303 British light load

gadabout · December 14 2019 07:48:31 AM MST

Well I just got in 100 303 British Enfield IVI brand empty brass that I need to reload. For me I am looking for a light load as I have a 270 for anything heavy and the 303 kicks like a mule with a brass shoulder plate. I would like to get some ideas for a light load just for fun plinking or may be small game like squirrels and the like. I will be using 150g fmj that I have on hand until gone and Lil'gun powder I use for 300 blackout. My main concern is to not make it too light. Any ideas?? Craig

Just editing to say I use Varget in 300 blackout but have used 3031 a lot in 303 but again I want a super light load

tommac919 · December 14 2019 08:04:20 AM MST

http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WPHandloading-Guide-7.0-Web-REV.pdf

page 73

other starting loads; ( confirm load data first )
150 grain Soft Point

IMR-3031 36.9

IMR-4895 37.7

IMR-4060 38.5

IMR-4320 39.1

H380 39.9

H414 42.9

gadabout · December 14 2019 10:49:28 AM MST

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I have all kinds of data with starting points to max but what I am looking for is opinions about light loads. With a bolt gun you are not concerned about enough strength to run the action but you do need enough to get the bullet clear of the barrel. I am interested in any other issues with a light load I am missing. Craig

The_Shadow · December 14 2019 11:16:51 AM MST

Craig the data in this link may also help you...

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

gadabout · December 14 2019 01:30:13 PM MST

Hey Wade very interesting info I will need to study further. Thanks, Craig

Trapper6L · December 14 2019 04:31:52 PM MST

What you need is a Speer #10 manual. It has reduced loads in it. But since you don't have one, I'll post what is in it. First off, we shoot a lot of reduced stuff. I teach the local Boy Scouts reloading and we use the 03 Springfields for their shooting irons. The boys really get into it when they learn they will be using actual military rifles used in WWII. The powder of choice is SR4759. It can be a problem to find. In the 3006, we load the 148gr FMJ on top of 19.0 grs SR4759. That gives us about an 80% loading density as the powder is very bulky. It will not go thru a powder measure to give you a clue. We set the sights at 300 yds for bullet impact at 100 yds to be dead center. The load will hunt out to about 150 yds. So, for the 303 British. Speer manual #10 gives several loads. Here they are:

100gr Plinker start load-16.0grs SR4759=1587'ps, Max load 20.0grs=1980'ps
150gr Spitzer Start load-21.0 grs SR759=1613'ps, Max load 25.0grs= 1925'ps

Powder change to IMR4198
180gr RN Start load-21.0 IMR4198= 1543'ps, Max load 25.0 grs IMR4198= 1829'ps

I would assume there is more data out there using Trail Boss. I have some of it but frankly I buy all of the SR4759 I find. I've paid as much as $9.00 a can and as little as 50 cents a can. The cans are a half pound usually. The latest production has one pound cans available. You almost can't put enough SR4759 in a case. It's extremely bulky is why. The 3006 load like I said will fill the 3006 case up to the shoulder. You couldn't double charge this powder even with a hammer and stick. It burns super clean, so clean you won't know the gun ever went off. Recoil.....there isn't any. You can bag up an old Springfield, stand off to one side, pull the trigger and the rifle will hardly move. For the Boy Scouts or for any kid wanting to learn shooting, this is the ticket. The load in the 3006 case will hunt to around 150 yds. Hope some of this has value for you.

gadabout · December 14 2019 05:17:05 PM MST

Hey Trapper, Thanks for the info and it is just what I am looking for. I had forgot about Trail Boss and will try that as I would love to get rid of it. I did create a very nice 38 sp load out of it but don't shoot 38 much so will work with that powder to see what I can do with it for the 303. Thanks for your input. Craig

gadabout · December 15 2019 09:24:59 AM MST

OK I am starting at 10.0g Trail Boss which is a light load for the 308. There are a lot of loads starting around this point so I am safe I feel. All this data I am using is for light rifle loading. Any issues? BTW if this works I may go lighter. Craig

sqlbullet · December 16 2019 07:45:32 AM MST

Acknowledging that the bullets you have are cheaper than any you could buy, I would suggest that if you have to buy bullets you look at some lighter weight.

Rim Rock has some great options intended for 32 ACP that should shoot just fine in your 303. A 125 grain Keith would be devastating to small game at 1200 fps. And for punching paper with even less recoil, they have a 100 grain wadcutter "flying soup-can" style.

As a general rule 9-10 grains of about any of the fast pistol powders will give you a decent "guard" load producing 1200 or so fps with a 150 grain bullet.

gadabout · December 16 2019 12:56:49 PM MST

sqlbullet, thanks for the input. It is just about what I had gathered from my net surfing. I think 10g Trail Boss should do OK and I will love to use that crap for something. I do have 150g bullets for the 303 but when they are gone they will be replaced with something. Craig

gadabout · December 22 2019 12:04:30 PM MST

Shot the 303 today and what a nice surprise...very nice loads with Trail Boss. I loved it very soft recoil and the round was just what I was looking for. I shot one of the full house loads which I didn't like but just to compare. The light loads were very accurate even compared to the regular rounds. All in all I couldn't be any happier!!!! Craig
PS I will shoot this gun now!!

gadabout · December 28 2019 11:48:08 AM MST

I did up about 56 303 today and all went well except I had a heck of a time setting the powder measure. I took apart one of the rounds I had left over and it was closer to 13g instead of 10g??? Not sure what happened there but I loaded the new ones at 13 as they are all real light anyway. Boy I have a lot of 303 around now but I did run out of 150g bullets. My local supplier has 125g and I will load them next. When I shot the full house rounds last time out I thought they were lighter than before when I shot them but I feel now it was winter clothing and such that reduced the recoil feeling is all. Craig

10mmGarand · December 28 2019 07:49:58 PM MST

Check out "The Load" by gunwriter Ed Harris.
It's a low velocity load that uses Red Dot powder that works great in many rifle rounds.

Also, the reduced H4895 loads might be a good choice.
The formula for that is on Hodgdons website.

gadabout · December 30 2019 12:40:42 PM MST

OK got some 125g bullets coming from Midway. There is no data for this weight but I am OK at 10 to 14g with the 150g bullet so I am safe there but could load hotter but remember I want lighter. I think I will try 10 or so to start. I will be using a conograph for these rounds when I get some good ones to try. The most exciting part o all this is using the Trail Boss as when it's gone I can do this over again with another powder, Ha Ha. Craig

gadabout · January 03 2020 07:00:59 AM MST

BTW just to clarify I bought Trail Boss during the powder crunch a while ago and had a lot of trouble with 223 in a friends gun. I am reading now where it is not recommended to use with automatic guns and I can believe it. It did shoot OK but wouldn't load the next round most of the time. I switched to varget and all problems went away. For the light load I an using a old 303 Enfield bolt action gun. All rounds are running fine and the light rounds I am really enjoying to shoot. It's a whole different game now. I just wanted to post to say Trail Boss may be the ticket for what I am trying to do and I am thinking about trying it in my bolt action 223. May be even buy some more as needed. Craig