Data for .215 gr Bullets in .303 British

[Art]

I was shopping and found that 215 gr Woodleigh bullets in .303 were available at a not bad price. I was thinking of buying some but have not been able to find any reloading data for 215 gr bullets in .303 British.

I would be interested in powders/loads which would more or less duplicate the old .303 Brit. 215 gr. Remington or Dominion commercial loads. Some of you Canadians might be able to help with this.

Thanks in advance.

Art

[musketshooter]

All the original 303 bullets I have checked are .310. I never had any good results with accuracy with oversized bullets.

[Parashooter]

I was shopping and found that .215 gr Woodleigh bullets in .303 were available at a not bad price. I was thinking of buying some but have not been able to find any reloading data for .215 gr bullets in .303 British.

It's no wonder you can't find data for bullets as light as .215-grain. What are they made of, helium?:icon_scratch:

[Tuna]

You might try about 41 gr. of 4350 for the 215 gr bullet. Should be in the ball park of 2050 fps which was the original loading in the .303.

[Art]

It's no wonder you can't find data for bullets as light as .215-grain. What are they made of, helium?:icon_scratch:

Creeping senility I guess. Typos corrected, at least in the body of the post :icon_redface:.

[Art]

You might try about 41 gr. of 4350 for the 215 gr bullet. Should be in the ball park of 2050 fps which was the original loading in the .303.

Thanks much. If I find some IMR 4350 I'll buy the bullets and work up a load. I'll let you know how it comes out. If I get it done I'll try it out in our son's old Lee Enfield Sporter.

[snakehunter]

I was shopping and found that 215 gr Woodleigh bullets in .303 were available at a not bad price. I was thinking of buying some but have not been able to find any reloading data for 215 gr bullets in .303 British.

I would be interested in powders/loads which would more or less duplicate the old .303 Brit. 215 gr. Remington or Dominion commercial loads. Some of you Canadians might be able to help with this.

Thanks in advance.

Art

I've got an old Lyman manual that lists the factory duplication load for 215 grain jacketed bullets as 39.6 grains of IMR 4895 for a muzzle velocity of 2183 f/s out of a 25" barrel. The test rifle was an SMLE.

[emmagee1917]

http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/OM/IdealHandbook38.pdf
page 39.
Enjoy .
Chris

[Art]

http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/OM/IdealHandbook38.pdf
page 39.
Enjoy .
Chris

What a great old manual!! Great "vast and unpaid research department" here, to quote Rush Limbaugh. It's interesting to me that the old manuals show loads that are "warmer," sometimes significantly "warmer" than the current ones. The load I use in my .250 savage came out of an old (late 60s maybe early 70s Sierra manual) and even then an acceptable load was hotter than the current manuals for that cartridge.

If I do this project I'll shoot for velocities between 2,000 and 2,100 FPS or so, in the unlikely event I'd ever find an appropriate opportunity hunt with it that should do the trick.

Thanks to all for the input.

[snakehunter]

What a great old manual!! Great "vast and unpaid research department" here, to quote Rush Limbaugh. It's interesting to me that the old manuals show loads that are "warmer," sometimes significantly warmer than the current ones. The load I use in my .250 savage came out of an old (late 60s maybe early 70s Sierra manual) and even then an acceptable load was hotter than the current manuals for that cartridge.

If I do this project I'll shoot for velocities between 2,000 and 2,100 FPS or so, in the unlikely event I'd ever find an appropriate opportunity hunt with it that should do the trick.

Thanks to all for the input.

When I want to work up loads that take advantage of a weapons real potential, I always use the old manuals, unless the cartridge is too new to be in them. As you say, the old ones often have significantly hotter loads.

[emmagee1917]

The old ones were written by ballisticians for reloaders with common sense enough to reduce and work up.
The new ones are written by lawyers who know common sense is no longer common.
Chris

[madsenshooter]

I like that! Others have opined that today's data is down some because of improved pressure measuring methods. It's likely a bit of both. Working up for the rifle you're using is the key. More often that not today's data is developed in pressure test barrels that have minimal bore/groove dimensions vs, for example, a .314 groove diameter Enfield, or a .310 groove diameter Krag rifle.

[Sunray]

215's were only used until 1910 in Mk VI ammo. Also used for eons by moose hunters.
This is out of my old 45th Edition Lyman book published when 215's were still made by more than just Woodleigh. No idea what Rx 21 is though. Very likely not an issue.
Powder Start Vel Max Vel
IMR3031 32.0 1840 36.0 2057
IMR4064 35.0 1689 39.0 1996
IMR4895 36.0 2000 40.0 2217
IMR4320 37.0 2008 41.0 2217
Rx 37.0 2044 40.0* 2164
H380 40.0 2028 43.0 2150

Accuracy Load: IMR4895 39.5 grains 2183 fps
Factory Duplication Load: IMR4895 39.6 grains 2188 fps.
'*' indicates a compressed load.