.303 British O-Ring Load

[mrbillbus]

I keep seeing a reference to loading .303 with an o-ring and using cream of wheat as a filler. But I can't find an actual recipe.

So:

What powder/charge weight?
How much cream of wheat?
Bullet: yes, no, wax plug?
If no bullet/plug, how do you keep the components together?
Can it be done with factory loads (ala "improved" fire forming)?

I know this is all available here somewhere but searching didn't get me very far.

Thanx
Bill

[Reload3006]

I think you can pretty much use what ever load you want. As you know all you are doing is fire forming your brass to your particular guns chamber. The o-Ring keeps the brass case up against the bolt face as its chambered and fired. Gas pressure will continue to hold it there. It will then head space off of its shoulder instead of the case rim. Now if you FL re-size your brass it will be back to the same state it was in. So only neck size after... I have use factory ammo just slip an o-ring on and your set.

[Jim]

This is interesting. Where exactly is the O ring located on the cartridge to keep it back against the bolt face?

[Reload3006]

you place the o-ring on the cartridge just in front of the rim ... toward the pointy end.. (not being mean just the best way i could think of to describe it) the o-ring will keep the rim forced against the bolt face.

[skeet1]

You place the "O" ring on the cartridge right back against the front side of rim so it is squeezed when you close the action.

Ken

[Jim]

Got it. I kinda' wondered about this.

[303Guy]

This is about the size O-ring.

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo327/303Guy/001-3.jpg

Just load up your normal shooting rounds and go shoot.

[Multigunner]

You can probably find much thinner O-rings that would serve the purpose better.
If the ring is that thick I expect it would make it difficult to close the bolt all the way.

Earlier similar methods used a curled piece of momofilament fishing line to do the same thing.

[walltube]

mrbillbus,

6 grains WW231 or 'Clays'.

CofW atop the chosen powder to the base of case neck. .5" square of soft tissue slightly tamped over all that to prevent an unauthorised CoW escape, then a small squeeze of white glue.

Jeff in NZ pic is a thousand words. I have experimented with varying thicknesses of 'o' ring to achieve the best result for a particular rifle. Resistance to closing the bolt with ring in place determines 'how thick'. A slight effort to close the bolt is all that is needed for optimum results. Works for me.

Neck size only for best case longevity.

Good luck to you,
Wt.

[303Guy]

Yes, the O-ring shown is thicker than needed but the bolt does close OK. The caming action on a 303 Lee Enfield is quite something.

[walltube]

Uh-Oh!

My apologies to 303Guy. My key-board reactions are obviously quicker then my brain..:) Thought you were Jeff there...

:drinks:
Wt.

[303Guy]

Aaah! The avatar of Jeff's kid holding a rabbit! Yeah. I get confused when I see my own avatar too. That's my great-nephew. I'll have to change mine to him holding the first hare he shot.