[cheygriz]

I really like the Remington UMC .303 ball loads. Good reloadable cases and all. Theouble is, I can't seem to find 174-176 grain ball bullets to reload with.

Do any of you .303 reloaders out there have a source for good Mark Vll ball bullets?

Surely, they must be available somewhere!

TIA

[geekay]

Yeah, right. Don't we all wish. Here in OZ we can get Taipan 170gn HPs; flat based, which are accurate but require an extra 25yards of elevation per 100. Flat based pills seem to work best out of LEs IMHO.

[jem375]

Why don't you try the 150 gr. bullets instead of the heavier 174's?....Just about any article on this caliber claims that the 150's are more accurate, and the right bullet weight for deer anyway......about the only reason I could see reloading the bigger bullet is for elk or moose......I just bought 100 Sierra 150 gr. bullets and will give those a try........

[cheygriz]

Hey Remington!!!

Any of you guys Reading the forums?

Any chance of buying your Mark Vll ball bullets for handloading? Especially bulk packed in lots of 500 or 1,000?

You would be sole supplier! Here's a chance to make some money, guys!

[Johnny Guest]

Two possibilities - - -
Sierra now makes a nifty-looking (I haven't personally tried 'em) 174 gr. match bullet for the .303. No, their Match King bullets are NOT constructed for hunting, but it should provide good practice fodder, and could be loaded to exactly match the velocity of the Mark VII military load which made the .303's reputation for long range accuracy.

One bullet I have used quite a bit is the Sierra Pro Hunter 180 gr. Spitzer. Yes, a bit heavier than the 174, but I worked up a load that seems to duplicate the MK VII trajectory quite well, and it is a great hunting bullet. I'd have to check my notes for exact powder charge, but it uses IMR 4320 powder and chronographs within about 10 fps of the 174 military. It is barely over 2400 in my No. 4 Mk 1, and I've been impressed with the accuracy at up to 200 yards. Comparing it with about three different lots of Mk. VII, it matches the military sight settings quite well.

And, Elder Son and I were talking about good factory ammo the other day--He reminded me of how well the standard Remington green box 180 gr. .303 load shoots. He's shot it in a friend's SMLE No. 1 Mk III as well as in my No. 4 and a No. 5. Yup, it's a round nose, but how many of us shoot much over 200 yards anyhow?

Best regards,
Johnny

[444]

Sierra and Hornady both make 174 grain bullets. There may be others but those are the ones on my bench. The Hornadys are .312 and I have both round nose bullets and FMJ/BT. The Sierras are .311 and are FMJ/BT match bullets. I was using the round nose bullets to try to get within a mile of the lands.

[Gewehr98]

Very nice bullet, good load for vintage rifle matches. ;)

[cheygriz]

Johnny, 444 and Gewehr,

Thanks much for the info! I wasn't aware that anyone made a 170-180 FMJ spitzer in .303.

I will definitely try them.

BTW, I'm shooting a No. 4 Mk1* and I am curious about neck sizing for this rifle. Have any of you neck sized for a Lee-Enfield? How well did it work?

[Gewehr98]

It's about the best thing you can do to prolong the brass life in the Lee-Enfield. I've owned several NoIMkIII's, a No4Mk1, and a No5Mk1 Jungle Carbine. I still have one NoIMkIII, and one No5Mk1 Jungle Carbine. I've gone over to nothing but neck sizing the .303 British brass for these guns, otherwise I get case separations after only a couple firings. The rear-lugs of the Lee-Enfield and the headspacing of the rimmed round just don't like full-length resizing very much. The Lee collet die is great for neck sizing. It's almost as if they knew that a Lee die was proper for a Lee-Enfield rifle... :D

[Johnny Guest]

Wish I could locate the source for this, but I've read that since the .303 ctg headspaces on the rim, the Brits decided to intentionally make the shoulder area of the rifle chambers oversize. This was to ensure proper chambering and operation in the muddy trenches of WW-I and in the sandy bits of the (then) far-flung empire.

Compare a factory cartridge with a case fired in any of the SMLEs and you can see the set-forward with the naked eye. I got a Redding neck size die for my No. 4. If you have more than one .303, though, you have to be careful to keep track of which cases were fired in which rifle.

Ross Seyfreid (sp??) did an article a couple of years ago, about shooting .303 in tightly-chambered commercial rifles. His brass lasted a LONG time because there was less "working" of the shoulder.

cheygriz, please share with us any pet loads you work up for your .303. I like the one I use, but always ready to learn more.:D

Best,
Johnny

[cheygriz]

Johnny,

I'll be happy to share when I get them worked up.

I've been shooting my No. 4 MKl* for many years, but always with milsurp ammo. That stuff is starting to get harder and harder to find, so I've decided to handload it.

Every time I pick up that old L-E and fondle it, my subconscious always involuntarily blurts out: "God save the Queen!"

The old No. 4 isn't as accurate as the 1903 Springfield or the 98 Mauser, it doesn't have the firepower of the M-1, it isn't as pretty as a Win Mod 70...... but it has "presence."

I hold it in my hands, and I can hear the faint skirl of bagpipes in the distance. I can taste gin and tonic, black tea with milk and sugar or "stout ale." I can almost feel the humid heat of African and Indian deserts. I can reflect on the writings of Kipling and Churchill.

I can't explain it, but there's just something about the feelings that I get from a L-E that no other rifle can give me. I think that those of you who have posted on this thread know what I mean.

[Johnny Guest]

You mean, something like,
Counting out your last few rounds to share with your mates,
Looking inland and shivering in the salt spray?


. . . Some fix their eyes upon the flames that turn night to day
Some yet standing bold and ready stoutly guard the rear from Jerry
They'll need no flares to see him 'neath the fires of Calais.

from James Keelaghen.


Maybe you're NOT the only one here with a vivid imagination, 'griz

Best,
Johnny

[cheygriz]

Johhny,

Yep!

[cheygriz]

UPDATE!!!!!

I contacted Remington Arms, ammo division. They told me that their 174 gr fall bullets are available to handloaders. They recommended that I contact Widener's or Black Hills Shooters Supply! I looked on these websites, but did not see them cataloged. I guess that I'll try calling one or both in the next few days.

I haven't found them yet, but Remington assures me that they are available.

Go' Blimey! "At's good news if I've ever 'eard it now! I think I'll just 'ave a pint to celebrate!