Assuming I could 'accurise' the 303 Brit, would the aid of a range finder make it feasible? Wind drift with heavier bullets can be a lot less than some varmint bullets. So which is better - a very flat shooting rifle with more wind drift or being able to adjust for range accurately with less wind drift?

Any thing is possible, but cost per round is going to be more the bigger you go. How big are the "varmnts" down under you will be hunting! FYI Grafs has 123 gr V-max that will shoot well from the 303.

Well, we are talking feral goat, wild turkey and hares and rabbit. The thing is, it will cost quite a bit more to buy a new rifle or at least, a new barrel. Although, I do intend building a 22/303. When I do go out, I would like to be gunned for all eventualities and the 303 does seem to cover the bigger game base a bit better than a 22 firing 60gr bullets or lighter - like red deer and feral pig. Thanks for the bullet tip.

303guy, what powder are you using? I used 2208 with 150grs and was getting poor velocity. its a p14 action, not sure of barrel brand but it has been rebarreled at some stage.

you can improve the 303, its called the 303 epps

Interesting that you were getting poor velocity with 150's and 2208. It is the powder I use and I have no complaints at all! I have not chrono'd my rounds but I did get the expected 1000mm drop at about 400m - that would put the muzzle velocity at 2650 fps and not a near max load either. I also use the same powder with 180gr RN's and have no complaints there either. My first red deer at 160m showed no signs of lack of velocity.

The problem that I 'might' have is the size of the throat. It is a new (less than a thousand rounds) barrel that I had put on and I have looked after it. My second Lee Enfield is the one I might rebarrel to a smaller bore and it would then have an improved chamber. But my question is can I do long range shooting with what I have got? (The second Lee is a No.4 with a good UK made two groove barrel. The throat is also large). The thing is, is it practical to use a larger bore for varminting? Knowing the range and bullet drop would be a must! That would take a range finder and a fair amount of practice and 303 bullets are not as cheap as 224 bullets. But then, one would need to know the range and bullet drop for any caliber, right?

yep youd need to know the range and bullet drop for any caliber you used. its good shooting varmints with larger rifles. we have used 308s, my 280ackly and the 25-06 from magpies to red stags. deffinatly impressive shooting magpies and having them split in 2 with each half flying meters in the air!

only real problem with 303 is the lack of bullets, there are hornady round noses and sierra prohunters....I guess if your shooting small varmints it probably doesnt matter how the bullet it constructed, its going to cause lots of damage anyway.


btw my 150s were doing 2300FPS, by no means a hot load but that was where the best accuracy was. only using 40gr of 2208.

Just full of questions, aren't you?

The idea of "varminting" is to get rid of the varmint. Trap and release. Kill. Whatever.

So, if you want to shoot them with a .303, go for it! Too much power? No such thing. If the target is dead, the job is done. Now if you plan to eat on it and you "blood shot" a quarter, another consideration. Most don't eat varmints or call what they eat varmints.

Skip all the rationalizations and go shooting. Range finder? Sure. You got the bucks and want one, it can be useful. On the other hand, experience is also a good teacher. In USA in days of black powder front loaders that came with fixed sights called "Kentucky Rifles", that is made in Pennsylvania by German craftsmen (and women damnit) for use in Kentucky, it was called "Kentucky windage."

All the Hornady Manuals I know of have, in the back, tables of bullet drop for their bullets at different velocities. Other manuals have them too. YOu can buy these books on ebay cheap. No idea what shipping would be. Amazon too?

You will find that the bullet drop and drift for a light, high velocity round and a heavier bullet at lower velocity... not all that different. Sure, the high velocity round makes things easier at shorter ranges, but slows down and drops faster at longer ranges.

Which is better? The rifle you can go shoot with. ENJOY. luck.

Thanks for that iiranger. I am full of questions! And you good folks are full of answers. - very helpful answers!
Now I am motivated and encouraged to get on with it!

Paul from nz, interesting that your best accuracy was at a lower velocity. Have you tried 180grs? I was using 40grs AR2208. Did you try changing seating depth? Different cases? I have not done accuracy load development with AR2208 yet.
It is the lack of bullet choice for the 303 that inhibits me some. BUT, I have a plan. I am going to do some trials with 308 bullets! First I will look for a long, streamlined bullet. It will need to seat out quite far. Then I will experiment with paper patching! (I have also thought of 'bumping up' 308’s . 8mm bullets can be swaged down but the choices are even fewer than for 303. The ). The idea is to hold the bullet true in the rifle throat. I have two rifles to try this in so I should be having some fun for some time. I am not sure how I will learn wind 'doping'. I guess I will have to find a mentor.

