Thread: .303 iron sights, Sporterized Long Tom.

Greetings again,
Some notes on loading for the .303.
From my experience quite small changes in loads can result in large differences in point of impact with lower velocity loads shooting considerably lower so a constant supply of ammo is needed before sights can be adjusted. Handloading the .303 is not for the faint hearted. Chambers are often roomy and full length sizing the cases with the die set down hard on the shell holder can result in case head separations as early as the third firing. This can be got around by neck sizing using loads around the start loads in the Hodgdon data. Cases may still need to be full length sized and trimmed if they are from once fired factory ammo but the full length sizing should be just enough to allow them to chamber freely. Many .303 rifles have long throats due to erosion from the hot burning Cordite in the military ammo. My experience is that these shoot best with round nose projectiles of 174 or 180 grains. Load data for the .303 varies widely but I have found that the Hodgden data is reasonably close to results from my two .303 rifles, both with excellent bores. My current load is 32 grains of AR2206H behind the 174 grain round nose Hornady projectile. This load chronographs around 2,050 fps and is accurate. At some point I will test 34 grains which should deliver around 2,150 fps. Either would be more than adequate for most hunting that would be done with an iron sighted rifle.
Regards Grandpamac.