303 ammo

Drummer101 · July 25, 2010, 09:51 PM

Does anyone know of a good place to buy 303 that is less than a $1 a shot?

The only stuff I can find is at aimsurplus.com

Mike38 · July 25, 2010, 11:52 PM

.303 British or Savage? If .303 British, ammoman.com has 150 grain SP made by Prvi Partisan for 83 cents a round.

**44 AMP** · July 26, 2010, 01:28 AM

R-P .303 British is still less than $20 a box at my local Bi-Mart. Not a lot less, but some.

Ignition Override · July 26, 2010, 01:33 AM

"Ammo-deals", or better yet:
"Ammo-seek".

Clean, reloadable Prvi at about $12/box cost little more than the new shipment of old corrosive surplus-because the surplus that cost .22/rd. back in April '09, when it disappeared, is Now about $.50/round.

Even if I had not learned reloading (five or more reloads with Prvi), just for .303, would not pay those scalper prices for surplus. Cleaning the bore/bolt is not the issue.
Maybe the surplus "click-bangs" are short, and the primers all ignite on the first or second try, but that stuff can not compare with Prvi, especially with a similar price.

golfnutrlv · July 26, 2010, 02:09 AM

You probably already know this, but I gave up. Bought a set of Neck Sizing Dies and reload it.

Best solution in my opinion.

Drummer101 · July 26, 2010, 05:47 PM

And it is a Brit 303.

DougW · July 26, 2010, 10:05 PM

Check Century for their Hot Shot ammo. Also look around for Sellier & Beloit, good stuff. I too would suggest looking into reloading if you want to stay in the .303 for the long term. I started reloading many years ago, and haven't shot anything except my loads for years. I do have a rainy day stash of SA though!

Drummer101 · July 26, 2010, 10:49 PM

I am thinking about reloading soon, the guy who gave it to me had brass because he kept it but never reloaded.

I am hoping to add a Garand and then start reloading 30-06 and 303.

hammie · July 26, 2010, 11:25 PM

Mr Drummer, You didn't mention the rifle. My longbranch arsenal, lee enfield #4 causes incipient head separations on the first firing. My pattern 14 enfield gives reasonable case life.

Glenn Bartley · July 26, 2010, 11:35 PM

I bought an Enfield a couple of months ago, returned it because it arrived damaged. Took an exchange and that one also had issues and I returned it for a refund. I jumped the gun a bit (no pun intended) and bought 100 rounds of 303 British for which I now have no use. If interested, send me an email. I would have listed it in the for sale forums here but see no place to sell ammo. and do not have time right now to read all of the rules of the 3 or 4 for sale forums to see if ammo is okay.

All the best,
Glenn B

Drummer101 · July 26, 2010, 11:37 PM

Part of the reason why I got it for free was because it was not needed by my friend but the deal was that I had to take it to a gun smith. I should hear back in the next day or two.

And about that ammo, I will pm you when I know if all is well (got the money in my back pocket)

josh1978 · September 27, 2010, 10:12 PM

I have 3 orginal boxe's and ammo of western super x 303 savage 190 gr lubaloy soft point bullets and 1 box of orginal 303 savage ammo from the company 190gr,doe's anybody know what there worth cannott find a price anywhere.

rickyrick · September 28, 2010, 10:42 AM

Cabelas, bass pro shops, all have the cheap stuff.

Sellier and Bellot is pretty good but it is loaded mild.
good hunting cartridges are hard to come by.

I think I am going to start handloading as has been suggested in other threads.

Ignition Override · September 29, 2010, 01:39 AM

golfnutlvr has it.
Experienced .303 reloaders claim that Prvi Partizan has thicker brass that Remington, allowing it to be used more times.
My brass shows no wear after at least five (neck-size only).

markj · September 29, 2010, 04:50 PM

Winchester makes a good hunting round for the 303 brit. I have several boxes in my safe. Havent shot the enfield yet.

Tikirocker · September 29, 2010, 05:20 PM

Hammie,

"My longbranch arsenal, lee enfield #4 causes incipient head separations on the first firing."

You've got head space issues and need a bigger bolt head mate ... that will put things to right again. When you look for a replacement, don't just buy the next size up - you need to measure the bolt head you have now and check that any replacement is larger than your current head. Enfield bolt head numbers are a guide only, you have the gauge all of them to make sure they are what you require.

