on a public forum.

Fuck you’re a unit!

Bear in mind it might of had a back drop...


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Originally Posted by tiroatedson

Bear in mind it might of had a back drop...


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Possible but unlikely given the context of the statement.

Originally Posted by Proudkiwi

^^^Shooting possums out of a tree with a center fire because you’re too fat and useless to climb it?!? And claiming it on a public forum.

Fuck you’re a unit!

lookat yourself in the mirror you spot of reject DNA and BTW-to quote me late mum "get the shit off your liver ya git!"
christ youre not a labour voter by any chance??