.303 advice

[Steve]

I've got a stock of 303 cartridges fired from my rifle so will only have to neck size these,but also have a few boxes other members gave me as a reserve.Havent got a trickler yet because at moment i only reload 357 and just use a dipper/scales so will need to stock up on as few more things Dougan.

As for case cleaning...i use coke,a Lee zip trim and wire wool. :lol:

[Dougan]

That is a very nice looking range and they are some very encouraging results, were they shot with battle sights or PH target sights? If you are keeping to 200y and less you can drop the load a tad which is always kinder on the rifle and your shoulder. Do not go excessively light on the load though.

One other thing, if you build too short pull them apart and start again. I speak from experience :(

Cheers Ovenpaa,

I'll try some lighter (not excesive) loads as well next time. And will will be more careful with the COL - what were the problems/consiquences when you built some too short?

Sorry - more questions :roll: - As I said I found the RCBS press I bit 'over sensitive'.

If you look at the bottom of the press, it only 'stops' the down stroke on one side - The press is firm on the bench, but I found it took hardly any force to 'twist' the press...which affected the seating. With my turret press (maybe because i'm crimping my .357) I found that there were no problems if I put more pressure on the down stroke...is it normal to have to be so sensitive with the press when seating uncrimped rounds :?:

btw: It is a nice range - it's out on Purbeck near the tank ranges, in nice countryside, and lots of wildlife....At the end of the shoot, I went out to get one of the flags - I stumbled on a deer (10 feet away) sitting down in the bushes...as soon as I made eye contact, it was up and off....a great end to the day :)

[ovenpaa]

The consequences of over pressuring an SMLE are a sprung action, in other words the Action is bent.

I bullet seat very gently and my press has stops on both sides. which you should see in the picture below. All the operations on my press are made as smoothly as I can. How are you cleaning the inside of the neck of the case and what is the neck diameter of the sized case before seating the bullet and then afterwards?

We drove up to Chesterfield today to see my parents and I spotted half a dozen deer in a field up near J21, they looked very peaceful despite the motorway traffic a few yards away.

[Dougan]

It's reasuring to know that the seating should be done gently - I think the 'stop at both sides' is a better design...I will just have to learn the right 'knack'...

I cleaned the inside of the neck with the tip that you suggested (see the post above the other one), and it worked a treat. I'll get back to you with the measurements - I can't be bothered to go out to the garage now, as I'm full of curry and wine (again :lol: )

The 'sprung action' doesn't sound good :shock: This brings me to another question (questions lead to more questions), which I was going to save til nearer the Trafalgar - I'm happy with the rounds I've done, because as I'm feeding the rounds by hand, i'm not too worried about the neck tension. However, I like to shoot snaps and rapid (15 rpm) - I'm concerned that if a round 'snags' comming out of the magazine, it could push the bullet further in...and in the 'heat of competion' I might not notice :? :?: Do people make different rounds (maybe using differnet dies?) for different types of shooting?


btw: You asked about the sights - I was using the standard 'v' sights, which (here come the excuses ) as the light is infront in the afternoon at the range, can make it difficult to line up the front post in the 'v' horizontally, which can change the elevation - but I was rested on a bag, so no excuses really

[Dougan]

I've got a stock of 303 cartridges fired from my rifle so will only have to neck size these,but also have a few boxes other members gave me as a reserve.Havent got a trickler yet because at moment i only reload 357 and just use a dipper/scales so will need to stock up on as few more things Dougan.

As for case cleaning...i use coke,a Lee zip trim and wire wool. :lol:

The neck sizing worked really well - I dropped a PPU factory round into the chamber (rifle nose down), and it landed with 'rattle' - I dropped a neck sized home load in, and it went in with a 'thwoooop'...like a glove :)

Definatly rig yourself up with the right powder equipment - more to that bit than the .357s.

As for the case cleaning :lol: When you say 'coke'...you mean you submerse your cases in coka cola :!: :?: - I've not heard of this way before...do you then rince and dry them...?

[Alpha1]

If you look at the bottom of the press, it only 'stops' the down stroke on one side - The press is firm on the bench, but I found it took hardly any force to 'twist' the press...which affected the seating. With my turret press (maybe because i'm crimping my .357) I found that there were no problems if I put more pressure on the down stroke...is it normal to have to be so sensitive with the press when seating uncrimped rounds

Your re loading bench is not sturdy enough the first thing you need to do is move it off that work top supported with that piece of wood it is not up to the job.
It needs to be mounted on a sturdy bench top. When it is bolted down there should be no movement/spring on the press.
Do that first before you do any thing else.
The RCBS press you are using is a firm favourite with re loaders they have churned out 1000s of rounds with that press. You need to mount it properly.
Check out ovenpaas bench and compare it with yours.

[ovenpaa]

Stopping any flex in the press/worktop does make a difference. My bench is two layers of 19mm MDF across a 4x2 frame. You cannot see them in the picture but I have two significant uprights from floor to frame either side of the press. On top I have a piece of beech worksurface that the vice is bolted to, it is then screwed down through the MDF to the frame underneath. The bench is also also screwed to the floor, the racking underneath and back to the wall behind.



Describing neck tension is difficult and for me varies by calibre, you should feel resistance when seating but not a lot, a couple of pounds of pressure at the end of the lever is about all it should be, the bullet should also feel like it is being pushed in smoothly when the action is carried out slowly.

[Dougan]

Thanks for you're input Alpha1 - you're right (just checked it), the bench is 'giving' which is causing the flexing/twisting.

I share the garage with my father, who although shoots aswell, has his motorbike and other 'petrol head' stuff in there - so this is the space available. We made the bench out of old worktop, and was originally just a cleaning area. I love the double vices - It's so easy for cleaning/working on rifles (between us we have 6). The presses came later, and for .357 it was no problem - where the 'rock chucka' is was the only place it could go. I don't have the time (or dosh), to change it (and don't want to) - so will have re-enforce that area of bench and re-mount the press.

Ovenpaa: I will sort the press out first before trying more rounds, and will take measurements of the neck (pre/post seating) then. However, unfortunatly I've run out of 'shooting time' for this weekend :( , and must get on with some OU work (assignment due Thursday)

So, thanks for now gentlemen - I'll get it right eventually (and am enjoying the 'learning curve' on the way :) )

[Steve]

As for the case cleaning :lol: When you say 'coke'...you mean you submerse your cases in coka cola :!: :?: - I've not heard of this way before...do you then rince and dry them...?

Yes,cheap cola.Pour some over de-primed cases and leave to soak overnight.It gets all the muck out inside then rinse,leave to dry then i polish with my ziptrim and wirewool.

[Dougan]

Hi Steve,

I can't think of a reason not to use coke... but it sounds like a lot of work (polishing each one) - I got the cheapest tumbler two years ago, and it does a good job.

One problem though, is that you should really clean the cases before de-capping, so you're not putting all the dirt into the dies...and if you use coke with the primer in, it would be very difficult to fully dry out....