[JeepGeek]

I'm having trouble finding molds for this round.
I'd like a Lee mold, preferably. Anyone?

Also looking for cast bullet loads for this round.

[CBS220]

Surplusrifle.com has several writeups on cast bullet loads in the Enfields.

Take a gander at their website. They post some excellent results with them.

[armoredman]

I just started casting for my 303 Enfield No4Mk1*, using the Lee .312-160-2R mould, a nice one I want to use for both .303 and 7.62x39mm. Unfortunately a hiatus in testing occured whilst the rifle was in the shop, and I was only able to test fire a few loads, also not perfect lacking a good selection of powder, which I will fix ASAP.
160gr Cast, no GC, Fed brass, 5gr 700X, COAL 2.909, way too weak, way low @ 50ys.

That's the only one I had last time I took it out, but I have more waiting, now that she's back where she belongs! The Lee mould I have is a bear, get very few good bullets per hundred poured. Need to break it in more.

[dmftoy1]

I'm a big fan of Lyman 314299

17.8 grains of 2400
WLR Primer

LOTS of good info on cast boolits in a .303 at http://castboolits.gunloads.com (FWIW)

Oh yeah .. and set your sights at 500 yards as a good starting point for 50-100 yards for this load. :)

Regards,
Dave

[JeepGeek]

Dave-
that mean there's lots of drop in that load?

[Fatelvis]

I'm a big fan of Lyman 314299

17.8 grains of 2400


I like this bullet sized to .314", over 16-18 grns of 2400 also. You have to set your sights to 400 or 500 yds to get a 100 yd zero because the bullet is moving slower than the Mil-spec load, and thus creating much less recoil. When the cast bullet exits the muzzle of the rifle, it travels on a lower angle because the rifle hasn't rocked back with recoil, like as with the Mil-spec loads. The sight on the rifle is calibrated for the Milspec load, so you must crank up the yardage on the sight to compensate for this lower "exit angle". I hope this makes sense to you!

[armoredman]

Oh yeah, JeepGeek, I didn't have the powder I wanted to use, and a longtime loader suggested I use 700X, in that load as a starting weight. So, I did. :rolleyes:
I'd call it a bunny fart load, but bunny farts are louder and stronger. The bullet made it to the target, but it was pretty bored by the time it got there. I think it was about 6 inches below POA at 50 yards. I need to do two things - get some gas checks, and buy some real powder.:banghead:

[kragluver]

I tried the Lee C312-185-1R (designed for the Enfield) with no success. However, the rifle I was shooting had a very worn throat. I ended up switching the barrel. I now use Cast Bullet Engineering (CBE) 316 180 gr mould. I may go back and try the Lee bullet with the new barrel, but haven't yet. The CBE works well. I like SR4759 in all of my cast bullet applications (.30-06, .45-70, .30-40 Krag, .303 Brit). The Lyman mould called out above is also a classic in the Enfield. See also http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/. The kind folks at that forum are who got me into the cast bullet hobby in the first place. They are one of the best cast bullet references on the web.

[lee n. field]

I tried the Lee C312-185-1R (designed for the Enfield) with no success

I bought that very mold not long ago, from somebody on THR. Have not had a chance to use it yet. (Reminds me, I need to buy a 312 sizer....). What gas checks did you use, 'cause I've got no idea what I need to get for it?

[dmftoy1]

Yup, when I shoot cast boolits I'm only shooting for 1600-1800 fps. You can shoot a whole bunch but it costs you next to nothing. (hence the 500 yard sight setting)

It's amazing the accuracy you can get out of these old guns with a quality cast bullet though. I would spend some time getting all the copper fouling out before shooting lead as it makes your cleanup and accuracy much better.

Good Luck!

Regards,
Dave

[kragluver]

The standard 30-cal gas checks will seat on the Lee C312 bullet just fine. I use Hornady. For my CBE bullets (sized .315) I have to expand my gas checks using the back end of a piece of tapered drill rod chucked into my drill press. Set the gas check on a block of wood and press gently.

I suspect that Lee bullet will shoot fine in my re-barreled Enfield. I just have yet to try it. I was just happy to see "round" holes on the target paper at the range a couple of weeks ago. I've been fighting with the Savage for more than a year now trying to get it to shoot cast well.

dmftoy1 -- you said it when it comes to accuracy! My Krag is a real tack-driver using that same Lee C312 bullet we were talking about above. I load it over 19 gr of SR4759. Cast from straight WW.

[dmftoy1]

Always wanted a Krag . . . Around here they're REALLY rare it seems. :(

Jeepgeek, I just wanted to correct a misconception I might have given you . . you CAN load cast boolits up to much higher velocities than I'm doing it. (it just takes gas checks, attention to alloy, and correct lubes) If I was thinking of hunting with my Enfield then i'd be doing things differently, but since I'm just after trigger time behind these old rifles as cheaply as possible then that's the type of loads I'm using. (I use straight WW alloy, gas checks and "Carnuba Red" lube . ..I suspect I could put them up near 2000-2200fps if I wanted to . . .)

Have a good one,
Dave

[kragluver]

A bit off the topic -- watch local garage sales and pawn shops for Krags. I noticed they are showing up more and more around here as the older generation passes them down to us young-'uns:) Prices are going up though (unless you just want a nice sporter).

[lee n. field]

Re the gas check, Lee tells me:You can use Lyman 226 or RCBS 465. We have no info on Hornady.

Lee Precision

[JeepGeek]

anyone got info regarding hunting loads pushing lead?

Also-- what do you think of using WW alloy, and using a bit of history to improve the terminal performance: cut an "X" in the nose of the bullet, a la "dum dum"....

[CBS220]

Doubt that would do much if anything.

www.theboxotruth.com did a little something on that.

If you're worried about terminal performance, use a better bullet. It's not worth it to wound the animal with an underperforming bullet if you aren't confident in it.

[cracked butt]

Ihaven'tgottenaroundto casting for my enfields but here is a good article:

http://www.303british.com/id37.html