Looking for a good gas-checked 303 Brit boolit

[asmith80]

I've been playing around with a sporter 303 Enfield that my grandfather gave me a long time ago. I haven't shot it much until recently, but I'd like to get a good load figured out for it, as it's a really handy little rifle and would make an ideal brush gun for deer.

I slugged the barrel, and it looks like the grooves are coming in at .313" so I'd like something that drops around .315" or .316". I'm not sure what weight would be ideal for the twist of these old military barrels, but I've been reading that they tend to like the 180 to 200-some weight range. Can anybody corroborate that?

I've found a few that look like good candidates, but I'm also open to any other suggestions.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product...oducts_id=1675

http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_deta...=31-200J-D.png

http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_deta...=31-200L-D.png

Not sure which one would make a good hunting boolit, but they look promising to my uneducated eye

[Larry Gibson]

NOE 316-213-01 if the barrel is 2 groove.

NOE 314-205 or Lyman 314299 if the barrel is a 5 groove. The Lee 312-185 can also give excellent accuracy in 5 groove barrels as with COWWs + 2% tin or #2 alloy they generally drop .313 - .314+ from the mould.

[ShooterAZ]

I ordered this one from Tom at Accurate, I speced it to drop at .315 with my alloy, and sure enough it does. It's a good shooter, basically a 316299 with a flat point.

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...=31-200L-D.png

[asmith80]

NOE 316-213-01 if the barrel is 2 groove.

NOE 314-205 or Lyman 314299 if the barrel is a 5 groove. The Lee 312-185 can also give excellent accuracy in 5 groove barrels as with COWWs + 2% tin or #2 alloy they generally drop .313 - .314+ from the mould.

Is it as simple as looking down the barrel and counting grooves to figure out which one I have?

[leebuilder]

Is it as simple as looking down the barrel and counting grooves to figure out which one I have?

Yup, some two groove shoot very well.

[Outpost75]

Another good possibility is Accurate 31-215B

[asmith80]

So it seems like 200-ish gr. is a good choice for weight for this caliber?

[c1skout]

No trouble with the Lee 185 for me. Use it in a P14 that slugged .313. Copper checks and LLA lube. I haven't tried hot loads, a few tenths over starting load with IMR 4227 is accurate and deadly on deer.

[Hick]

around 200 grains should work very well in the Enfield. My 314299 drops at 196 and my Enfield seems to like it a lot. I use the 314 sized to 313-- but my bore slugs at .311. You'll want something a little larger-- as discussed above.

[samari46]

I use the 314299 sized to .3135 fir my finn model 27 in 7.62x54r barrel slugs out at .3115 sp .002 over bore diameter. So that bullet when it comes out of the mold is .303 on the land riding portion of the bullet and .314 on the groove portion of the barrel If your barrel slugs out anything bigger than .314 then the NOE 316299 and you should be good. I have a Long Branch #4MKI* with a two groove barrel so I know I'm going to need a fatter bullet. Frank

[asmith80]

Thanks for all the info guys. I went with the Accurate 31-200L as it seems to be a copy of the 314299 with a flatter nose, which should be effective for deer. Once it comes in and I get some cast and loaded I'll post a range report

[pacomdiver]

check out the NOE 311365, mine drops 311 normal and 195g and 313-314 and 202g when beagled,

[RU shooter]

Another option in a lighter weight is the inexpensive Lee 312-155 in the TL or regular lube flavor that's IF it drops big enough for your barrel one of mine is .314 the other is .312 . Yes they are lighter and shorter than the usual 200 gr bullets but I've always gotten them to shoot rather well in any 30-31 cals. I've tried out to 200 yds.

[asmith80]

Little update for anyone who's interested. I tried a bunch of loads with the 31-200L and could not get the thing to group for love or money. Tried sizing to different diameters, bedding the action and a bunch of other little tricks but the thing just did not want to shoot.

Finally I sent it off to a gunsmith in New Mexico that has a good reputation working with Enfields, says the barrel is shot out but he can put a brand new production barrel on it and get it shooting great. Should be getting it back in a few weeks, and we'll see how it does

[Hardcast416taylor]

Little update for anyone who's interested. I tried a bunch of loads with the 31-200L and could not get the thing to group for love or money. Tried sizing to different diameters, bedding the action and a bunch of other little tricks but the thing just did not want to shoot.

Finally I sent it off to a gunsmith in New Mexico that has a good reputation working with Enfields, says the barrel is shot out but he can put a brand new production barrel on it and get it shooting great. Should be getting it back in a few weeks, and we'll see how it does

I`m just thinking that that is costing a bunch of money to make a Mil Surp Lee Enfield shoot better. If there is a particular sentimental attachment to it then I might see the money outlay, otherwise The money could go elsewhere.Robert

[asmith80]

Normally I'd agree with you, but there is quite a bit of sentiment attached to this rifle. It's the one my grandfather taught me to shoot with, and that he carried into the woods on deer hunts. He hadn't done much with it in the years up to when he died, but for me it's a become something of a mission to get it shooting well again, if for no other reason than to be able to use it to teach my own kids how to shoot.

[jmort]

Agree, Tom will fix you up exactly with what you want
Accurate all day, any day

[Cast_outlaw]

I have a lee c312-185-1r and out of a mk4 #1 it produces 4” groups at 100 yards standing with my shaky self behind it be more accurate if it was clamped into a lead sled so I like it and lee endfields have enough twist to stabilize a large long bullets

[lotech]

I sold my .303s a long time ago, but the Lyman #314299 sized as large as would chamber (I think about .313" or .314") worked well.

[dogmower]

lyman 314299 sized .314 is the way to go.