Powder choice for .303 British?

[Triggermortis]

I’m looking to work up a hunting load for the .303 using either 150 or 180g tbsp’s.
I have a pal who has quite a selection of different powders available and has kindly offered to supply a large enough quantity of the powder of my choice to at least work up a decent round.
The rifle is an MLE so has 30” (I think) barrel not the shorter SMLE, so my ideal would be a compliant, easy to load and readily available powder, any recommendations ?
Cheers in advance
Triggermortis

 

[alberta boy]

I have a lot of data for powders you can't use , but Viht N140 has also worked really well for me with 180 gr bullets . Go to Vihtavuori 's website , they have a fair amount of data on the 303 .

AB

 

[Tarquin]

N140 all the way. It was unobtainium but I believe its coming back on shelves.
Reloader 15 is also great as is Vectan SP7 or TU3000

 

[alberta boy]

N140 all the way. It was unobtainium but I believe its coming back on shelves.
Reloader 15 is also great as is Vectan SP7 or TU3000

Reloader 15 is a very good choice , but I thought it was hard to get in the UK , I stand corrected .

AB

 

[Namman]

I’m looking to work up a hunting load for the .303 using either 150 or 180g tbsp’s.
I have a pal who has quite a selection of different powders available and has kindly offered to supply a large enough quantity of the powder of my choice to at least work up a decent round.
The rifle is an MLE so has 30” (I think) barrel not the shorter SMLE, so my ideal would be a compliant, easy to load and readily available powder, any recommendations ?
Cheers in advance
Triggermortis

I used to use N140 with a 150 gr speer sp.
Accurate and effective on fallow and roe.

 

[Laurie]

Reloader 15 is a very good choice , but I thought it was hard to get in the UK , I stand corrected .

AB

We can get it, but the price is now horrendous.

 

[Triggermortis]

Ok so N140 is first choice with reloader 15 in second place then?

 

[Namman]

Ok so N140 is first choice with reloader 15 in second place then?

Yep. I had a .303 no 4 sporter. It was certainly just as effective as a .308.

 

[enfieldspares]

When I shot these things competitively (coming runner up to the late Pete Bloom in the 1997 LERA SMLE Meeting) the go to powder for those of us that won and those that aspired to win) was with a 174 grain or 180 grain bullet was either N140 or less so N150. Both were excellent and the N150 camp used it as there was a belief it gave the same performance as did N140 but at slightly less pressure and "kinder" on older barrels. I tried both and in truth was happy with either. Very happy. Whichever you use you'd not be disappointed. My "go to" was 180 grain S & B FMJ with 42.0 grains N140. But I also loaded the same S & B bullet with 42.0 grains of N150.

Here's my last notes these with a 42.0 grain N140 load:
5 May 2002: A chance to test the Fazackerley No4 PF2795 for zero and at 500 yards. Also an opportunity to evaluate the relative mid range accuracy of the S & B 180 grain vs RG 174 grain using the same powder charge, case and primer. Accuracy - Little to choose between the S & B bullet handloads and the RG bullet handloads. Both well capable of holding the bull - even at 500 yards - in rifle PF2795 but possibly more potential "V" bulls in the S & B bullets. At 500 yards the RG shoots to point of aim with the leaf sight set to 500 yards. The S & B bullet shoots slightly higher - half height of the bullseye.

 

[Triggermortis]

Thanks very much indeed for the info, do I need to take into account the length on the MLE’s barrel, is it even a consideration ?

 

[enfieldspares]

For sure I use safe loading practice and see what Viht's manuals advise as to where you start your loads at! What worked for me may not work for you and 42.0 grains is pretty full on. Just so you know!

 

[Triggermortis]

Whilst I’ve reloaded for many rifles I’ve not loaded for one with such a lengthly barrel relatively speaking, should I maybe be starting at the very bottom of the powder weight scale or not?
Would a longer barrel have a significant effect on breach pressure?

 

[User00032]

Hey bro,just another thumbs up for the N140...used it for a while in my .303 no4. It works the best in my humble and relatively inexperienced opinion. A military armourer told me to use it. He seems to be right.

 

[Laurie]

Thanks very much indeed for the info, do I need to take into account the length on the MLE’s barrel, is it even a consideration ?

Whilst I’ve reloaded for many rifles I’ve not loaded for one with such a lengthly barrel relatively speaking, ................................................... Would a longer barrel have a significant effect on breach pressure?

No, and no.

Correct powder grade to suit the cartridge characteristics and safe loads for the action strength are all that you need consider. As @enfieldspares says in post #11, use Viht's data working up from the listed starting load and don't exceed the maximum. 1% steps are about right, that is 0.3-0.4gn for this cartridge.

Rifle reloading data | Handloading | Rifle calibers | Centerfire Rifle bullets | Reload your own ammo - Vihtavuori

Use the 150gn Mega data for same weight cup & lead core bullets; 180gn Sierra Spitzer data for it and similar 180s. (Non-lead needs different charge weights and a bit of research will be required.)

 

[viking90]

N140 is the usual go to but the biggest question is are you using the iron sights or fitting a rail with a modern scope? If you're using a scope then load development is easy. If you're using the iron sights then I'd advise researching the surplus ammo and finding what MV it was in your rifle and try to match that. At stalking distances it probably won't matter so much but it's worth while knowing that the sight increments might not line up with your home loads drop over distance. The bullet BC is another factor but again probably not a worry for stalking distances. 7.62x54r is my cartridge of choice for everything (like 303 brit but more powder) and I've gone through this for a long time playing with balistics graphs, hours of researching the 1960s issued snipers ammo and range testing so the rifles original BDC scope lines up with my home loads. Both for stalking and match ammo.

 

[Triggermortis]

Morning Laurie/Viking,
The rifle has open sights and I have no plans to fit a scope, thanks for the info its invaluable, any opinions on primers at all?
Cheers
Triggermortis

 

[enfieldspares]

Re the sights...I speak here with ignorance....I'd assume unless "converted"....that the rear sight is for the 215 grain bullet? Not the later 174 grain?

How you would tell I don't know but I am sure help will be found on the internet? Or in Skennerton's book? I met him at the Pattern Room when it was at Nottingham once, Skennerton.

 

[Laurie]

any opinions on primers at all?

Yes, buy enough of one make / model / production lot of standard LR (ie not 'Magnum') primers to last you for years and stick to it once you work a load up. The odds are heavily weighted that in an iron-sighted MLE you wouldn't see a difference between models anyway. Don't discount European makes (S&B and Fiocchi) and the South American CBC Magtech 9 1/2 which are often cheaper than US products, but are excellent, consistent performers. Importation of Russian primers have been stopped in sanctions against Putin's Russia, but if you're offered any (if older, 'PMC' brand, recent years 'Murom') LRs grab them as they are very good indeed.

 

[viking90]

Primers? Literally anything large rifle. I have a small stock of the blue federal (back from when they were £30 a thousand) but in this day and age I'll use anything I can get. I've never noticed anything detrimental to accuracy in my No4mk1 by changing the primer brand.
One investment to make is a broken case extractor, they're so cheap it's not worth not having in your range bag and can save a bad day.

 

[Triggermortis]

Thank you chaps, I’ll get some of the factory rounds I have fire formed and then get started on working up a load