Lee's ctl.312-160-2R for 303?

[psweigle]

Thinking about using this for my first 303 cast load. I of course will slug the rifle first to make sure, but was wondering if anyone has used it in a 303 British. If so, how did it work and what speed were you shooting it to? I really look forward to hearing back on this.

[Bloodman14]

Depending on the throat, you may want a longer/heavier boolit. I have not had very good results with short/light boolits in mine. Check the Robert Bank sticky on Loads for military Rifles.

[1johnlb]

My no4 MK2 with new bore shot the 312 155 ,ok when gc'ed thru a 314 Sizer. Maybe 1300 ~ 1500 fps at most before accuracy left and by accuracy I mean 6" groups. But was all over the board when shot as cast. It's probably not going to be very good unless you have a tight bore.]

[LoopSoosStroop]

I tried that boolit in my P14 .303, no success.

Problem is that the groove size on most .303's are way over .311, mine is more like .317-.318. Could not get any cast to shoot well in it, given up now.

Shoots j-words to 1-2 MOA at 100 yards though.

[JeffinNZ]

It's worth trying but odds on you will find it a bit undersized. I have found the three oh three likes a longer bullet of a homely girth.

[Motor]

I use mine as cast (which is around .3135") and gas check the super-sonic loads (1850 f/s) with a .314 sizer also but this is from a 7.62x54R with a groove diameter in the .314" area.

I have to agree with the others that if your GD is over .314" I would not use it.

I had trouble with it also at speeds above 1900 and this was from a .311 GD M39 Finn and the boolits were 24bhn lead/linotype. I think the small bands on the TL boolit just can't take the force.

Motor

[psweigle]

Thank to all for the posts. I kinda thought this would be the problem. I like the profile and the fact that it is as wide at the top as it is at the bottom. Was hoping it would work. Oh well, I will keep looking.

[dondiego]

You should try it though.

[psweigle]

I may, just for the heck of it. But only after the barrel gets slugged.

[psweigle]

ok, I ordered a block of cerrosafe so i can get a clear picture of the chamber, throat, and the bottom of the rifling. i have a soft lead slug for the rest of the bore. and i ordered a new digital caliper just for kicks. any thing else i might have forgot? I really want this bullet to work.

[paul edward]

any thing else i might have forgot?

If your rifle has a 5 groove barrel, you might get some shim stock to wrap around the slug so you can get a decent caliper reading. Just subtract twice the thickness of the shim stock for a groove diameter.

[psweigle]

If your rifle has a 5 groove barrel, you might get some shim stock to wrap around the slug so you can get a decent caliper reading. Just subtract twice the thickness of the shim stock for a groove diameter.
Thank you very much. I will do that.