'03 loads

[DANCELIONDANCE]

Hello from Virginia - this is my 1st post - My Dad gave me 3- '03s - all in great shape - would like to shoot them with cast only - not planning on casting my own at this time - so need some suggestions on where to buy & what to buy - have looked at Gardners 3112911 & 311284 both 190grs & sized to .309 but you have to buy 500 rds of 1 size ($50 + SH) - Any suggestions welcomed Thanks!

[madsenshooter]

311284 is supposed to be 210gr, what sort of alloy is Gardner's using? .10 a piece isn't a bad price nowadays. Does he offer any other sizes, .309 may not be the best way to go, depends on your bore dimensions, do a search of slugging. If you're not into buying so many at once, there's this fellow: http://www.customreloads.com/cast.html

[DANCELIONDANCE]

Thanks for such a quick response - just checked - you're right the 311284 is 210gr - there is a 311291 - 190gr - sized .311 for .303 enfields & an Ideal 311334 - 190gr spitzer - sized .309
I currently have 4064 / Red Dot / Trail Boss - thinking about buying some 2400 for experimenting with reduced paper punching loads

[Bob S]

311291 sould be 168 to 175 grains, depending on alloy.

Loads that I have used successfully with M1903 series:

311291, 15 grains 2400. Great 100 yard load. Will also clean the MR-52 target at 200 yards if you can hold hard and there isn't a whole gale blowing.

311284 with 42 grains of 4831. Good for up to 300 yards. Cleaned the SR target at that range several times.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[DANCELIONDANCE]

Thanks Bob S - have read your posts with a lot of interest - also have a 1917 Eddystone - have read they usually like heavier bullets any suggetions on loads for it?

[Larry Gibson]

You might also check with LazerCast bullets out in Baker City, Oregon. They make a fine .311 170 gr copy of 311041. A .311 diameter bullet of any you mention would be my choice as I've found at .311 cast bullets consistently shoot more accurately than those sized smaller in most '03s. You also might contact Gardner's and see if you purchase say 1000 if they can size them larger at .311. Another option is to see if they will sell you 1000 of the bullets "as cast" (should also be cheaper that way) and then get a Lee .311 sizer kit and size, gas check and lube them your self. The next step, if you like shooting cast bullets would be to cast your own. Then is lots of fun after that

Larry Gibson

[Dutchman]

311291 sould be 168 to 175 grains, depending on alloy.

Gardner's has one that is 190 that he calls 311291. Looks just like 311291. Don't know what the story is but its 190 grains .311" and shoots very well in the .30-40 Krag and M1917 & M1903.


Dutch

[Bob S]

Gardner's has one that is 190 that he calls 311291. Looks just like 311291. Don't know what the story is but its 190 grains .311" and shoots very well in the .30-40 Krag and M1917 & M1903.


Dutch

Hey Dutch,

I wonder if it's really the 311290? Looks similar, just heavier.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[Dutchman]

Hello from Virginia - this is my 1st post - My Dad gave me 3- '03s - all in great shape - would like to shoot them with cast only - not planning on casting my own at this time - so need some suggestions on where to buy & what to buy - have looked at Gardners 311291 & 311284 both 190grs & sized to .309 but you have to buy 500 rds of 1 size ($50 + SH) - Any suggestions welcomed Thanks!

Gardner is a good guy to do business with though the bullet casting business is sinking fast. He apparently has problems getting raw alloy so he limits purchases anymore. I've purchased much in rifle bullets in the last 8 years from him including 311291 (whatever it may actually be) and 311284 in addition to the Lee Cruise Missile 170 gr .267" for the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. (and some handgun calibers). I've also loaded his .323" 170 gr FN g/c for the 8x57 Mauser and 8x58R Danish. Matter o'fact I loaded some last night for 8x57mm Mauser.

The 1903 Springfield 4 groove and M1917 5 groove shoot fine with .309" to .311" cast bullets. I like 311291 and 311284 in all manner of .30 and metric calibers like 7.5x55 Swiss, 7.62x54R Russian, 7.65x53 Mauser. My Type 99 Arisaka likes 311299, too. My Krag carbine much preferred his 311291 190 gr .311" over 311284 and 311299. I generally prefer .311" in all of these including .30-40 Krag and .30-06.

I've met Gardner personally at the La Porte County, Indiana gunshows (Valparasio) where he sells. I give him my highest recommendation for a cast bullet vendor.

Gardner has a 2,000 piece limit per order. I'd suggest you order 2,000 at a time.


Dutch

[Dutchman]

Hey Dutch,

I wonder if it's really the 311290? Looks similar, just heavier.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

Nope. 311290 has the same nose as 311299, 311331, 311333. Gardner's 190 gr RN has the same perfect round nose as 311291.

http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

Its got 2 crimp grooves. I'd like to know what it is as this has kept me awake many a night .

http://gardnerscache.com/303brit_190_lrn_g_c.html

Dutch

[Bret4207]

Hello from Virginia - this is my 1st post - My Dad gave me 3- '03s - all in great shape - !

Is your Dad by any chance looking for a long lost son? If he's got more '03's to give away I'm pretty sure I'm your brother!

Dad always did like you better.....

[DANCELIONDANCE]

Well we are from the real New York (Upstate:Fulton/Oswego) - spent many wonderful summers fishing St. Lawrence/Thousand Islands ... so ??? Dad has more goodies ...

[Bret4207]

My brother!!!!!!

[TAWILDCATT]

I use 311291= 173 with WW.I also tried lees 312-160-TL with 13.5 gr of Red Dot.
the 311291 cronyed at 1680.I have a 1903 low number.made 1914.I tried sam load in garand but it wont eject.I did not expect it to, but hoped.

[chboats]

The one thing you need to do, as madsenshooter said, is slug the barrel. I have two 03s one is a tight .308 grove which will shoot anything sized to .309/310 and the other is a .312 grove that doesn't like anything under .313. They both shoot great with the right size bullet.

Carl

[GrizzLeeBear]

Dutchman (or anyone who has bought them), does Gardners 311291 .311 boolit actually weight 190 grains? I'm considering a heavier boolit for my M1 and this one looks like it would work well, especially at 190 grains instead of 170.

His website says "We are not accepting orders at this time". Whats up with that?