.303 British

ammo.crafter · September 24, 2011, 02:51 PM

Anyone have a favorite load for this cartridge?

Is there a parent cartridge that this was derived from?

My "new" son in-law just picked up a pristine .303 from an old timer who was walking into a local gun store to trade in his WW II souvenir.

wogpotter · September 24, 2011, 04:17 PM

I have this 150 Gr load for you. The factory loads were for 174GR FMJ FB but you can't find FB bullets in 174/180gr except for RN types . Some Enfields (mostly with 2-groove barrels) don't like BT bullets so I go with 150 Gr flat bases for my reloading.
The case is unique, but if you need some brass I can probably point yo to someone with some to sell, not me, I'm collecting, rather than dispensing.

150 Gr Hornady HP-FB # 3120 PPU case 38.0gr IMR3031 Fed 210 primer 2500 @ 10'

ammo.crafter · September 24, 2011, 05:11 PM

THX!

bbqncigars · September 24, 2011, 05:15 PM

I would strongly advise that the bore be slugged to determine what the bore diameter is on that gun so you know what will/won't work as far as bullets go. Enfields are rather notorious for variation in bore diameter. For brass, try Midway.

2_Grumpy · September 24, 2011, 07:14 PM

Hi,

I bought new winchester brass a few years ago. The old original brass has the two flash hole primer that make reloading difficult. I used blc-2 powder behind a 135gn hollowpoint made for the .303 (which is actuallu .311)

Adamantium · September 24, 2011, 10:58 PM

My pet load is a 160 grain hardcast lead slug (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=339539) which throws a little large behind 16 grains of 2400 with compressed grits as filler. Smells good as you shoot it

.

All the jacketed bullets I have bought I have measured with my digital calipers. Sierra, Speer, Remington and Hornady have always come up slightly undersized, .309-.310. The only bullet that measures correct (.311) is the Barnes all copper bullet.

Adamantium · September 24, 2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

The old original brass has the two flash hole primer that make reloading difficult

What you are seeing is Berdan primed, which is generally considered not reloadable. Even if you got the primer cup out it wouldn't help you because the anvil is part of the case, which means the commercial primers we buy aren't compatible because they have an anvil built in them.

federali · September 25, 2011, 08:40 PM

The .303 was developed in 1889. To my knowledge, it's an original design and not derived from a parent case. However, this may be debatable as there were many rimmed military cartridges when nations first adopted bolt action rifles. Interestingly, the American .30-40 Krag is based on the .303 British.

September 24, 2011, 02:51 PM	#1
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	.303 British Anyone have a favorite load for this cartridge? Is there a parent cartridge that this was derived from? My "new" son in-law just picked up a pristine .303 from an old timer who was walking into a local gun store to trade in his WW II souvenir. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

September 24, 2011, 04:17 PM	#2
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I have this 150 Gr load for you. The factory loads were for 174GR FMJ FB but you can't find FB bullets in 174/180gr except for RN types . Some Enfields (mostly with 2-groove barrels) don't like BT bullets so I go with 150 Gr flat bases for my reloading. The case is unique, but if you need some brass I can probably point yo to someone with some to sell, not me, I'm collecting, rather than dispensing. 150 Gr Hornady HP-FB # 3120 PPU case 38.0gr IMR3031 Fed 210 primer 2500 @ 10' __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

September 24, 2011, 05:11 PM	#3
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	303 THX! __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

September 24, 2011, 05:15 PM	#4
bbqncigars Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 525	I would strongly advise that the bore be slugged to determine what the bore diameter is on that gun so you know what will/won't work as far as bullets go. Enfields are rather notorious for variation in bore diameter. For brass, try Midway. __________________ "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." A. Brilliant

September 25, 2011, 08:40 PM	#8
federali Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2011 Location: Nassau County NY Posts: 378	The .303 was developed in 1889. To my knowledge, it's an original design and not derived from a parent case. However, this may be debatable as there were many rimmed military cartridges when nations first adopted bolt action rifles. Interestingly, the American .30-40 Krag is based on the .303 British. __________________ Int'l Assoc. of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors

September 24, 2011, 07:14 PM	#5
2_Grumpy Junior Member Join Date: September 24, 2011 Posts: 9	Hi, I bought new winchester brass a few years ago. The old original brass has the two flash hole primer that make reloading difficult. I used blc-2 powder behind a 135gn hollowpoint made for the .303 (which is actuallu .311)

September 24, 2011, 10:58 PM	#6
Adamantium Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 1999 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,021	My pet load is a 160 grain hardcast lead slug (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=339539) which throws a little large behind 16 grains of 2400 with compressed grits as filler. Smells good as you shoot it . All the jacketed bullets I have bought I have measured with my digital calipers. Sierra, Speer, Remington and Hornady have always come up slightly undersized, .309-.310. The only bullet that measures correct (.311) is the Barnes all copper bullet.