The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I have a newly assembled No4 (lothar barrel) and load 42gr n140 with SMK 174gr bullets in PPU cases, it is spot on up to 600yds on the No4 ladder sight.I haven't shot it further yet.For my older Enfields i load 38r N140 to spare the barrels
42gr was worked up to.

Readers be aware that the above load exceeds Vihtavuori's maximum recommended load for the Sierra 174gn HPBT.

Treat with due caution and work up any loads from tested, safe, data.

Sorry
My No 4 is a brand new build from un issued parts a brand new barrel, 42gr N140 was worked up to VERY carefully.

They are good but they dont have the strength of a lot of modern actions, or some of their contemporaries (look at the KAR98 nice end....built like a bloody tank).

After trashing a lot of brass I soon realised that the modern stuff is not what they were made for and decided to worry about my rifle and good looks....

good looks

Gazoo wrote:good looks

t*@t


I may be ugly but its not that bad!!!


All I am saying is dont risk your boyish good looks (like mine) by trying to take loading risks that you may get away with using a modern heavy barrel and barnard action, with an old (and probably slightly abused) rifle.

That's all

After a fair amount of trails and tribulations I have not been able to find a load that "shoots to the sights" using; N140 powder, 174gr PPU boat tail bullets, PPU cases and CCI primers. I have found a load that closely but not perfectly "shoots to the sights" but unfortunately it sits firmly out side Vihtavuori's maximum recommended load for the 174gn HPBT, which I feel is dangerous...

I'd say it is impossible to truly replicate the ballistic performance of MkVII .303 ammunition using N140 powder, 174gr PPU boat tail bullets, PPU cases and CCI primers. The only way to truly do this and "shoot to the sights, would be to use original spec parts to construct the round. The primary issue is; that whilst still being 174gr and FMJ the bullet used in MK VII ammunition had an aluminum, wood pulp or tenite tip and a lead base, which gave it very different ballistic characteristic to the PPU or Sierra Match King solid core boat tailed bullets.

The standard PPU .303 British round sold off the self today actually is closest in design to MkVIII ammunition, which was specially designed to give the Vickers machine gun extra range when conducting map predicted fire. The main difference being boat tail v's flat base.

I would heed the advice on here and stay in the manufactures recommendations. Also BES bullets do produce a 174gr .303 bullet that is much closer to the specs of the MKVII round. I am yet to use them but they may produce the holy grail of a round that truly mimics the MKVII...

PSB for a diagram of the MKVII round pinched from WIKI.