Loading cast bullets for .303 British

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have some cast bullets for my .303 British that I would like to load with my Lee loader I don't know if it's possible as the bullets are probably a little oversized and would have trouble getting them started in the neck after sizing.

Any ideas?

 

[NCsmitty]

Hey 351 WINCHESTER, do you know what size the bullets measure now? Are they lubed?
Lee does make a sizer if they are too big to use as is, but it's used in conjunction with a press to push the bullets through the die. They have a .314 die which should be just right for the Enfield, should you need one.
Usually a couple thousands over the bore size works well.



NCsmitty

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

They are .313, but I will have to verify when I find my calipers. The box has written on it .313/200 9R gc cast blts for lee enfield. It appears to be a full box of 250. They are lubed with a black lube, but that is all I know about them.

Assuming I can load them with my lee loader would these be good deer/hog bullet or are they for target practice?

 

[MichaelK]

Hi 351
Does your lee loader come with a case-mouth belling tool? That's what you need to load your cast bullets. It's not that you bullets aren't the right diameter, they probubly are, but it's standard to bell the case mouth because lead will be shaved off the sides of the bullts. If the loader can't bell the mouths, perhaps you could bell them with a round metal punch that tapers quickly. You might be able to work the punch in by hand, and just open the mouth itself a few thousandths just enough to accept the base of the bullet. Once the base is started, the rest of the bullet will go in just fine. The belling will be removed once you crimp the mouth onto the bullet.

By the way, do your bullets have a gas-check on the end? I'm assuming if they are described as "gc cast blts", they are. When you load your bullets, make sure that the base of the bullet is no lower than the bottom of the neck. That is, the neck area should still be touching the gas check. The reason is that the blast of firing could potentially dislodge the check from the base of the bullet if it isn't held in place by the tension of the neck. If seated properly, the pressure of the burning gas will uniformly push against the gas check, which uniformly pushes against the lead bullet, resulting in the best accuracy.
Good luck, and get a hog for me.
Michael

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

The bullets are gas checked and whoever made them did a first class job. A round metal punch was kinda what I was thinking of, but I won't know for sure until I try. I've never loaded lead for my .303 and it's been about 40 years since I've loaded revolver ammo. Thanks for the tip on the seating depth. I know a lot of folks look down on the lee loader, but it does load very accurate ammo plus it doesn't take up much space.

Where could I find some load data for this bullet?

 

[NCsmitty]

Good information from MichaelK. With a 200gr gascheck bullet, if that's correct, you should be able to take hogs or deer as long as they are reasonably accurate in your Enfield. If you can get the loading down for the bullets, it should prove to be good fun for you.
If you can develop around 1800fps or so, it should be fairly easy shooting and still be big medicine for most anything in your region including Bigfoot.



NCsmitty

 

[NCsmitty]

Hopefully someone can give you some good data for loading.
I have a link to Reloadersnest, and maybe you can gleen a safe load from it. There's a couple lead bullet loads in there.

www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=54

Here's an interesting site, should provide good reading.

www.303british.com/id37.html



NCsmitty