Anyone using N140 with Hornady 150gn sp .303?

[Rearlugs]

I've acquired some Hornady 303 150gn SP interlocks (to test the rumour that they are a bit fatter and have more bearing surface than PPU 174gn BT, and thus shoot better in some rifles).

I'm hoping to find an accurate load for target/competition shooting up to 600 yards.

Vit themselves list a similar bullet - the Lapua 150gn Mega - and recommend a slightly faster powder N130 or N133. However, the only powder I have to hand in reasonable quantity is N140.


I just wanted ask if anyone has used N140 with these Hornadys and, if so, what sort of loads and results did you get?

Thx

 

[Cooter]

I tried them in my Howa with ladder tests etc and found that 43Grn N140 would consistently give MOA at 100yds but no better.
Also tried them with N135 with no noticeable improvement.
I don't think it was the powder just that the projectile didn't suit my Howa.

By comparison 150Grn Nosler 30150 with 42.7Grn N140 were consistently 0.25MOA.

 

[Harry mac]

44gr N140, with a 150gr Speer, Sierra, Norma or Hornady bullet has always worked well through my .303 stalking rifle.

 

[Dalua]

I tried them in my Howa with ladder tests etc and found that 43Grn N140 would consistently give MOA at 100yds but no better.
Also tried them with N135 with no noticeable improvement.
I don't think it was the powder just that the projectile didn't suit my Howa.

By comparison 150Grn Nosler 30150 with 42.7Grn N140 were consistently 0.25MOA.

Are these tests with a .308 rifle, rather than a .303?

 

[ChesterP]

N140 should work just fine. Anywhere from 42.5 to 44gr behind a 150gr in .303, very similar to the charge for .308.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

N140 should work just fine. Anywhere from 42.5 to 44gr behind a 150gr in .303, very similar to the charge for .308.

Should or does? Have you done it and have you got the T shirt? The .303 Enfield is an old system and might not like .308 pressures. I have a .303 but not yet put anything through it as it was a sporterized job that was done in 1946 in North Germany with the ruling Britishers permission.

 

[ChesterP]

It's the load we use in our club 303 and the load I also use in my 308, so yes, I have tried both otherwise I wouldn't have said so! I qualified with "should" because as you well know, no two rifles are the same so the usual caveats apply. Copying loads "off a forum" isn't recommended but quoting what we use might give a clue to what is used and it's up to others to do their own safe development. N150 is another powder that I've seen successfully used for 303 but I haven't tried that.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

It's the load we use in our club 303 and the load I also use in my 308, so yes, I have tried both otherwise I wouldn't have said so! I qualified with "should" because as you well know, no two rifles are the same so the usual caveats apply. Copying loads "off a forum" isn't recommended but quoting what we use might give a clue to what is used and it's up to others to do their own safe development. N150 is another powder that I've seen successfully used for 303 but I haven't tried that.

Thanks.