No idea what your availability is "down south." (Pacific). But... reloading suppliers in US offer bullets for 7.62x39 in various diameters and weights. .310 usually. 123 grain soft point is close to the old '06 varmint standard of 125 grain and if you could find .311's... at the same time the .310s might not shoot all that bad. Slugged or cast your barrel? Bore? My mil Brit nut buddy, claimed that all .303 chambers were over sized to permit using corroded ammo... ???

Dave Corbin is quite a writer and has some of his books FREE for examine or download (sans pictures) at his web site, corbins.com. He discusses the "bump" die for enlarging. He claims that is reduces accuracy a bit. You do what you gotta. ch4d.com has ring dies for reducing.

Paper patching? Awful thin AND TOUGH paper. There has been some discussion of using teflon tape from the plumbers ... on cast lead bullets. On jacketed bullets? Luck.

Another thought, if you can cast, is to use a zink alloy called "Zymac" in US. It will melt in lead electric pots, just barely. And cast, if harder than good lead mix. Bullets are about 60% of lead weight and WILL NOT expand, but with a varmint, who cares. luck.

Both my 303 chambers are pretty neat. Fired cases show very little expansion. It's the throats that are a bit large. I have tried 125gr .311 bullets but they are so short I couldn't even seat them straight! That is fixable but the large throat runs at 7.98mm (.314) 2mm into the throat down to 7.73mm (.304) - bore size, some 16mm into the throat. There is a 125gr .323 bullet out there if I can get some. Those could be swaged to suite the throat. That would make swaging heavier bullets for normal hunting a consideration too.

Thanks for the "ZYMAC" idea. I was wondering how much zinc could be dissolved into lead.

I am also wondering whether I could re-chamber the two-groove rifle to take a longer case so as to get the bullet right up to the end of the throat.

I have found that with the two groove barrel, seating right out as close to the lands as possible with 180gr RN's, pressure goes up considerably. Which makes sense since the bullet is being swaged down from .311 to .304.

Thanks for the Corbin link. I've been looking at it. Mmmmm ..... I might eventually go that route!

Two more thoughts...

Up here, many, many bullets in .310 to .314 are made for pistols. Molds for casting too. Might be a bit on the light side, but for varmints... And with the single shot pistols, now some are coming out with points. No idea how useful to you.

The other thought, the .405 winchester is back. It was made on the .303/ .30/40 Krag rim and body just a bit longer. Browning did a run of rifles. Mdl 95 Lever actions. POINT here is a case that is a trifle long and no idea how necking it down might contribute to getting those light short bullets into the neck/lead for better alignment/accuracy I would hope in a .303. You have to find the cases (Hornady has them here) and then work out the details. Please keep use posted. luck.

I shall check to see if I can find some 405 Winchester brass. Something I have not done is asked my local shop about ordering stuff they don't normally carry. Even the 30-40 Krag is longer in the neck and might do just fine. Nothing stopping me from forming a Krag case to 303 specs (other than a rather heavy duty press). I have looked at pistol bullets but have not yet come across the pointed ones you mention. (It would be great if someone made a 'normal' length, lightweight bullet).

Grafs HRN3142C .310 diameter 123 grain V-max 149.31 per 1000. I have shot in my 91/38 and Enfield and they shoot very well.

Thanks Moorepower. Do you seat them to 'normal' depth i.e. one third to one diameter into the case or as far out as possible?

When I tried seating Sierra 125's, I found the necks would bulge unevenly, and obviously, cant the bullet. The kind of long range shooting I have in mind requires a firm enough bullet grip for magazine use so I cannot use my paper cup seating. (It just does not hold the 303 bullet firm enough like it does with my hornet. Mind you, I have not tried bitumen).

They do not seem to mind jumping to the lands. Straightness is king.

Thanks for that. I will concentrate on the straightness issue. I have been planning a 'custom' seating die. Time to do it! (And neck sizing die).