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Reloading with Hodgdon 777

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303 Hunter View Drop Down
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    Posted: June 22 2021 at 6:19pm
So I have been try some Hodgdon's 777 black powder substitute in my mkII* lee medford and my mkII ross with modest success.
But I have some trouble extracting the cases out of the the medford. Does anyone know what that means?
I think that it a sign of high pressure but the ross doesn't have any trouble and I can lift the bolt handed and unlock it I just can't pull the case out easy.
Will post the accuracy results when I have time.
The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west.   Cal Bablitz
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2021 at 7:27am
Its darn near impossible to get over pressure with "Holy Black" but 777 is recommended to drop by volume loads 15% compered to it so maybe? try dropping the load 10% & see what happens.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2021 at 11:24am
I do not the difference between Hodgdon 777 and Pyrodex P would be but, I use the Pyrodex P when loading for the 303B.  I fill the case to the rim and then compress the bullet on top of the powder.
Muzzle velocity is between 1850 and 1950 fps. I had one instance of a hard to extract case but that was due to the case finally splitting from too many reloading sessions. I also use magnum primers to assist with a complete and consistent burn of the powder. Is there a probability that the Metford has a more than generous chamber space?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2021 at 7:36pm
is triple 7 a good powder for big bore ? i got offered some but didnt know what i might use it for , only thing i load these days is 4570 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 25 2021 at 10:20am
It would make a good B/P sub load for45/70.

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 303 Hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 25 2021 at 11:53am
Hodgdon has two loads for the 45-70, one with a 405 grain cast LFP bullet and another one with a 485 grain cast LFP bullet, both with 60 grains of Triple Seven FFG.
The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west.   Cal Bablitz
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 25 2021 at 8:14pm
ill see if i can still get it , im loading cast RNFP 405s , sounds like it may work for me unless things get cleared up soon we gotta grab what we can get when available , i would like to load all my 4570 over the winter and maybe try some serious long range cowboy next spring - my sharps has been neglected too long - so far just been plinking with what i had 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 303 Hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 21 2021 at 1:39pm
So here is the results I have so far.
My initial test was 43 grains by weight with both 150 grain inter-locks and 180 grain Campro bullets. I fired five rounds of each load out of my Lee Medford mkII* and mkII Ross.
That powder charge is a bit much for the Medford and did not extract easily nor shoot accurately. As for the Ross thing went okay, cycling the action was way easier and shot better. Unfortunately there is a massive difference in point of impact between the 150 grain and the 180 grain bullets and most of the 180s missed the target. The 150 grain bullets did better with four out of the five hitting the target.

The target is about 12 inches across a the bull eye is about one inch.
I was also shooting into a ballistic buffalo type target which was interesting. I captured the four 150 grain bullets, one 180 grain bullet and two shotgun slugs.
The rifle bullets penetrated about 5 1/2 to 6 inches and the slugs went in the first couple of inches but were stopped by the 1/2 inch plywood I had in it.

Then I tried a 38.5 grain charge with the 150 grain bullets and managed to hit the target. The load still seems a bit hot but was a little easier to extract.

Each square is one inch. And finally I tried a 36 grain charge with the 150 grain bullets.
I fired three at paper and two at the ballistic buffalo.

The two I shot at the BB target did not drive as deep as the first ones did, only the first few inches until they hit the plywood. Only unlike the slugs that pancaked on the plywood, they all most made it through.

Even though I have not found the perfect load they have been fun to shoot, even the heavier charges were fairly light on recoil.
The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west.   Cal Bablitz
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 21 2021 at 2:10pm
Yes, that's a common thong with BP & BP subs. More of a push than a kick.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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