Anyone have some favorite 303 British loads?

Much appreciated.

Scott

8mm,

Interesting story. I have heard many times the tale of the "head seperations" in the SMLE. The fire I am reloading for isn't a SMLE, however. Hopefully, I will not have head seperation issues.

Scott

A very long time ago, I bought a scoped 303 British with a few hundred rounds of milsurp ammo thru the mail for $12.95 plus shipping. I think shipping was four bucks. I could never get good reloads out of the brass, even "store bought" brass. After a single reload, I would get case separations ahead of the base, every round. I finally gave up reloading for this rifle. I did learn about case trimming, neck reaming, annealing, while trying to get good reloads for this rifle, never was able to get good reloads I wanted to trust, and didn't think the rifle worth the expenditure to make it right. It was a blast to gong shoot at 300 yard target, after floating the barrel from the receiver forward. Prior to that, it would vertical string, about 2-3 inches per shot. Milsurp ammo, 300 gong, equaled getting told to cut it out, I was shooting the darn thing off the chains too often. Real fun gun, however.

OK if you are getting head seperations after 1-2 reloads (and poor accuracy for that matter) GET THE HEADSPACE CHECKED if it is a little on the large side the lee enfield will chew through cases like it is going out of fashion I have used mild loads of 760 in neck sized HXP cases and got around 20 reloads before having problems with brass
as to loads as I am an Aussie I can only really tell you to try Varget I use a lot of this powder it works well in my rifles with the 174-180gr bullets try starting at 38gr and work up to 40gr
with 150gr bullets start at 40gr and go up to 43gr these are both maximun loads so please work up carefully
just remember don't try to turn your lee into a 10 shot 308 these rifles shoot better with milder loads and brass does last longer

Hello;
I've been reloading for the .303 since I converted my first one about 40 years ago. I never had problems with head separations until I got my latest project, which I built to use as a short barrelled saddle gun for use in the off season, agaist those furry brown critters with the long claws. The rifle is the last number 4 model, with the trigger fixed to the action and by the markings, appears to be a Korean war rebuild. This thing separates the head on the second use of the brass, even neck sizing only. I've heard rumors that they relieved the chamber even more in these. Any comment anyone?
Grizz

ScottS, you can ask some people what time it is and the tell you how to build a watch!!!! The 303 was the first centerfire rifle I ever reloaded. Why I remember the time......oh wait, you wanted reloading info; so here goes. I have used this in a real good condition late model mark 4 #1, so reduce and work up please, (the lawyers made me say that).



41.0 grs. of imr 3031 with sierra 150 gr. sp. approx. fps, 2630.

38.5 grs. imr 4064 with remington 180 gr.rn. app.fps, 2250.

And I only neck size for longer case life. Hope that helps.



Good luck and good shooting,

Eterry

When Springfield Sporters closed its doors, the supply of #3 bolt heads dried up in the US and Canada.
I got some work Silver Soldering shims on the bolt faces of lessor bolt heads.

Now Century [from Springfield Sporters stock] is offering them for cheap.

The problem is the bolt lug in the rear makes the long bolt body tube in compression. That compression over that long length makes allot of deflection. That number added to some sloppy headspace and hot loads, makes the brass stretch.

Not much can be done about the bolt body, but assuming I will encounter no rims more than .062" thick for setting headspace, just partial neck sizing the brass, or just using wimpier loads [30-30 loads don't strech brass], the brass can last a while.

I believe mine was an assembly of parts that happened to fit together, not uncommon post WWII. The scope was a side mount job, the milsurp ammo was made with spahgetti for propellant. I had a lot of fun with that propellant, outside of the rifle. But then, I used to blow stuff up quite regularly back then. Lets agree to not talk about zip guns, OK?