Cast Boolit For .303 SMLE Accuracy

[pommel]

I would appreciate suggestions for a wheel weight .313 flat based boolit(no gas check) and a moderate load of smokeless for accurate 50-100 yd. target shooting. My once fired brass is PPU. I own a Savage MkIV and a Lithgow MkIII. I cast and load for 44-40WCF, 45 LC, .43 Spanish, and .45-70 in smokeless, and .577 Snider in Black.

[JeffinNZ]

Have a look at David's site. http://www.castbulletengineering.com.au/bullet-moulds/rifle/31-calibre

He will cut any mould without the gas check shank.

[pommel]

Have a look at David's site. http://www.castbulletengineering.com.au/bullet-moulds/rifle/31-calibre

He will cut any mould without the gas check shank.

*****Thank you Jeff. I have seen his illustrious site. What I am really asking is:
What diameter and weight bullet should I use with how many grains of specific brand powder. I was hoping someone here has already tested an accurate bullet and load to their satisfaction.

[Outpost75]

If your .303 is typical, you need .315 and not .313".

Remember that you have an odd number of grooves. wrap your slug in bond paper, measure over the paper, then subtract twice the paper thickness, unless you have a V-anvil micrometer for measuring the odd nber of grooves.

[PAT303]

Pommel,slug the throat to get an idea of dia,also a good way to get an idea is to measure the inside of a few fired cases and subtract a thou from that.As a guide you will want at least .316 as you throat will be in the .314/.315 area.I really like Trail Boss for my squib loads,try 10grns. Pat

[Johnch]

Another thing that made a world of differance was neck sizing
First I fired a moderate load , in the cases to be sure the cases were 100% fire formed

Then I use a Hornady 30 cal neck sizing die
I just size the neck , the die never touchs the shoulder

I run 1400-1600FPS loads
I am sure the case shoulders will need to be bumped back sooner or later
But so far I have fired these cases 6X with the lite loads
And all the cases will still slit in and out with no binding

And I agree use a large enough boolit
I needed a .316 boolit to size to .315 for my chamber

John

[Jack Stanley]

Measure the inside of the neck of a fired cartridge and use that . My Lithgow will accept .318" bullets and the groove is .315" , accuracy is good .

Another idea is , choose a bullet that has a long bearing surface and shorter nose .

Bullet weight ? whatever you like but I tend to favor near two hundred grains .

Jack

[pommel]

The fired case inside neck diameter(IND) seems to be .312. Will a reloading die size the IND large enough to fit oversized boolits?
And then will they chamber?

[Bloodman14]

If your IND is indeed .312, then try a few 'as cast' and see how they do. Seriously, I'd recheck that IND, and verify. A case full of H4350 so that the boolit sits on top is what I'm working on at this time using Accurate Molds 316215B and NOE's 316299. Also checking a case full of Reloader19.

[HABCAN]

Pommel, I'm loading for my own and two friends Lee Enfields: my #5 and #4 'sporter', a No. 1 Mk. III and a bubbaed No.4 Mk.I. My mold of choice is the LEE C312-185-2R, and a backup is the LEE C309-113-F. I took a 5/16" drill and drilled out the GC base of the little guy to make a PB (Plain Base) and there's no reason the same treatment wouldn't work on the other. I have 'beagled' both molds to get them to cast bigger, and I size .314 for the .303 Brit. On a CCI 200 primer, 18.0 grs. of IMR4227, or 24.0 grs. of IMR4198, either boolit is amply accurate to 200 yds. I am a great fan of LEE's DeLuxe 4-Die Set which has both the FL sizer (for interchanging brass) and the collet neck-size die (to make cases last a LOT longer) and the Factory crimp die. Enjoy!

[longbow]

I've got 5 Lee Enfields and at least the four I shoot most like 0.315" boolits. All run about 0.314" groove.

My best load so far won't do you much good because the boolit is a smooth PB boolit I knurl then tumble lube ~ home made mould that produces a 215 gr. boolit. I also use COW filler under PB boolits.

I also get good results from the NOE 316299 200 gr. (Lyman 314299 clone but fatter). This is a gas check design though.

Both boolits like IMR4227 from about 18 grs. to 22 grs.

Longbow

[sthwestvictoria]

Pommel are you here in Australia or elsewhere?
The best way to find about your bore is with slugging the bore. This is great tutorial:
http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm
With a great picture of bore, lands and groove. The groove diameter is what we want to check as the posters above state.
I would be happy to send you some little .314 90grain SWC for light loads for a trial (send a PM). Cast Bullet Engineering are very popular for the .314-.316 cast bullets in heavier weights however i don't cast for them.

[pommel]

Thanks for all the information guys. It's given me a lot to think about. I am in the USA.