.303 British Service Load

Rick Mountford · March 19, 1999, 07:02 AM

I recently purchased a No4 Mk1* my first. I am looking to shoot it in Service Arms Competition and am starting to develop Hand Loads. Anyone with info on what was the standard military load, I.E. bullet weight and velocity. Also I gather the Mk1 micro sight is in 1 minute clicks is that correct?

RJ in Rome NY · March 20, 1999, 11:12 AM

Rick - What powders and bullets do you have to work with ?? Is the rifle new or used?
and how old is the rifle? what distances are we talking here??

Rick Mountford · March 20, 1999, 03:09 PM

RJ

The rifle is a 1950 Long Branch unfired till I got it. Canadian Service arm compettions entail firing in prone, sitting and kneeling positions from 200 - 500 Yards in deliberate, snap and rapid strings. I understand that the Military match Load was 174 Gr but am considering going with that or 150 gr, I have acess to BLC(2), H380 and Varget at this time.

RJ in Rome NY · March 21, 1999, 07:35 AM

OK then...
In the Hogdons Manual ...
It shows.. for the 150 gr jacketed bullets
Starting Loads :
H380 40.5 --> 2387 fps
H335 44.0 --> 2574 fps
BL-C(2) 45.0 --> 2604 fps

You can work your way up from there..
also.. With those distances I would
suggest Spire Point Boattails for the
bullets, although with those velocities
I'm not sure you really have to worry
about the bullet going subsonic..
I'll try to do some ballistic plots and
email them to you for some various types
of bullets..
Ball powders have typically been the most accurate for me so far...
Do you have a specific type of bullet you plan to use? What type of target are you shooting at?? More to follow.. I'm off to
look at the ballistics graphs and sun-sonic velocities..

RJ in Rome NY · March 21, 1999, 07:40 AM

Thats sub-sonic , not sun... hehehe
One other thing I noticed..
The factory duplication load mentioned in the
lyman manual consists of a 180 jacketed SP
loaded with 44.0 gr of IMR4320..
Tho I would suggest starting at 40.0 and working your way up... SOP down 10% and work up .. BTW .. all disclaimers apply of course.
But I did look carefully and take the data from the manuals..

RJ in Rome NY · March 21, 1999, 07:55 AM

According the the ballistics program with a SPBT , 150 gr with a ballistic coef of .405
your transonic range is 784 yards.. no worries there.. however I hope the sights are
very adjustable..

because when zeroed at 500 yards.. the mid-range trajectory height
is 25 inches.. I use kentucky windage alot..
but not on that shot

with a 300 zero the mid-range traj is about 7 inches.. maybe you can find two or three settings that would work .. like zero for 250 and 350 and 500
and use the trajectories... Are there specific distances you shoot ? or does it vary from match to match??

March 19, 1999, 07:02 AM	#1
Rick Mountford Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 1999 Location: Ottawa,Ont Canada Posts: 5	I recently purchased a No4 Mk1* my first. I am looking to shoot it in Service Arms Competition and am starting to develop Hand Loads. Anyone with info on what was the standard military load, I.E. bullet weight and velocity. Also I gather the Mk1 micro sight is in 1 minute clicks is that correct?

March 20, 1999, 11:12 AM	#2
RJ in Rome NY Member Join Date: March 7, 1999 Location: Rome, NY, USA Posts: 16	Rick - What powders and bullets do you have to work with ?? Is the rifle new or used? and how old is the rifle? what distances are we talking here??

March 20, 1999, 03:09 PM	#3
Rick Mountford Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 1999 Location: Ottawa,Ont Canada Posts: 5	RJ The rifle is a 1950 Long Branch unfired till I got it. Canadian Service arm compettions entail firing in prone, sitting and kneeling positions from 200 - 500 Yards in deliberate, snap and rapid strings. I understand that the Military match Load was 174 Gr but am considering going with that or 150 gr, I have acess to BLC(2), H380 and Varget at this time.

March 21, 1999, 07:35 AM	#4
RJ in Rome NY Member Join Date: March 7, 1999 Location: Rome, NY, USA Posts: 16	OK then... In the Hogdons Manual ... It shows.. for the 150 gr jacketed bullets Starting Loads : H380 40.5 --> 2387 fps H335 44.0 --> 2574 fps BL-C(2) 45.0 --> 2604 fps You can work your way up from there.. also.. With those distances I would suggest Spire Point Boattails for the bullets, although with those velocities I'm not sure you really have to worry about the bullet going subsonic.. I'll try to do some ballistic plots and email them to you for some various types of bullets.. Ball powders have typically been the most accurate for me so far... Do you have a specific type of bullet you plan to use? What type of target are you shooting at?? More to follow.. I'm off to look at the ballistics graphs and sun-sonic velocities..

March 21, 1999, 07:40 AM	#5
RJ in Rome NY Member Join Date: March 7, 1999 Location: Rome, NY, USA Posts: 16	Thats sub-sonic , not sun... hehehe One other thing I noticed.. The factory duplication load mentioned in the lyman manual consists of a 180 jacketed SP loaded with 44.0 gr of IMR4320.. Tho I would suggest starting at 40.0 and working your way up... SOP down 10% and work up .. BTW .. all disclaimers apply of course. But I did look carefully and take the data from the manuals..

March 21, 1999, 07:55 AM	#6
RJ in Rome NY Member Join Date: March 7, 1999 Location: Rome, NY, USA Posts: 16	According the the ballistics program with a SPBT , 150 gr with a ballistic coef of .405 your transonic range is 784 yards.. no worries there.. however I hope the sights are very adjustable.. because when zeroed at 500 yards.. the mid-range trajectory height is 25 inches.. I use kentucky windage alot.. but not on that shot with a 300 zero the mid-range traj is about 7 inches.. maybe you can find two or three settings that would work .. like zero for 250 and 350 and 500 and use the trajectories... Are there specific distances you shoot ? or does it vary from match to match??