Best jacketed load for your 1903 or 1917

[TJBCS]

Interested to hear some experienced thoughts about what you use for powders, boolits, etc. My all purpose shooting load is 45gr of Varget with 168gr Hornady HPBT. I get consistent very good results but still playing with some factors. Thanks.

[eastbank]

i have been shooting 55-56 grs imr 4350 in a high number springfield with a 165 gr nbt bullet with ex results on deer-bear.

[TurnipEaterDown]

These were all very good for me in the 1903 Springfield:
220 gr Nosler Partition, 54 gr IMR4831, Rem 91/2, 2448 fps
150 gr Nosler Partition, 60 gr H414, Fed 210, 2937 fps
150 gr Hornady SP, 60 gr H414, Fed 210, 2945 fps
180 Speer BT, 59 gr RL19, Fed 210, 2647 fps
190 Hornady BTSP, Fed 210, 56 gr RL19, 2591 fps
165 Sierra HP Gameking, Fed 210, 57 gr H414, 2903 fps
The last two had single digit SD.

[TJBCS]

These were all very good for me in the 1903 Springfield:
220 gr Nosler Partition, 54 gr IMR4831, Rem 91/2, 2448 fps
150 gr Nosler Partition, 60 gr H414, Fed 210, 2937 fps
150 gr Hornady SP, 60 gr H414, Fed 210, 2945 fps
180 Speer BT, 59 gr RL19, Fed 210, 2647 fps
190 Hornady BTSP, Fed 210, 56 gr RL19, 2591 fps
165 Sierra HP Gameking, Fed 210, 57 gr H414, 2903 fps
The last two had single digit SD.

Wow. Thanks so much for the detailed info and variety. You have tried a lot of different things. This is great info and appreciate you taking the time to share it all.

[Larry Gibson]

My most accurate load for my M1903A1 National Match Type II, M1903A1 and M1903A3 id the 175 gr Sierra MK over 49 gr of Varget. Load is sub moa capable in the match rifle, and MOA capable in the other two with 10 shot groups. Runs 2650 fps at 58,000 psi (measured).

M1906 replication load which regulates to the sights on the M1903A1 and M1903A3 od an M2 of commercial 150 SP over 47 gr IMR 4895 for 2700 fps. Or an M80 147 FMJBT over 46.5 gr IMR 4895 for the same 2700 fps.

To replicate the last M2 load specification (2800+ fps) 48 & 48.5 gr IMR 4895 under the M80 & M2 bullets.

The M80 loads are 50 fps +/- less than with the M2 bullets because the M80 FMJBTs BC is much higher, and they shoot flatter. Hence the slightly less velocity needed to maintain trajectory to match the sight regulation.

[TJBCS]

Copy all Larry! More very detailed and diverse info.

[samari46]

I've used the Nosler 165 ballistic tip in Federal cases with 54.5 to 55.5 IMR 4350 with Federal magnum primers. Chrono to 2800 fps and has shot very well ( 1" to 1 1/2") at 100 yds. This includes 4 model 70 match rifles and one Sako 75. Frank

[charlie b]

Ed Harris had a good article on the .30-06 as well. I'll see if I can find it.

https://www.grantcunningham.com/2012...-around-30-06/

[TJBCS]

Thanks Frank and Charlie - great article! Covers a lot of ground and choices based on application.

[Kraschenbirn]

4895 and Fed 210 primers with either pull-down M118LRs (175 gr. BTHP) or 168 gr. SMKs work well in both my '03A1 and Garand.

Bill

[TCLouis]

To replicate the last M2 load specification (2800+ fps) 48 & 88.5 gr IMR 4895 under the M80 & M2 bullets.

Pretty sure there is an error in this

[Larry Gibson]

Yup, been corrected.

[Tripplebeards]

Here’s an old post iPhone with the target that I shot on the same hold 100 yards second time on my 1917. Don’t remember the powder but it was a middle of the road load with a 150 grain speer game king. Pretty sure I used IMR 3031 if I remember right and I didn’t have much left. Probably was a grain over or under min or max. I also had some various bullets laying around in groups of five or six. They were 180 grain ballistic tips and 165 grain combined technology black coated ballistic tips if I remember right. I think the 165 CTs shot around a .7-.8” group. They both shot at MOA or a hair under at 100 yards. Take it those are three shot groups remember. Most here would tell me to take a 30 shot group and then measure it.lol. It’s down on post #14.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...ight-Questions

I’ve been shot my 1917 since the post. I need to get out and play with that gun some more.

[gnoahhh]

I've been shooting 47gr. 4895 + Sierra 150 FMJBT's for years as my M2 Ball substitute. My claim is that if a Springfield won't shoot that load at least ok, then there's something wrong with it. Reason for the BT's and not FB bullets: not for any ballistic advantage but because they present better into the case neck, making for straighter ammunition.

[TJBCS]

The grain numbers seem to be fairly consistent with everyone. A grain or so difference with the same powders. I just tried 46gr of Varget with 168HPBT in the Garand yesterday but loads with 3 different OALs to see which one was the best. 3.24 (loading manual), 3.27 and 3.30. 3.27 was 1.8 inches (5 shot group) at 100yds. 3.3 was a train wreck. 3.24 was just over 2. I think 1.8 is the best I can do with this rifle and I'm surprised it is even capable of that because the muzzle is terrible but everything else is in excellent shape. For inquiring minds, it is a 1953 IHC with original barrel and was leased to the Brits.

I just finished making a smaller aperture sight for my 1917 and hoping to see it I can get to 1 MOA. Thanks everyone, lots of good info.

[M1fuzz]

I had good luck in my M1903 w/ 47 grains of IMR3031 and a 110 grain Sierra HP Varmiter bullet. Very accurate out to 300 yards unless you were pushing a lot of cross wind. Low recoiling too. I copied it from a guy that was winning CMP matches w/ it. Works great in a Garand too. When you are trying to make time in the CMP shoots the lowers recoil helps you get back on target quicker.

[Eddie1971]

Keeping a 150 grain bullet at 2,700 fps is key with my old 1903's and 1917 Enfield. 48.2 grains of IMR4064 works for me.

[GooseGestapo]

155gr Hornady A-Max (now ELD Match) @3.300”
Federal GM Match brass .30/06
CCI LRP primers
48.5gr H4895
Gets 2,800fps
Shoots 1.5” 5-shots from CMP Special M1 (Criterion barrel).
Near 1-hole from 1943 O3A3 Remington 2 groove.

Substitute 168-175gr Speer BtHpt @46.5gr H4895. 2,650-2,740fps. Not quite as accurate as Sierra but just over half as expensive. $25 vs $45/100!
I’m substituting ShootersWorld Precision Rifle powder also.

[Cree]

Eddie1971 and his suggestion about IMR4064 is a solid load. I’ve found both 48 and 49 grains of IMR4064, along with both 150 and 165 grain Ballistic Tips to be excellent (1.5” at 100 yards) in a reworked 1917 I had that BSA sported and imported. This was with a standard 1917 barrel that had been recrowned and shortened, but aside from being impossibly heavy, like all 1917s, it was a shooter. They’ve also proven to be MOA accurate in a 1969-era Model 70. At various times, both guns used the same scope, so maybe it’s just that old Vari-X2…

In the Model 70, the 150 grain load will cloverleaf less than an inch left of the 168 grain load’s cloverleaf.

[GregLaROCHE]

My 03A3 always liked 3031, mostly with 180 grain jacketed bullets. I hadn’t started casting back then.