Page 2 of 3
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:49 pm
by Mike357
dromia wrote:
Cast boolits is the way to go to get the best from your rifle.
[/quote]
Dromia, where can I get cast boolits from? I've done a little hunting around and most suppliers appear to be in the US?
Thanks!
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:35 am
by woody_rod
BUy a mould and make some?
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:39 am
by Mike357
:-) Woody, good come back.
I would if I could be bothered so I guess there lies the problem. Easy options work for me.
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:01 am
by ovenpaa
I am with you on this one Mike, I would like to try a handful of cast boolits in one of my .303's and finding a supplier to enable me to test some loads would be handy before going down the route of pinching lead off the local church roof and messing up frying pans on the cooker.
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 3:38 pm
by dromia
Try Dodgy Rog (Double lube Boolits) on 07941022346.
He does a good selection of rifle boolits mainly because he keeps borrowing my moulds.
Mention my name............. he'll charge you double. :lol:
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:59 pm
by Mike357
Just about finished all the old mil surp ammo I got with the No5. The groups were awful at 100 yds on Sunday but it was really windy and my technique may have been questionable
Having shot the 174grn bullets, I'm not bothered by the recoil so I am not going to download, no point really!
Ovenpaa, I would like to try some of your Spitzers if the offer is still open, shall I PM you?
I have some 180s coming my way and dies so am almost ready to get reloading. Should I stuck to some of the charges already mentioned or does anybody have any additional recommendations?
Dromia, I will try out some cast boolits too when I eventually get round to speaking to Rog
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:17 pm
by ovenpaa
Mike357 wrote:Ovenpaa, I would like to try some of your Spitzers if the offer is still open, shall I PM you?
You should if only to remind me :lol:
I need to write a list of what I need to take with me. I am meeting up with Dodgyrog on Sunday so I wonder if the F-B(UK) underground network can get the up to you? If not I can soon pop them in the post.
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:23 pm
by Mike357
ovenpaa wrote:Mike357 wrote:Ovenpaa, I would like to try some of your Spitzers if the offer is still open, shall I PM you?
You should if only to remind me :lol:
I need to write a list of what I need to take with me. I am meeting up with Dodgyrog on Sunday so I wonder if the F-B(UK) underground network can get the up to you? If not I can soon pop them in the post.
I will probably be meeting Rog too in the next week or two so if you could give the Spitzers to him then that would be fantastic and sazes the hassle of postage. Quite a network we have in FBUK
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 6:56 am
by Jenks
dromia wrote:Mike357 wrote:Many thanks for the kind offer. I'll keep that in mind. Do you know how much powder is the military 174gr ball ammo?
Depends on manufacturer, cordite was used a lot. Around 44 strands were made into a "rope" and a measured length (1.55" - 1.6") weighing around 37.5 grains was cut into the case. If nitro cellulose was used the nominal weight was around 41gns. Obviously the charge would be adjusted slightly to give the speccied perfomance depending on the batch of propellant. This is for MkVII ball.
Cast boolits is the way to go to get the best from your rifle.
I've had over a dozen genuine No 5s through my hands over the years and never found them to have any accuracy problems, all giving at least 4" groups at 100 yrds with issue ball. Two inch groups were possible with handloads and I'm sure some most would do better again with more load development and better sights.
Below, a cartridge recovered from the battle field at Loos. It was given to me along with some other bits and pieces by a French Farmer whilst I was walking the line of advance made by the 1/4th Leics on October 13th 1915. Could even have been dropped by my Great Uncle. The cordite was wet, but once dried a strand burnt as vigourously as the day the cartridge was loaded.
Jenks
Re: 303 loads in a Jungle Carbine
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:20 pm
by John25
Mike357 wrote:Just about finished all the old mil surp ammo I got with the No5. The groups were awful at 100 yds on Sunday but it was really windy and my technique may have been questionable
Having shot the 174grn bullets, I'm not bothered by the recoil so I am not going to download, no point really!
Ovenpaa, I would like to try some of your Spitzers if the offer is still open, shall I PM you?
I have some 180s coming my way and dies so am almost ready to get reloading. Should I stuck to some of the charges already mentioned or does anybody have any additional recommendations?
Dromia, I will try out some cast boolits too when I eventually get round to speaking to Rog
I use 42.4gr Accurate 2520 pushing a S&B 180gr FMJ. in my Indian 'copy' number five
Haven't chrono'd it but it knocks the centre out at 100 and 200.
Once scored three consecutive 'V' bulls at 900x!! with my Stirling bayonet fitted as a stabiliser. (I stopped then)
It thumps a bit!