Thread: SMLE 303

YOU gone and done it now Dude...welcome to the rabbit hole....Shootersnz/Robert from Tokoroa is on trademe and sells cast projectiles for really good prices....you could do a hell of a lot worse than make up soft plinking loads using them.... loads of guys are using 7.62x39mm projectiles in 303 brits too...when they work,they work well,being lighter at 123grns the recoil will be less.
food for thought.

I know , I know .... Im a sucker for punishment !

Those Lee Loaders put out good ammo. We used them in several calibers 303 included. What we ended up doing was buying a set of powder scales and loading the rounds a bit hotter than the powder thrower could do. We used these for a fair while until I got a RCBS press. From memory the thrower was about 4-5 grains less than the book max in the 270 I loaded for.

you can buy full set of spoons...the spoon provided with kit will only work with powder listed for it....but I can have a look and see what it will throw with other powders...cause I have the full set and accompanied chart,with about 60 powders listed.
nothing wrong with loads 4-5grns below max either for a case that takes 50-60grns LOL

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you can buy full set of spoons...the spoon provided with kit will only work with powder listed for it....but I can have a look and see what it will throw with other powders...cause I have the full set and accompanied chart,with about 60 powders listed.
nothing wrong with loads 4-5grns below max either for a case that takes 50-60grns LOL

Yes you are right they still killed well, back then we didn't know to much about ballistics, it went bang and animals fell over.

When you start reloading it comes with lots of warnings, warnings not to exceed published data, warnings not to improperly store powder, warnings not to use powder that has been improperly stored, warnings not to do anything until you have read all the warnings.

One thing they don’t warn you about,

He who spends $300 on reloading equipment risks spending $3000+ on reloading equipment.

Welcome to reloading

Thanks lads ,
Im waiting for the postman to turn up with it. Been collecting my PPU brass to reload once ive figured out how to. Lots of infrmation on youtube and on here.
Then to find the powder and the projectiles and the primers lol....

So my lee loader turned up..
Punched out the primer on some PPU brass I have saved , then renecked it .....
and that was it as I have no powder or primers yet.
I will punch out all the old primers in the brass I have and sort out some primers and powder and of course some projectiles then post some photos of my new rounds...

Well I've delved back down the reloading rabbit hole and bought a Lee Loader for the old three-oh..... Used to load for it years ago. Be fun to have a play again. What have I done ha ha

Nice one bumblefoot , I punched out all the old primers out of the used PPU brass I had the other night. Was a good education in part of the loading practice.
Been pricing up primers , powders and projectiles ... Not alot around at the moment. I have calculated that I would only save 30 bucks at this stage if i were to load 100 rounds or buy 100 round.
I will keep looking and buy bit by bit of the reloading gear.

but if you buy cast and trail boss and make up plinking loads....or just plain mild loads you will save a heck of alot more.....close to rimfire prices.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

but if you buy cast and trail boss and make up plinking loads....or just plain mild loads you will save a heck of alot more.....close to rimfire prices.

Nope, you'll spend a lot more that you would never have otherwise spent that's what reloading is all about, spending more lol

sorry...you will save more PER ROUND....more bangs for your buck

ive had really good results from using a 303 lee loader, just using the scoop, ar2208 and sierra flat base soft points at 180gr. my parker hale supreme no1 w/scope could shoot moa with them, and my subsequent p14 and uncles old no4 can shoot 3 inch groups consistantly on the sights at 100m.

@ Jusepy
What part of the Manuwatu are you based in?

I am using this lockdown time to build a small portable reloading bench in a box. I have double ups of just about everything due to upgrades over the years so the mobile bench will be fitted with the 2nd 15.

I load .303 too so if it helps I would be happy to visit and help get you started.