Enfield-Rifles.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Reloading > Reloading .303 British
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Powder choice for 303 ?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Powder choice for 303 ?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Krisincolfax View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: December 01 2023
Location: Washington St.
Status: Offline
Points: 36 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Krisincolfax Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Powder choice for 303 ?
    Posted: December 18 2023 at 11:41am
It's been many years since I've reloaded for 303,
at that time I used Hodgdon H414 ,and I still have
about a 1/4 pound , I see were H414 is discontinued
any suggestions for a similar powder? I will be
using PPU Cases and PPU 174 FMJBT pills
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Georgia, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 8404 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 12:00pm
Is pretty much limited to what you can get your hands on.  Most medium burn rifle powders will work, but consult a reloading manual. 

The usual suspects are IMR 3031 (a bit fast for a 174 grain bullet), IMR 4064 (just right for a 174 gr bullet), IMR 4895, H4895, Varget, VV N140, Norma 202, Re 15 and the list goes on.  My go to powder (which is available in the US) is Varget. H4895 seems to be unavailable at the moment.
Back to Top
Krisincolfax View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: December 01 2023
Location: Washington St.
Status: Offline
Points: 36 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Krisincolfax Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 12:46pm
Thanks , powder is difficult to get locally these days
my closest source is a 70 mile one way trip so mail order is the only choice at the the time , that being said I was looking into Ram Shot TAC which I have some of , ever hear of that for 303 / 174 gn. ?
Back to Top
Goosic View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 12 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 8842 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 1:04pm
IMR3031, IMR4064, IMR4895, IMR4320, H380, Varget, BL-C(2), Hybrid 100V, 760, IMR4007 SSC, H435, VVN135, VVN140, VVN540, VVN130, VVN133, WIN748, RE-15, Benchmark, Reloader 10X, Ramshot Big Game. If you can find Norma 202 you can use that as well...
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Georgia, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 8404 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 1:51pm
Originally posted by Krisincolfax Krisincolfax wrote:

Thanks , powder is difficult to get locally these days
my closest source is a 70 mile one way trip so mail order is the only choice at the the time , that being said I was looking into Ram Shot TAC which I have some of , ever hear of that for 303 / 174 gn. ?

I picked up a pound of that powder some years back intending to use it in the AR. I can’t seem to get the Hodgdon Reloading data center website to load right now, but I suggest you check it. I suspect it can be made to work for the .303.  Note that it’s a double base ball powder. 
Back to Top
Krisincolfax View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: December 01 2023
Location: Washington St.
Status: Offline
Points: 36 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Krisincolfax Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 2:20pm
Thanks Goosic for the list , I see that Graff's
has Hodgdon BLC 2 for $37 any experience with BLC 2 ?

Britrifles , I'll send an inquire to Hodgdon or
Western Powders one in the same ? will post their
return when I get one
Back to Top
Goosic View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 12 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 8842 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 2:58pm
Originally posted by Krisincolfax Krisincolfax wrote:

Thanks Goosic for the list , I see that Graff's
has Hodgdon BLC 2 for $37 any experience with BLC 2 ?
 
I have used BL-C(2) in the past with fairly decent results. 
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Georgia, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 8404 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 3:35pm
Originally posted by Krisincolfax<br><br>Britrifles , I'll send an inquire to Hodgdon or<br>Western Powders one in the same ? will post their<br>return when I get one [/QUOTE Krisincolfax

Britrifles , I'll send an inquire to Hodgdon or
Western Powders one in the same ? will post their
return when I get one [/QUOTE wrote:


Hodgdon is now the distributor of Western (including Ramshot) powders.  The Hodgdon site is back up, but I’m not seeing a .303

