.303 british load?

[atr]

I want to shoot some 215 grain cast in my .303 British and I would line to get them moving at 2000 fps. Any suggestions as to powder and charge to get it to that velocity?
I have 2400, 4895, 4227, 3031, 4350
thanks
atr

[Larry Gibson]

If you've got a very good five groove bore then 4895 or 4350 will be your best bet. Start at 28 gr 4895 and work up 'til accuracy goes south or you get the 2000 fps. Also try the 4350 starting at 30 gr and work up to what is acceptable. I use a dacron filler if load density is less than 80%.

[atr]

thanks Larry,,,I do have both powders...lets see what happen
atr

[Eddie1971]

36 grains of IMR4350 is my go to load for my SMLE.

[Jungle Dave]

The old Mk VI with 215 round nose nickel full patch used 31 grains cordite for 2050 in a 25" barrel. IMR 3031 matches cordite grain for grain, but pressure spikes have been reported in larger cases. Not sure how it would perform in smaller cases such as the .303....so I would go with Larry's suggestion.
So as often happens, when these things pop into my head, I end up posting them for historical reference only. Unless one can find a published load that matches.

[tigweldit]

atr, What mold are you using?

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I have a custom mould that casts a 190gn and 220gn boolit. The 190gn duplicates the throating required for Mk7 ammunition while the 220gn duplicates throating for the older Mk6 with it's 215gn cuppro-nickle boolit.

Martini Enfield, early LE's and SMLE Mk1 (long tom) shoot best with the longer boolit while later SMLE's Mk3's and Mk4 seem to shoot best with the 190gn boolit. I load 26.5gn of 3031 with 220gn and 28.5gn of 3031 with the lighter boolit.



10 shot benchrested group with an 1896 Martini Enfield. (220gn)



After casting these boolits I use an 8mm (or 32 cal) gas check and use a 0.316 sizer seems to hold on better than using 30 cal ones.