Cast boolits SMLE No1Mk3

[camelcullOZ]

Hi

I am new to casting bullets for rifles I have cast for muzzle loaders. The rifle i want to cast for is a 1942 lithgow SMLE mk1 no3 with a bore slugged at .313. I ordered a lyman #314299 mould lee sizer gas checks. I am trying to figure out a starting load, taking into account I can not get the range of powders you have in the US, can only get ADI reloader and winchester powders. I read the article CAST BULLET LOADS FOR MILITARY RIFLES and was going to try 25gn of RE7 as a start?? The rifle will be used for camel, goat, donkey and pig culling within 200 yards

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa70/Gigerchild/f453c330.jpg
Thanks

[sav300]

Hi Camelculloz and welcome to the forum.
You do not need the range of powders from the states.We have them here at ADI.
Check out http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/.All the powders we need are there.
Good luck and have fun.

[camelcullOZ]

Hi

So just load up as per normal 215gn projectile over 42gn of Ar2209 for 2045fps as a start load?

ccoz

[sav300]

That is a heavy load for a cast in a 303.
I would not fire the rifle myself.

[smokemjoe]

CBE makes some good molds for the 303 brit. One is around 200 grs. spitzer nose and .314, Works good in any 30 Cal. and the Garands. Joe

[Recluse]

Hi

So just load up as per normal 215gn projectile over 42gn of Ar2209 for 2045fps as a start load?

ccoz

:holysheep :shock:

That's a pretty stout load. Just how big ARE those donkeys and camels you need to cull? :)

I've found for my MkIII that the Lee 185RN is a superb boolit with very good accuracy and plenty of knockdown power. Haven't tried the Lyman you ordered--let us know how it works out.

Lots of .303 shooters here--you'll get some good load advice.

:coffee:

[camelcullOZ]

Hi
Ok I had a look at the Lyman cast boolit hand book it uses imr-4198 which is equivalent to re-7. So I put 26.5gr of re-7 see how we go. The case is only half full, should I of used some filler?

Ccoz

[Dr. Ronald G. Haycock]

Hi,
The Lyman 311299 mould is a good one in all .303s in. I have used it here in the "Senior Dominion" for 40 years in all the various Enfield numbers and marks , Ross Rifles(mk 11 and 111) and P-14s---always sized to whatever groove diameter the individual rifle sports. Ross' tend to be "tighter" than the other's, so I have very good results with diameters in them at .311-.312. The Enfields usually like .314 in. My 2 "ganger" 311299 produces a bullet of about .304 in. on the forward parallel which no doubt helps accuracy. If yours isn't that diameter, try 2 wraps of teflon plumbers tape around the forward parallel. Shot individually by placing directly into the chamber sans being magazine fed works for me very well indeed if best accuracy is the objective! Over the years , 3031 has given excellent results at 26 to 28 grs. with 311299 cast of wheel weights or something harder But there are many other powders that work equally as well as indicated by other respondents already cited. A tuft of dacron wad helps in most loads as well as with 3031. Measured "chrony" speed of 28 grains of 3031 is about 1,800 fps and when the projectiles are as heavy as 311299---it is no hunting slouch!!
Hopefully this adds to the aleady accumulated advice , but I would not fire the load suggested earlier at 42 grains ----that is far more than I use in full power jacked loads of 180 grains.
RGH..." the Senior Dominion"