P.S I roll my own ammo ...it's the best way to ensure accuracy and best performance for each rifle.

Tiki.

hammie · September 29, 2010, 07:24 PM

@tikirocker. No I don't mate. I did go up one bolt head size. The headspace is now so tight that I feel resistance chambering new winchester brass. The back of the brass is burnished by the bolt face. If the headspace were any less, I couldn't chamber the cartridge. The problem is a grossly over sized chamber.
When I size with a full length sizing die, I back the die off until the round just starts to easily chamber. That really didn't make much difference in case life. I just quit shooting the #4. I shoot either my pattern 14 or my new ruger #1A, chambered for .303 british. No problems with either one.

Tikirocker · September 29, 2010, 07:34 PM

Hammie,

Yup, if it ain't headspace then an oversize chamber will surely do it ... that's a shame - might be time to hang the old girl up at that rate.

Best, Tiki.

hammie · September 29, 2010, 07:42 PM

@tikirocker: I just saw another thread here where someone mentioned a source of new stainless steel barrels for #4's. I may explore that.

I love the .303 british cartridge. I was lucky enough to get a new ruger #1 chambered for .303 british. I've always wondered why someone didn't chamber a new, modern bolt action rifle for the cartridge. I would think that a remington 700 in .303, would sell fine in the U.S. (at least because of the collector's market), but would really sell like hotcakes in australia and canada.

Tikirocker · September 29, 2010, 07:48 PM

Hammie,

Too right mate ... there is a company in Australia called A.I.A that is making modern updates of the Lee Enfield designed No4's but in 7.62mm. There were many conversions of the No4 for the target rifle clubs here in OZ when barrels went south. I'm one to re barrel in the original caliber as I like to keep my Enfields in original Military spec.

Best, Tiki.

July 26, 2010, 01:28 AM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,432	R-P .303 British is still less than $20 a box at my local Bi-Mart. Not a lot less, but some. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

September 27, 2010, 10:12 PM	#12
josh1978 Junior Member Join Date: September 27, 2010 Posts: 1	303 savage ammo I have 3 orginal boxe's and ammo of western super x 303 savage 190 gr lubaloy soft point bullets and 1 box of orginal 303 savage ammo from the company 190gr,doe's anybody know what there worth cannott find a price anywhere.

September 28, 2010, 10:42 AM	#13
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,378	Cabelas, bass pro shops, all have the cheap stuff. Sellier and Bellot is pretty good but it is loaded mild. good hunting cartridges are hard to come by. I think I am going to start handloading as has been suggested in other threads. __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

September 29, 2010, 01:39 AM	#14
Ignition Override Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: About 20 nm from the Big Muddy Posts: 2,899	golfnutlvr has it. Experienced .303 reloaders claim that Prvi Partizan has thicker brass that Remington, allowing it to be used more times. My brass shows no wear after at least five (neck-size only). Last edited by Ignition Override; September 29, 2010 at 01:45 AM.

September 29, 2010, 07:24 PM	#17
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 979	@tikirocker. No I don't mate. I did go up one bolt head size. The headspace is now so tight that I feel resistance chambering new winchester brass. The back of the brass is burnished by the bolt face. If the headspace were any less, I couldn't chamber the cartridge. The problem is a grossly over sized chamber. When I size with a full length sizing die, I back the die off until the round just starts to easily chamber. That really didn't make much difference in case life. I just quit shooting the #4. I shoot either my pattern 14 or my new ruger #1A, chambered for .303 british. No problems with either one. Last edited by hammie; September 29, 2010 at 07:36 PM.

July 25, 2010, 09:51 PM	#1
Drummer101 Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 943	303 ammo Does anyone know of a good place to buy 303 that is less than a $1 a shot? The only stuff I can find is at aimsurplus.com

July 25, 2010, 11:52 PM	#2
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,757	.303 British or Savage? If .303 British, ammoman.com has 150 grain SP made by Prvi Partisan for 83 cents a round.

