More Joy with the 03A3!!

[35 Whelen]

I've been halfway trying to find a load for my 03A3 that I could use in military benchrest matches. A 314299 sized .310" and pushed by 16.0 grs. of 2400 shoots fairly well, but is too low with the 500 yd. sight setting and too high with the 550. So for no real reason I decided to try the standby 13.0 grs. of Red Dot. For some bizarre reason, the 314299 struck alsmot 5" below the point of aim and a little to the right with this load, but it shot fairly well save the two flyers that are ever present in my 03A3 10 shot groups:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/03A3/314299RedDot.jpg

Still not too bad especially if you discount the two flyers. But point of impact was nowhere near where it needs to be.

So, I tried the 311291 with the same load. BINGO!!!
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/03A3/311291Targetmod.jpg

Not only did it group well, it shot exactly where I aimed. Encouraged, I ran (literally) back to the shop and loaded 10 more rounds. As usual, it was getting too late to shoot, but I had to try a 10 shot group anyway. Again, BINGO!
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/03A3/31129110shot.jpg

Someday, I plan to bed the ol' girl into a sporterized stock and see if she'll shoot even better!
Thanks for listening,
35W

[Jack Stanley]

Now that's fine rifle work ! I hope that one day when I move away from squib loads and the twenty-five yard line I can do as well .

Jack

[JeffinNZ]

Ed Harris would be proud to see "The Load" doing so well for you.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

The 03-A3 has always done well with 311291. That mold was one of the original John Barlow designs from around 100 years ago. It has a good balance between bullet body and nose and shoots well in all 30 cals. In the A3, particularly if the barrel is a 2 groove, really excellent shooting can be done if a "bore-rider" design is used. According to Col Harrison of NRA reknown, in his extensive investigations of optimal shooting in 30 caliber, the best bullet for the A3 is Lyman mold 311334, which of course (dear old) Lyman(always thinking of the shooter) dropped from production years ago. They still produce 311332 which is a clone of 334, but you have to make sure that the nose or bore-riding part of the bullet is .301-.302 so it really rides on the lands. If it is anything less, then it will slump in the bore and shoot poorly. The 2 groove configuration means that the lands occupy 5/8ths of the bore circumference and this is why a shorter bullet body is better while the wide lands can positively guide the longer nose section. 311299 is somewhat similar to this design as is some of the Lee designs. The Saeco #301 is also a good candidate. It might be worthwhile to also consider the RCBS 30 Caliber bullets designated as "silouhette" as they have very long nose sections, but the question would then be if they are packing sufficient lube in the one ring that they have. I guess that the answer is...to try or ask someone who has. I have had continuous success with the 334 and the 301, often getting one inch groups at 100 yards with them using light to moderate/medium loadings of 4227,4759 and 4198. Sometimes the slightest change in one of the variables can tighten a group dramatically so it is definitely worth it to keep experimenting. Good shooting. LLS

[mto7464]

Is that a Smith Corona ?

[35 Whelen]

Is that a Smith Corona ?

Ummm. ....I'm embarassed to say I'm not sure. I bought it because it was (relatively) cheap! I'll check.
35W

[mto7464]

looks like a SC stock with the pins

[RU shooter]

Judging by this posting and your last You should have no shortage of acceptably accurate loads for this seasons matches BTW those boolist you set me shot real well on my first attempt with 14 gr of Unique.I think I'll be getting that mould real soon. Also is that a 2 groove tube?

Thanks again Tim

[35 Whelen]

Judging by this posting and your last You should have no shortage of acceptably accurate loads for this seasons matches BTW those boolist you set me shot real well on my first attempt with 14 gr of Unique.I think I'll be getting that mould real soon. Also is that a 2 groove tube?

Thanks again Tim
Glad they shot well! Yep, it's a 2-groove.
35W