Light loads for 303 cast bullets?

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RedGreen	Light loads for 303 cast bullets?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (02/09/09 04:24 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Hi, I am trying to work up a light load, say 1,000 fps or so for a gas checked 185 grain lead ball. I tried using 11 grains of Unique, which gave the low speed but the bullets keyholed at 100 yards. Any thoughts guys?
mto7464		#1	[-]
Posts: 285 (02/09/09 04:35 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	why so slow? The bullets may not be stabilizing. Use a little more powder and get them up to about 1200 then the problem should go away.
Parashooter		#2	[-]
Posts: 1619 (02/09/09 04:45 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The keyholing is more likely a result of poor bullet fit in your throat and/or bore than of powder choice. For a quick bore-fit check, insert the bullet nose in the muzzle. If it's not a close fit, you need a fatter bullet or a tighter barrel. If the nose is a good fit, slug the throat and determine its diameter. Size your bullets to that dimension. 11 grains of Unique should be a good low-velocity load for a well-fitting bullet. 7 to 10 grains of Bullseye, Red Dot, or 700X are also worth trying in this range.
RedGreen		#3	[-]
Posts: 2 (02/09/09 05:05 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I mainly want a plinking round so I can work on my trigger pull. The ranges around here don't allow for anything over 100 yards. Also, it would be a handy load for rabbits and other varmints of that size. Bullets are a proper fit and are gas checked I was told by IMR that use of pistol powders would detonate and not allow for full stabilization before leaving the barrel. Tried using 30 grains of 3031 but the speed was high at 1900fps. I was tempted to reduce the powder a little more but was advised not to. Had thought of using Trail Boss.
Metaleer		#4	[-]
Posts: 9 (02/10/09 09:50 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I also shoot my Enfields with light loads for hunting small game. I use 115 grain wad cutters in 32 caliber sized down to 312. I have gone as low as 1400 fps, but not any lower. They work fine, less noise and lead and cost less to reload. If you are really stuck then you might want to give Sierra Bullets a call. They have helped me in the past to work up great loads.
bambam91		#5	[-]
Posts: 58 (02/11/09 12:46 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I can not remember if it is from Cheaper than Dirt or Sportsmans Guide Shooting catalog, but they have subcaliber cartridges for a .303 for $15! These are short steel "cartridges" that are chambered for .32 ACP. Load one in and shoot. Voila! a kentucky squirrel rifle. Just like the old black powder squirrel rifles of old. The add states that they sound like a magnum air rifle? I would guess the speed to be about 1000 fps w/ a 70ish grain bullet. maybe a little fatser. I will check exactly when I get home and tell you the exact source. I already ordered one. They also come in .308, and 30-06. Wish they had one for 7.62x54R too. -BamBam
bambam91		#6	[-]
Posts: 59 (02/11/09 12:52 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I checked on line it is Sportsman Guide. Type in .303 in the search box and up it comes. $14.97 ea.
eagle7		#7	[-]
Posts: 3791 (02/11/09 01:28 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A good bullet for 303 plinking is the 32-20 cast bullets between 90 - 120 grains. I like the Hornaday cast semi-wadcutters and 8 grains of Unique.
NuJudge		#8	[-]
Posts: 257 (02/14/09 08:24 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Bullet fit is really important, and if you have an undersize bullet you may get keyholing. I have not had it happen, but some people with oversize barrels complain of this problem even with jacketed bullets. Slugging a bore to find groove diameter is not hard, and if you don't feel like doing it a gunsmith should be able to do it quickly and cheaply. The most important groove diameter is at the rear, and hopefully it is the same size or larger than the groove diameter at the muzzle. A lot of .303 barrels have groove diameters well over standard, so I have molds as large as .316". Cartridges with oversize bullets may not fit in the neck area of the chamber, and if so you are stuck with jacketed only. I like a charge of about 18 gr of 2400 with a gas checked bullet in the 180-200 gr range. Here are some links: http://castboolits.gunloa...om/showthread.php?t=13425 http://www.303british.com/id1.html http://www.castbulletasso...c.php?id=1387&forum_id=22
eli griggs		#9	[-]
Posts: 530 (02/14/09 02:13 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Google C.E.Harris and look at his articles on loads for military rifles, which give info for loadings from small game/100 yards up through deer sized game/600 yards. One common cast bullet to look at is the Lee gas checked Lee .312-155-2R. sks, loaded without the check, as a small game getter, which Harris and others use in several milsurp calibers, including the .303 British, 7.62x54r and 7.65 Belgium mauser . "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson ~ "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity". - Albert Einstein WANTED - Lee Loaders - .223, 6.5 Swede Mauser, 7.5 Swiss, 7.62x39, 7.62x54r, .308 Win, .303 Brit, 7.7 WANTED- Turkey and Goose feathers for fletching arrows
bigedp51		#10	[-]
Posts: 326 (02/14/09 02:30 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Try some Hornady .32 cal pistol bullets .312 diameter with some IMR-4759 developed specifically for reduced loads (it has large bulky kernels of powder that better fill the case) 16 to 18 grains of powder shoots well in my Enfields.
Jacks308		#11	[-]
Posts: 815 (02/14/09 08:25 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I can just imagine what the impact of that XTP bullet on a critter would be ! Bye-bye bunny ! I've shot two hundred fifteen grain bullets with twelve and a half grains of unique with great results ... not very economical with lead though . Jack
Metaleer		#12	[-]
Posts: 11 (02/15/09 02:12 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Eli Griggs says "One common cast bullet to look at is the Lee gas checked Lee .312-155-2R. sks, loaded without the check" I agree with Eli and Harris on this cast bullet. It is my favorite round for just about everything. I have taken coyotes and deer with this round and at the range use it for our military shoots. A great bullet. Last Edited By: Metaleer 02/15/09 02:15 AM. Edited 1 times.
matm0702		#13	[-]
Posts: 54 (02/16/09 05:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	00 buckshot or .312 round ball over 3-4 grains of red dot with a pinch of cotton in a unsized case = 900 to 1000 fps. Nice plinking or rabbit load at 25 yards. Half inch groups are possible and no louder than a .22 subsonic. This also works in 7.62x54R or any .30 bore rifle case Mike
Metaleer	Turkey feathers	#14	[-]
Posts: 14 (02/16/09 09:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Eli How soon do you need the turkey feathers? We raise turkeys and will save you some. Do you need left or right wing? Metaleer
bambam91		#15	[-]
Posts: 67 (02/25/09 11:43 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I received teh sub caliber adapter. It is very useful. It does as advertised. 1/2' groups at 25 yds. It shoots about 3" low with battle sight. To get it to shoot point of aim I adjusted teh sight to 500 yds. Dead on! Oh, I have a #4Mk1* savage. About as loud as an adult air rifle. I found .32 shells for $5/50 at a local pawn shop. I have not yet chrono'd it yet, but my guess is around 1000 to 900fps. Thanks for all of the other load data, I am getting 500 .312" 115gr RNFP's to try several of these loads. I'll let everyone know how they shoot in a 2 groove barrel.