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303 British cast bullet load needed

travis3
I have a NO 1 MK3 rifle that I would like to load cast bullets for . I would like to use it for deer. I have the following molds Lyman 311284, 311291 , 31141 and the Lee 185gr.
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6 comments

Date Votes
  • jonk
    Slug your bore. The .311 is nominal, but many Enfields have groove diameters of up to .317".

    Assuming you are good to go, as I'm sure you know, ordinary jacketed data is by and large useless. With a gas check, I'd look to go around 2000 to 2200 fps for a really hard well fit bullet for hunting. Use of a forrester hollow pointing tool might be in order as well to ensure expansion; over penetration of cast bullets is common.

    A case full of 4831 to the base of the neck would yield this velocity.

    Other things to try- about 30-35 gr of 4895, 37 gr of 4320, 36 gr of 4064.

    Of course, the mild plinker loads using 16 gr of 2400, 13 gr of Red Dot, etc., might shoot great but might not have enough oomph for a clean kill.
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  • charliemeyer007
    About 40 years ago my dad got a 303 at a gun show for $5.00 He was mad at me paying $10 for a mag. Anyway that summer I was spent with that rifle. I made my own black powder, reloaded primers (yes really), cast bullets and abused that rifle all in the interest of science. My favorite cast bullet was 190 gr for the 30-40 krag. It was shot as cast and hand lubed to better fit bore. Softer bullets worked better. My newer Lyman book lists 314299 200gr as the only cast bullet vel up to 1950fps. If you look on flea bay often there are .318 molds that would size down nicely. A cast 303 will take deer. I wouldn't expect it to be a tackdriver.
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  • travis3
    Looks as if things are looking up. A load around 2000 fps with the Lyman 311284 should work well.
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  • Emmett Dunham
    The hottest load I have listed for an alloy round 311466, 151 grain is 1760 FPS. Seem like the speed you are looking for is in a jacketed bullet.

    Emmett
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  • jonk
    quote:Originally posted by Emmett Dunham
    The hottest load I have listed for an alloy round 311466, 151 grain is 1760 FPS. Seem like the speed you are looking for is in a jacketed bullet.

    Emmett
    The gents at the cast boolit forum would disagree. Just because there is only published load data for up to 1760 FPS doesn't mean that 2000 fps can't be reached, just that those developing the data didn't reach it.

    Some guys over there have reached jacketed velocity with cast. I never have but it CAN be done.
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  • travis3
    I have cast bullets for over 40 years and most of the time I have been able to reach the 2000fps mark. I was wondering if any one has taken small deer with the 311284 from the 303 british?
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