Reloading .303

[Watcher]

Chaps,

Going to start reloading again over Christmas after many years lay off. Going to load .303 for a No. 1 and a No. 4. Will be using Privi cases, CCI primers and starting at 39 grains of Vit N140. Thinking to use Hornady 174 grain FMJ/BT (no. 3131). For maximum case life planning to neck size only.

Any advice gratefully recieved.

[Steve E]

Watcher;
Keep the brass for each rifle separate. No1s and No4s usually have 'generous' chambers and intermixing the cases between rifles is not a good idea. I use the Hornady 174 in both a No4 Mk2 and a P14. I can hold the TR 'V' bull out to 800yds with the P14 but the No4 is quite a bit looser, it will still hold the Classic 'V' bull though. Using a Sierra 174, both rifles shoot tighter. That is beacuse the Sierra are .311'' whilst the Hornady are.3105''. The bullet diameter does make a difference.
My No4 is away being rebarrelled with a new Lother Walther barrel which will have a SAAMI Spec chamber with a .308'' bore. It will also have a short leade so that I can load bullets to .050'' jump so hopefully will shoot alot tighter.
By the way, the sierra is a cheaper bullet to buy than the Hornady.

Steve

[Watcher]

Thanks Steve. Price is a factor so Sierra will do fine.

[Watcher]

Steve,

Which bullets are we talking about (this from Kranks listing):

S2310 .303cal (.311) 180gr SPT pkt100 £23.90
S2315 .303cal (.308) 174gr HPBT Match pkt100 £28.10

[ovenpaa]

I will be interested to hear how you get on with the new barrel Steve.

Watcher, I use the 174gr Match SMK's

[Tower75]

Hmmm... I mic'd the bullets and they seem to be coming out at between .310 and .311- ish. What's the consensus? Too small for the necks?

I mean I don't get the "spinnng bullets" every time, it only effects 5 out of 50 :?

[Steve E]

Tower
If you are still getting 'loose' bullets I would say that it may be the case necks. .303 cases often have thinner walls compared other calibers. It is esential to keep .303 cases in batches of the same make and in the case of HXP the same date. I have batches of cases that need the Lee Collet die to be set differently for each batch. My HXP cases of 1973 need the die screwed in further than my 1985 cases. The 1969 cases have the thickest neck walls. Each batch of cases need to be set up separately. I have Winchester cases that look the best but have the biggest spread when weighing them and thay give the worst results.
Its all a matter of preparation and record keeping.

Steve

[Steve E]

Steve,

Which bullets are we talking about (this from Kranks listing):

S2310 .303cal (.311) 180gr SPT pkt100 £23.90
S2315 .303cal (.308) 174gr HPBT Match pkt100 £28.10

I use the 2315 174g HPBT match which are .311 and not .308 as you have stated. Or the Hornady 3131 174gr FMJ/BT which are .3105.

Steve

[Dougan]

Chaps,

Going to start reloading again over Christmas after many years lay off. Going to load .303 for a No. 1 and a No. 4. Will be using Privi cases, CCI primers and starting at 39 grains of Vit N140. Thinking to use Hornady 174 grain FMJ/BT (no. 3131). For maximum case life planning to neck size only.

Any advice gratefully recieved.

Apart from the make of bullet, that is excactly the same components and load that I've been using for my SMLE - I've had excellent and consistant results at 200 yrds (only good to 300), and they feel noticebly easier on the rifle than factory

[Dougan]

Tower
If you are still getting 'loose' bullets I would say that it may be the case necks. .303 cases often have thinner walls compared other calibers. It is esential to keep .303 cases in batches of the same make and in the case of HXP the same date. I have batches of cases that need the Lee Collet die to be set differently for each batch. My HXP cases of 1973 need the die screwed in further than my 1985 cases. The 1969 cases have the thickest neck walls. Each batch of cases need to be set up separately. I have Winchester cases that look the best but have the biggest spread when weighing them and thay give the worst results.
Its all a matter of preparation and record keeping.

Steve

Cheers Steve - I'll keep that in mind