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Posted: 11/25/2015 10:05:16 AM EDT
[#1]
Sierra Prohunter .311 diameter in either 150 or 180. 180's tend to be more accurate from my now passed on Enfield fanatic friend. The 180 is the only reloaded jacketed bullet I used. I have also dabbled with casting my own for plinking. Lyman 314299 is the mold I used.
The Enfield is reported to do much better with flat base bullets versus boat tailed. I suppose that's due to widely varying bore sizes and needing the extra shank length as a bearing surface. Just a supposition though. |
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Posted: 11/25/2015 10:16:01 AM EDT
[#2]
Hornady makes at least 3, .312" bullets but they don't actually produce them on a regular basis. I use the 150gr PSP and the 174gr RN .312" in my Mosin Nagants. I know other people who use the other 174gr as well. They all work well.
Motor |
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Posted: 11/25/2015 12:03:58 PM EDT
[#3]
My enfield slugs at about .317.
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Posted: 11/25/2015 12:09:47 PM EDT
[#4]
No bullet advice, but watch your brass for stretching near the rim. .303 is hard on brass as it headspaces on the rim and chamber dimensions vary wildly. I'm probably explaining it wrong but just be cautious.
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Posted: 11/25/2015 1:17:21 PM EDT
[#5]
Once you have fire formed the brass to the chamber, then just neck size the brass from that point forward for the rifle. Done this way, you will be a lot of life out of the brass verses full sizing it every time instead.
Ditto on slugging the bore to determine the size. Hence a .312" bullet down a .317" bore is not going to produce the tightest of groups, and may be better off just casting bullets for the barrel in the needed diameter instead (powder coated bullets with gas check will be fine, and not had to lap out a Lee bullet mold to produce a larger OD bullet, as well as polish out a .314" bullet sizer to the needed size as well). As for powder, all depends on the bullet. |
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Posted: 11/25/2015 2:23:24 PM EDT
[#6]
I really like the Hornady 150 gr SP with RL-15.
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Posted: 11/25/2015 3:44:33 PM EDT
[#7]
Are you sure its a 303 there are 308 Lee Enfields.
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Posted: 11/25/2015 4:04:31 PM EDT
[#8]
one caution with the .303 Brit in any enfield... On firing the shoulder is typically blown forward quite a bit, as these usually headspace on the case rim. Full length resizing leads to VERY short brass life and case head separations can happen fast. If you wish to preserve brass, I'd neck size only, ensuring the shoulder isn't resized after firing. You'll do better that way.
If you are just plinking, try any of the various 123-125 Grn .311" bullets intended for the 7.62x39 |
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Posted: 11/25/2015 5:06:58 PM EDT
[#9]
174 grn fmj, and 40-42grn of adi 2208 ( varget ) will get you to the origanal round. We shoot a lot of 303 (311) here in Aus ( my load was 40grn varget, 174fmj privi/ppu pills, cci lrg primer, ppu/privi brass. We mainly shoot the Lithgow mk111 not many enfileds around. But do see them.
As mentioned, fl sizing will shorten its life, depending on the condition of the rifle. Fl size to the min, collet neck size and keep charges to a min. |
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Posted: 11/25/2015 8:34:11 PM EDT
[#10]
Give Sierra's 174 grain Matchkings a try with 42 grains of Varget of RL15 and a CCI BR2 primer.
The Smellys are hard on brass, so neck size after the first firing and don't expect to get but 2-3 firings from a case. |
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Posted: 11/25/2015 9:36:31 PM EDT
[#11]
Out to 600, the MatchKings are good.
Several club members have taken the time to adjust the headspace and get long life out of their brass. A friend has a blog with a few articles on his .303 journey. Here is one to get you started. There are a few more if you are interested. http://dennistalksguns.blogspot.com/2013/11/303-learning-curve.html The Prvi ammo isn't bad as a starting point for loaded brass that is good to keep and reload. Welcome to the affliction. |
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Posted: 11/26/2015 10:26:24 AM EDT
[#12]
To prolong brass life on the 303 Brit you put an "O"
ring on the barrel end of the rim it hold it tightly against the bolt, then you size t only enough to chamber easily; brass lasts way long this way. BTW I've used the .311 150 grain Hornady with good results. YMMV. sdshooter................... |
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Posted: 11/26/2015 10:42:43 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
To prolong brass life on the 303 Brit you put an "O" ring on the barrel end of the rim it hold it tightly against the bolt, then you size t only enough to chamber easily; brass lasts way long this way. BTW I've used the .311 150 grain Hornady with good results. YMMV. sdshooter................... I shoot a bunch of .303, and I get pretty good brass life by doing the o-ring trick to get them to headspace on the shoulder. Good accuracy as well. I've had great luck with my No. 4 Mk. 1/2 with the Hornady 174r FMJBT as well as the Sierra offerings. |
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Posted: 11/26/2015 8:30:51 PM EDT
[#14]
I will third the o-ring suggestions for fire forming the brass. I also size using an old school Lee Loader even though I have two other sets of 303 dies.
My best load is 39gn of H4895 with a Hornady 3130. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 11/26/2015 11:28:20 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My enfield slugs at about .317. +1. Slug your bore, find or have made, a cast bullet mold to fit. Get a lee collet die(or other neck only die), also with the mandrel cut to the correct diameter. Thats what I would do. YMMV. |
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Posted: 11/27/2015 7:31:52 AM EDT
[#16]
That's what i got. I also have a NOE 316299 mold. Drops at .3175 to .318 had a sizing die made at .3165 At the last Military match i took first place with a 196 for WWII. Wish i knew way back about the o-ring. I was using hxp brass. Bought and shot all way back around 1999. They all have the tell tail stretch at the base. Found out some years later that i can change the bolt head to shorten headspace, and did. I took 100 of my brass and with the changed bolt head they would not close in my gun, cases a smidge to long. Took and old FL sizer die and opened up the neck so as not to size it. Also opened up the body so not to size the case. So now all i have to do is when i need some new brass is use this home made body die and size just enough to get it to chamber. Then The collet die will do the trick for awhile.
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