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

Hi Guys,

Gonna try the PPU Privi 174g FMJ BT bullets in some already fired PPU brass. I am going to try the CCI large rifle primers but what powder? There seems to be quite a choice!? I am going to use the reloads for 100 / 200 yard plinking not for competition use.

What powder do you use in your .303 and why? (accuracy? availability?, price?, burn time?) I know quite a few of you use the Vitavouri N140 was thinking of this for starters.

MikeyB

N140, for me just under 40 grains with 174 SMK's and it works very well. Some do run a grain or more of N140 however I get good results to 800 yards with my load and have never wanted to run it any hotter.

I have done lots of work with .303 with different bullets and powders and this is were I ended up.

41grains of Vitavouri N140 behind a 174grain bullet.

Moved away from N140 and now use TR140 for all my .303 and .308 loads.
TR140 is cheaper than N140 (£55per Kg as opposed to £65 per Kg) and for me is easier to get hold of. TR 140 also runs slightly slower than N140. I use loads in the region of 42gr behind a 174gr Sierra Match King to give velocities of 2560 fps out of a No4 and 2650 fps out of a P14. my loads work very well out to 1000yds.
As with all data, use with caution and work up your loads watching for signs of pressure and incipient head separation

Tried to get some of the recommended stuff from my local shop, all they had was the Hodgdon Varget powder. Anybody has any experience of this in .303 with a 174gn bullet?

MikeyB

I have had very good success with Hodgdon or IMR 4350 starting at 42gns under the 174gn SMK.

It is also my powder of choice for factory velocity cast boolit loads.

I have not used Varget in .303, but as it works very well in .308 no doubt it will work as well in .303.
Experience has shown that powders that work well in .308 can work just as well in .303.

The Hodgdon website reckons about 38 to start for the Varget and then going to 42 max for the 174g bullet.

Mike

I think a lot of American Lee Enfield shooters favour Varget. Trouble is that its not certainly available over here.

Watcher wrote:I think a lot of American Lee Enfield shooters favour Varget. Trouble is that its not certainly available over here.

Are you saying it isn't available in the UK?

Sorry I beg to differ, I use Varget in .223 and I get it from my local gun dealer, many of the dealers in Gun Mart list it as stocked.