Hodgdon is now the distributor of Western (including Ramshot) powders.  The Hodgdon site is back up, but I’m not seeing a .303 load with Ramshot TAC.  They do have it for .308 Win:  minimum charge is 39.0 gr TAC with 175 gr bullet.  If you’re feeling bold, you could knock that charge down by 1 grain and try it in the .303 with the 174 gr bullet. See if you can get a response from Hodgdon. 
Back to Top
Goosic View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 12 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 8842 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 3:44pm
I could only find one article from SPEER on load data using Ramshot TAC* and the .303 British. 
Using a 123grn Spitzer SP Minimum Starting charge of 40.0grns with a FPS of 2733 and a Maximum charge weight of 44.0grns and a FPS of 2933
Back to Top
Marco1010 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 04 2020
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 406 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Marco1010 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 5:29pm
Ironically some of the best Hogdon powders are actually manufacured by ADI (Australian Defense Industries) which is owned by Thales.
The modern BLC-2 is based on the BL type C spherical powder that was Surplus WW2 stock that Bruce Hogdon purchased. This powder was specifically made for loading 303 British ammunition. and there was so much surplus after the war that it was going to burned to get rid of it. Bruce Hogdon bought it for cents per 150 pound case.
Back to Top
HammerDown View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie
Avatar

Joined: December 08 2023
Location: PRK
Status: Offline
Points: 93 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HammerDown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 6:00pm
Western Powders Handloading Guide
Back to Top
HammerDown View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie
Avatar

Joined: December 08 2023
Location: PRK
Status: Offline
Points: 93 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HammerDown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 6:11pm
TAC Data
Back to Top
Goosic View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 12 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 8842 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 6:21pm
Here's the rub on that load data you just posted HammerDown. Keep both those Ramshot TAC charges at its minimum charge weight.  Anything more and you could exceed the 45,000 CUP standard. I also noticed the published twist rate of 1- 9.5" and indicates to me that, there is a possibility that particular load is designed for modern Ruger Single Shot Rifles...
Back to Top
Dragunov View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 12 2021
Location: Melbourne, FL
Status: Offline
Points: 239 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dragunov Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2023 at 6:37pm
As I have not seen IMR 4064 here for some time, I've switched over to A4064 for both 174 & 180 grainers. For my home cast lead projectiles (135 & 180 grs.) I have been satisfied with light charges of Unique. 
Back to Top
Rifleman 184 View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: July 13 2022
Location: Californa, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 3 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rifleman 184 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2023 at 1:07pm
I have used BL (C) 2 for many years because its available, meters well, and gives good accuracy.  I'm using 174 FMJ and 44 gr of powder.  Its spot on for Mk VII military ball ammo velocity in my rifle. (174gr at 2,440), I worked up from 41 grain in .2gr increments to find accuracy nodes.  44 was best. No flattened primers, no bulging, no case head imprinting and accuracy was very good.  You'll have to start low and work up, as every rifle is different.  This was in a #4 Mk I* Savage with a nearly new bore.

Load data is available on the Hodgdon Website.  The 174gr Sierra HPBT is very similar in dimension and barrel contact to the 174gr. FMJ I have.  Loads start at 43.0 gr at 2,442 fps and 36,400 CUP in the test rifle and max is 46.5 gr at 2,616 and 42,900 CUP.   As stated, my accuracy node is 44 grains and velocities are consistent at 2450 fps avg.  I can hit tennis balls at 100 yards and ring steel out to 500 with the iron sights with this load.  The goal was to regulate to the factory sights on my rifle.  

It's a bit of a dirty powder but cleans up with a good mopping and a bronze brush.  When the copper fouling builds up and accuracy begins to suffer, I use a bit of JB Bore compound to clean it up.

Will begin developing loads with CFE223.  It's in the same burn range and burns cleaner and is supposed to reduce copper fouling.
Back to Top
Krisincolfax View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: December 01 2023
Location: Washington St.
Status: Offline
Points: 36 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Krisincolfax Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 21 2023 at 11:12am
Thanks to all you guys for the responses , so it looks like Ramshot TAC is out , I did e mail the Hodgdon people a number of days ago asking about BLC2, so far no response ... ,Thanks Rifleman for the write up about BL(C) 2 , going to give it a go , I've read where BLC2 is very temp. sensitive ? , as to where I'm at the summer temps can get into 100 deg. plus (F)
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.07
Copyright ©2001-2024 Web Wiz Ltd.