July 26, 2010, 01:33 AM	#4
Ignition Override Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: About 20 nm from the Big Muddy Posts: 2,899	"Ammo-deals", or better yet: "Ammo-seek". Clean, reloadable Prvi at about $12/box cost little more than the new shipment of old corrosive surplus-because the surplus that cost .22/rd. back in April '09, when it disappeared, is Now about $.50/round. Even if I had not learned reloading (five or more reloads with Prvi), just for .303, would not pay those scalper prices for surplus. Cleaning the bore/bolt is not the issue. Maybe the surplus "click-bangs" are short, and the primers all ignite on the first or second try, but that stuff can not compare with Prvi, especially with a similar price.

July 26, 2010, 02:09 AM	#5
golfnutrlv Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,347	You probably already know this, but I gave up. Bought a set of Neck Sizing Dies and reload it. Best solution in my opinion.

July 26, 2010, 05:47 PM	#6
Drummer101 Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 943	And it is a Brit 303.

July 26, 2010, 10:05 PM	#7
DougW Member Join Date: May 30, 2007 Location: N. Texas Posts: 86	Check Century for their Hot Shot ammo. Also look around for Sellier & Beloit, good stuff. I too would suggest looking into reloading if you want to stay in the .303 for the long term. I started reloading many years ago, and haven't shot anything except my loads for years. I do have a rainy day stash of SA though!

July 26, 2010, 10:49 PM	#8
Drummer101 Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 943	I am thinking about reloading soon, the guy who gave it to me had brass because he kept it but never reloaded. I am hoping to add a Garand and then start reloading 30-06 and 303.

July 26, 2010, 11:25 PM	#9
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 979	Mr Drummer, You didn't mention the rifle. My longbranch arsenal, lee enfield #4 causes incipient head separations on the first firing. My pattern 14 enfield gives reasonable case life.

July 26, 2010, 11:35 PM	#10
Glenn Bartley Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 283	I bought an Enfield a couple of months ago, returned it because it arrived damaged. Took an exchange and that one also had issues and I returned it for a refund. I jumped the gun a bit (no pun intended) and bought 100 rounds of 303 British for which I now have no use. If interested, send me an email. I would have listed it in the for sale forums here but see no place to sell ammo. and do not have time right now to read all of the rules of the 3 or 4 for sale forums to see if ammo is okay. All the best, Glenn B

July 26, 2010, 11:37 PM	#11
Drummer101 Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 943	Part of the reason why I got it for free was because it was not needed by my friend but the deal was that I had to take it to a gun smith. I should hear back in the next day or two. And about that ammo, I will pm you when I know if all is well (got the money in my back pocket)

September 29, 2010, 04:50 PM	#15
markj Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Location: Crescent Iowa Posts: 2,971	Winchester makes a good hunting round for the 303 brit. I have several boxes in my safe. Havent shot the enfield yet.

September 29, 2010, 05:20 PM	#16
Tikirocker Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2007 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 909	Hammie, "My longbranch arsenal, lee enfield #4 causes incipient head separations on the first firing." You've got head space issues and need a bigger bolt head mate ... that will put things to right again. When you look for a replacement, don't just buy the next size up - you need to measure the bolt head you have now and check that any replacement is larger than your current head. Enfield bolt head numbers are a guide only, you have the gauge all of them to make sure they are what you require. P.S I roll my own ammo ...it's the best way to ensure accuracy and best performance for each rifle. Tiki.

September 29, 2010, 07:34 PM	#18
Tikirocker Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2007 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 909	Hammie, Yup, if it ain't headspace then an oversize chamber will surely do it ... that's a shame - might be time to hang the old girl up at that rate. Best, Tiki.

September 29, 2010, 07:42 PM	#19
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 979	@tikirocker: I just saw another thread here where someone mentioned a source of new stainless steel barrels for #4's. I may explore that. I love the .303 british cartridge. I was lucky enough to get a new ruger #1 chambered for .303 british. I've always wondered why someone didn't chamber a new, modern bolt action rifle for the cartridge. I would think that a remington 700 in .303, would sell fine in the U.S. (at least because of the collector's market), but would really sell like hotcakes in australia and canada.

September 29, 2010, 07:48 PM	#20
Tikirocker Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2007 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 909	Hammie, Too right mate ... there is a company in Australia called A.I.A that is making modern updates of the Lee Enfield designed No4's but in 7.62mm. There were many conversions of the No4 for the target rifle clubs here in OZ when barrels went south. I'm one to re barrel in the original caliber as I like to keep my Enfields in original Military spec. Best, Tiki.