Full power .303 load.

[JeffinNZ]

Team.

I have put my No4 MkII back to 'issue' and have developed a mil spec load for service rifle shoots using the CBE 316 175. Yesterday I shot this group at 100m off the bench using the issue flip up 'L' sight.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/316175100m.jpg

Load:

CBE 316 175 in oven heat treated WW + 2% tin (177gr), BHN 23.
Sizing - front band .312, rear bands and gas check .3165 (as cast)
47gr AR2209 (H4350)
CCI large rifle primer
OAL 74mm
Velocity 2400fps
BGO lube.

The service rifle ammo specs dicatate +/- 6% on original military ammo velocity (2440fps) and projectile (174gr) (rather generous I think) and minimum OAL of 74mm so I am spot on for the Mk VII load. To achieve the min OAL I have to size the front driving band to .312 to allow it into the leade as .3165 is far to big. Actually the band is ever so slightly tapered and .312-.314 but fits the leade perfectly. I nose first size the bullet in my Lyman 4500 in the .312 die then complete the gas check seating and lubing right way up in a die I honed to .317.

The 300 yard sight prints this load 3 inches high at 100m so basically on at 200m and the 600 yard sight shoots 13 inches high at 100m so zero of approx 350m. Both these settings suit me for the 100, 200 and 300m shooting we do. Bit of luck there!

All in all pretty happy with this load and rifle.

[Echo]

Super, Jeff. I am inspired to try something similar with my 1917 Enfield.

[bradh]

Very nice Jeff! Thank you for the load data.

[Shiloh]

Excellent results Jeff!! Well done.

Who says an Enfield won't shoot??

Shiloh

[quasi]

that is the EXACT powder charge I use in my .303's with a 170 grn Cramer .317 dia bullet. It also works well with the Sierra 180.

[JeffinNZ]

AWWWWW. I just reinvented the wheel again!!!!

LOL.

[303Guy]

Hang on! That's a CAST BOOLIT doing 2400fps! Not a paper patched boolit or something! :holysheep

Say JeffinNZ, would you by any chance have shot black powder loads in a 303? You know how the black powder folks are shooting 1000yds? You know were this is going ..... [smilie=1:

[JeffinNZ]

BP in the .303.......I'm not into bondage to that degree. :-)

[303Guy]

Fair enough. What about long range cast shooting with the 303 using AR2209? Your powder charges are somewhat higher than mine but my 'full power' j-word loads are close enough. How do your primers look pressure wise?

[O.S.O.K.]

Does an original velocity 215 grainish bullet qualify? I mean, its no trick pushing them to 2000-2100 fps.

Nice job on that load!

[atr]

Nice group at 100m........!!! well done

[303Guy]

O.S.O.K., these are Jeff's lightweight boolits!:mrgreen:
It's normal for him to produce good groups from his Lee Enfields. :drinks:

Say Jeff, would you just happen to have a pic of your rifle?

[JeffinNZ]

Does an original velocity 215 grainish bullet qualify? I mean, its no trick pushing them to 2000-2100 fps.

Nice job on that load!

My Mk VI duplicate load is a 220gr bullet over 41gr H4350 for 2000fps on the button.

[Alex Hamilton]

Hi, Jeff,
Can you explain why you are sizing the front bearing bands to .312"? Why not size them all to .3165"?

Thanks,

Alex

[JeffinNZ]

Our service rifle shoots dictate ammo must meet 'X' spec. Minimum OAL for .303 Brit is 74mm (2.913 inch) . In order to seat the bullet out to meet this spec the front band engages the leade and at .3165 the girth is too great. That is why I nose first size the front band to .312. The benefit is the bullet is matched almost perfectly to throat/leade/bore.

PITA to be honest and one more step I could do without but it works and sure is satisfying to shoot a cast bullet at 2400fps and get such good results.

[303Guy]

... but it works and sure is satisfying to shoot a cast bullet at 2400fps and get such good results. Hell Yeah!:drinks: