.303 British data needed

[DaveNZ]

Would anyone have data for a 185gn bullet (C312-185-1R) using H4895 for .303 British?
Cheers guys

[OptimusPanda]

Did you look for 30-40 Krag data too? Frankly that has been my starting point for .303 Brit loads more than once.

[DaveNZ]

Did you look for 30-40 Krag data too? Frankly that has been my starting point for .303 Brit loads more than once.


Many thanks OptimusPanda I will look into it
cherrs
Dave

[PAT303]

28grns is a good place to start.I'd get a better mold,the one your using is too small. Pat

[RogerDat]

Unless your bore is unusually tight a 314 sized mold will probably be a better fit. You could read some of the stuff on slugging the barrel in order to find out the exact size. Maybe use softer than normal lead and PC the bullets so they expand more in the bore from the charge behind them.

I use this one from NOE http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=31_278 in my case I purchased a mold that does both Plain Base and Gas Check base. They seem to be a nice shooter.

ADI powder has good amount of load data for 303, including for the heavier bullets I use. You will have to look up the US brand name for ADI powder in the ADI equivalent chart. This works because Hodgdon, Alliant, etc. rebrand ADI powder, ADI is a source manufacturer.

Equivalent Chart: http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders/equivalents.asp

Load Data: http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders/rifle.asp

Process is pretty simple pick caliber from drop down, note the ADI powder names that are suitable for your bullet weight. Then go to equivalent chart and find the US brand and name for that ADI powder. I confirmed some load data by calling Hodgdon directly and they went to the ADI book for confirmation so I'm comfortable suggesting it. Most US books don't have data for 200 or more grain 303 bullets. The Aussies do.

As an interesting side note, one of the prime reason for the shortage of pistol powder from several manufactures was ADI had a fire in there pistol powder production facility. The US companies don't like to advertise that they no longer make powder so they generally did not mention it but I think Hodgdon company president made mention of it at one point.

[DonMountain]

28grns is a good place to start.I'd get a better mold,the one your using is too small. Pat

I have hunted deer for years with an old Lyman 314299 gas checked mold of about 210 grains over 32.0 grains of IMR-4895 for pretty good accuracy out to more than 100 yards. And all the kids have killed deer with it over the soy bean fields at some pretty long ranges. It hits pretty close to the sites at those ranges in a stock British No. 4 Mk.1.

[RogerDat]

I think that NOE is pretty close to the Lyman 314299 in terms of profile. I debated between the two as being a trade off with the heavier and thus harder hitting Lyman vs. the NOE with both PB & GC versions. At the time heard plenty of good things about that Lyman too.

[PAT303]

I have hunted deer for years with an old Lyman 314299 gas checked mold of about 210 grains over 32.0 grains of IMR-4895 for pretty good accuracy out to more than 100 yards. And all the kids have killed deer with it over the soy bean fields at some pretty long ranges. It hits pretty close to the sites at those ranges in a stock British No. 4 Mk.1..
My No.4 likes 30grns under NOE's copy of that boolit. It's very effective at knocking down gongs at 200m. Pat

[W.R.Buchanan]

I also use Lyman 314299 in mine and it really likes 16 gr of 2400. Neck size only and preferably with a Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die. Cases will last indefinitely using that die.

I shot my best Short Range Silhouette score of 32/40 with that gun and that load.

Randy

[longbow]

The advice on .30-40 Krag loads is good. I do that too. The Krag runs slightly lower pressure than .303 British so any Krag load is safe in a Lee Enfield and there is a lot more .30-40 Krag data around for a larger variety of bullets and powders than there is for .303 British.

I'll second the "you'd be better off with a larger boolit" crowd. My .303's all run about 0.314"+ groove diameter so I use the Noe 316299 which casts right on 0.316" with WW then after installing gas check and sizing to 0.315" it just slides in the throat.

In any case, if you haven't already you should slug the bore and throat then cast to suit what the gun needs. You may be okay as is but likely a larger diameter boolit will be more suitable.

IMR4227 is my go to powder as I usually have several cans and it is suitable for cast boolit loads in my .303's, .308 and .44 mag. It works well for me at 18 to 22 grs. under the 200 gr. 316299. I have used IMR4895 (not H4895) but not a bunch and cannot recall the charge I used (it's written down somewhere).

Great old cartridge and guns.

Longbow

[DaveNZ]

Cheers for the info guys

[Kraschenbirn]

In my experience, that Lee particular Lee mold typically drops .313/.314 out of the box so, depending upon your groove diameter, you might be able to make it work. My Longbranch Mk4#1 slugs a right at .312 so I beagled mine to drop .315+ and size to .314. 28.5-29.0 gr. H4895 is, generally, a good starting load for any medium-capacity .30/.31 cal. with a 180-200 gr. boolit.

Bill

[longbow]

If the mould casts within a couple thou under then Kraschenbirn's suggestion of Beagling will work or lapping to open the mould up a thou or two is pretty easy. If you have a tight bore you may be okay, just best to slug the barrel and throat then feed the gun what it needs.

Longbow

[DaveNZ]

My lee mould is dropping them at .314
i have a bit of data using pistol powder AP70N & AP50N from ADI directly do my projectile,which I have had success with but I'd rather be using my rifle powder stock as I have plenty of it on hand

[gwpercle]

Slug your bore. Everything I ever read positively stated every 303 British Enfield bore was over size and nothing less than .314 to .316 would work.
I measured the bore of my 1943 Birmingham Small Arms ( BSA ) manufactured No.4 MKI and discovered the bore was .303, the grooves were .004. Therefore .303 +.004 + .004 = .311 ! Oh my, the Lee C312-185-1R , which drops from my 2 cavity mould at .3135 , and when sized to .313 works just fine.
I never could get a Lyman 314299 mould , always out of stock and used ones went for more than new. I was tickled pink that the readily available and economical Lee mould could be used.
So slug it , especially 303 British Enfields, you just never know what you might have.
Gary

[RPRNY]

I use 34 grs H4895 with a 210 gr 311284 in the 30-40. 30 - 32 H4895grs would be a good start with the 303 in 180 grs. But the best powder I find in the 180 - 220 grs range for the Krag is IMR4227 at 22 grs. Always works well. I have three 30-40 chambered rifles and all work well with this load.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Yes these guns are all over the place in bore/groove size. Mine is .303/.313 indicating the Grooves are .005 deep per side. Mine is a 1943 BSA also but the barrel is different than gwpercles above.

My 314299 is a Lyman and it is dropping at .303/.314 IN fact the nose of that boolit measures .3028 which is a barely slip fit into the .303 bore of the gun.

These are all gas check boolits so you can get away with a little more play but they still shoot best when you are on size for your gun,,, and the biggest trick I have discovered is sorting the boolits in weight by .1 gr increments and keeping those groups together. IE: all the 205.5 are loaded together and kept together when shot so that each group will have the same weight boolits. Believe me this makes all the difference in the world and your groups will prove it.

You use the ones that are out on the fringes for sighting in and plinking.

Randy.