Reloading 303

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

Reloading 303

Post by Kelsey Cooter » 09 Jan 2021, 1:44 pm

I'm putting together my 1st 303 rounds today. I've got hornady 174gr fmj as I'd like to stick with 175grainers. I'm using 2208 today but I do also have 2206h and 2209.
Which powder do you blokes tend to lean towards?
Looking at the data I felt like 2209 looked a bit inefficient compaired to 08 and 06h.

A mate gave me 40 once fired S&B brass. All of them were around 10thou longer than the max length after full length sizing, is that common for 303? I know people tend to not like S&B brass, but free is good

I must admit I've always thought of 303 as a large case, so I was really surprised to see how much 38gr of 08 filled the case when I filled one for the 1st time.
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by SCJ429 » 09 Jan 2021, 2:19 pm

As you said, the price is right for your S&B cases and they are not the worse cases out there. I think that both 2208 and 2209 are suitable for your projectiles. I think that 2209 gives you the best case fill. Is 38 grains of 2208 your start load? You should be able to get more speed out of 2208 than 38 grains is giving you.
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by Kelsey Cooter » 09 Jan 2021, 2:37 pm

SCJ429 wrote:As you said, the price is right for your S&B cases and they are not the worse cases out there. I think that both 2208 and 2209 are suitable for your projectiles. I think that 2209 gives you the best case fill. Is 38 grains of 2208 your start load? You should be able to get more speed out of 2208 than 38 grains is giving you.


Yeah you're on the money, just starting at 38 and working up
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by LawrenceA » 09 Jan 2021, 7:44 pm

The Lee Enfields are a rear locking action and as such you tend to get more case stretch. The cases may have been long to start as well.
With reloads efficiency is only useful if that is what you are looking for.

In theory the highest case fill is supposed to be the most consistent burn and therefore the most consistant/accurate. Also heavier projectiles like a slower powder generally.
This is a great theory but just a theory.
My 6.5 should have shot best with 2209 or slower but loves 2208.
Basically it is a mater of suck it and see.
One well placed shot is all it takes.
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by No1_49er » 09 Jan 2021, 9:46 pm

What are your shooting plans for the 3 oh 3?
If it's target shooting, you may find that best accuracy will not be anything like a top end velocity. Chasing higher velocity doesn't necessarily reap good rewards accuracy-wise.
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by No1Mk3 » 10 Jan 2021, 12:28 am

G'day Kelsey Clooter,
Being a rimmed case a slight over length is no issue, especially as the throat is likely to be fairly long anyway. I have come back to 2206H for all weights of 303 as I get better consistency over the loads I make for all rifles. As for projectiles, I have found some rifles (ie: my 2 groove No4 and 1 of my No 5) prefer 150g flat base over 174g boat tails and you may need to play around with bullets. Also are you using the Hornady .3105's? They rattle in some of my rifles and I have given up on them and gone back to .312 minimum but if you have a good bore they may shoot well but I have reserved my box of 174g .3105's for the Mosin, Cheers
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by in2anity » 10 Jan 2021, 2:14 pm

Hey Kelsey I'm a 303 service rifler myself. For the heavier pills, like the 174gr SMK, slower than AR2206H is technically better. In our club most 303 reloaders stick to AR2208. A lot also use a 150gr pill for the reduced recoil. AR2209 gives ideal case fill, but the recoil from a full case of AR2209 under the 174 makes the battle rifle boot. I found my shoulder to be a bit tender the day after using this combo. An old timer Queens winner once showed me his missing right molars, and blamed it on AR2209, which at the time doubled as his fullbore powder!

Me personally, I shoot purely the 174gr SMK through my No4, which has a new 5-groove barrel. Mostly because I can get em cheap. On the contrary to what I've just explained, I also use AR2206H, 37gr to be exact, under the 174gr SMK, because of the mild recoil - something to do with the faster burn makes the recoil "feel" less. Still bucks the wind well enough on the prone mound.

For the 174gr SMK, pay close attention to OAL - your feed leeps may need tuning to match your load. The listed C.O.L from ADI of 3.075" is on the long side, 3.05" could see better reliability.

Cheers,
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by snag » 10 Jan 2021, 7:42 pm

I use the same projectiles in my No 4 mk1 and have found that 38 gr of AR 2208 is the best load in my rifle for Combined Services shooting. Bonus is that it is easy on the shoulder too. As No1_49er said, higher speeds don't necessarily give better accuracy - these old guns can be a bit fickle in what they like.
The pen may be mightier than the sword, but personally I prefer the .30/30 Winchester.
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by Kelsey Cooter » 10 Jan 2021, 10:02 pm

No1_49er wrote:What are your shooting plans for the 3 oh 3?
If it's target shooting, you may find that best accuracy will not be anything like a top end velocity. Chasing higher velocity doesn't necessarily reap good rewards accuracy-wise.


No plan to be honest, just wanting have a bit of fun with them and see how well I can get them to group. I have an ERA P14 and a no5mk1. Bought the p14 because I couldn't find a jungle carbine at a good price for months, then I found the carbine 2 weeks later :lol:

Yeah the hornady .3105's are what I've got a box of at the moment
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Re: Reloading 303

Post by Diesel » 29 Jan 2021, 11:15 am

S&B don't give great case life compared to PPU, they also have a very square rim which makes charger use sometimes difficult. AR2209 is a good accurate powder for 174/180 grainers but does seem to kick more than AR2208 but there is minimal difference. AR2206H is really only best for short barrels like #5 rifles, there is an appreciable difference in velocity out of a #5 between 2206H and 2209, there just isn't enough barrel to burn 08 or 09.
Over 15 years I have settled on 2209 as my fullbore load for .303(yes some of us still get nostalgic), 2208 for service rifle. I don't use 150's anymore. Bertram bullets are good.
Flat base is always best for .303's if you can get them.
Neck size only for most accurate results, full length size/new brass for mad minute etc.
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