What reference manual when my main interest is reduced loads in 0.303 British?

[Dunc]

Hi all - I recently acquired a Martini-Enfield in 0.303 and out of respect for the old girl, made by BSA in 1899, I only want to use reduced loads, and safely.

A local gunsmith loaded me a small batch of 200 gr and 170 gr cast lead bullets with 25gr of 5744 powder. These shot well.

However, now that I have bought my own loading gear and am off on holiday next week, I hope to start reloading for myself, under the supervision of a friend who is an experienced reloader.

To shoot 170 gr gas checked lead bullets, what is a suitable powder or what would you recommend? My local gun-shops won't necessarily have a wide range but I'm looking at

AA 5744
Unique
Trail Boss
Red Dot
Bullseye

Is there a 'best' powder in that list? For loads that would give me around 1500 ft/sec?

What an interesting new hobby I'm entering! To read some more, (I do have the ABC of reloading and a little compilation of 303 loads) what manual should I buy for more information and insights?

Thanks in advance.

 

[fredhorace77]

I would definately look into trail boss. And h4895 for higher speed loads. I use trail boss in my 223 and im getting anywhere from 1300fps to 2200fps depending on which load i want..u can fimd info on hodgdons website for trailboss loads and also h4895 youth loads

 

[bigedp51]

Does your Martini-Enfield have original Metford rifling or later five groove Enfield rifling.

Below Enfield rifling that replaced the older Metford rifling.

NOTE: The Enfield chamber was reamed out larger in diameter and length early in WWI and our SAAMI reloading dies do not take this into consideration. The chambers were reamed larger to make room for "The mud of Flanders fields" and the terrible conditions of trench warfare. So chambering American made cartridge cases is like parking a VW Beetle in a blimp hangar.

Prvi Partizan cases are larger in base diameter, .010 thicker in the base web area and have thicker rims. (hint, hint for reloading and case life)

In plain English this means DO NOT full length resize your cases you will push the shoulder of the case back too far and over resized the diameter of the case. A case forming and file trim die can be used as a shoulder bump die when you need to bump the shoulder back when the cases begin to be a tight fit. A Lee Collet neck die works well with the .303 British.

Below a case forming die, the sides of the case do not touch the die and I have inserted the case with just my fingers.

Below is a Wilson case gauge with a fired case in the gauge, if you full length resize your cases the amount the case is sticking above the gauge is how much you will "OVER" resize the case with a full length die.

I do not shoot cast bullets any longer and cheat using .312 pistol bullets for case forming and plinking.

And remember this if your an American shooting a British rifle and want to remain a red blooded patriotic American rebel.

It only took Mel Gibson one hour and forty-seven minutes to defeat General Cornwallis. ;D

 

[Dunc]

Does your Martini-Enfield have original Metford rifling or later five groove Enfield rifling.

Gentlemen. Many thanks for the replies. It has Enfield rifling and was a 'trade' rifle rather than one built for military use.

 

[Bulseyetom]

You might want to check over on the Cast Boolits website as there are probably several members who load nothing but cast bullits in the 303 British. Tom