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I'm just about to start reloading for a 303 double rifle
The regulation load printed on it is
Cordite 31 grains 210 grain Ball
Does amyone have any data that specifically is referenced against the old cordite data ?
I can easily work up the loads from scratch.
But a base line on what this cordite load was doing would be a good starting point.
Out of necessity i will likely use the Hornady 174 grain RN 312 bullet first up.
That change in weight of the projectile will throw your regulated load out the window. Mk vi did about 1950fps with a similar weight bullet if that's any help
Very similar to the .303 MKI-MKVI loads which all used 215grain ball (except MKIII) projectiles with 31 grains of Cordite (although several types were used).
They were all 2,000FPS or thereabouts out of a 30" Long Tom barrel.
so reverse engineer that 303MKI-MKVI load in quickload....... if indeed they were around the 2000fps area the job is so much easier.
guessing that one of the chunky ADI powders will be your friend here.
will have a dig around and see if can find anything more specific load data wise.
Greetings,
In my near new 2 groove .303 barrel 32 grains of AR2206H gave around 2,050 fps with late manufacture 174 grain Hornady RN. The later projectiles are blunter and gave around 150 fps more velocity than old ones that were in stock. .303 velocities are all over the place, perhaps due to differing amounts of throat erosion. Differences of up to 300 fps for the same load were found. Perhaps starting at 32 grains?
Regards Grandpamac.
I remember an article by Jack Lott on using 3031 in 303 singles and doubles to duplicate cordite loads but a quick Google does not bring up much.
Will search old Annuals and see what I can find.
interesting looking at ADI/THALES hard data...with 2206....2206h 34 start for 174grn both 2206 and 2206hQuote:
Originally Posted by grandpamac
180grn has 33 and 34
215grn pill and just 2206 at 35 grn
now the weird bit that jumped out at me...NORMALLY as projectile weight goes UP..powder weight goes DOWN.... the velocities all around 2000-2200fps
so agree with GPM suggestion of 33ish grn start charge....
This could be an option to stick with the regulation speed and weight
Woodleigh .303 British 215gr WC SN
Attachment 235468
hell yes..almost as good as a taipan........ possibly even better.
Greetings again,
I have also seen it suggested that Cordite and IMR3031 are close in speed. Also but perhaps not much use I loaded 40 grains of old AR2209 with the 174 grain in an older and somewhat worn 5 groove .303 which gave 1,930 fps. This is close to data in a different used .303 and rather less than you would expect based on the Hodgdon data. As said this was old AR2209 and later production is significantly faster. Factory duplication for the 215 grain load listed a velocity of 2,188 fps in the old Lyman Manual. Keep us posted.
GPM.
Greetings Once More,
Any data, let alone pressure tested data is rare for the 215 grain .303 projectile but I did turn up some for the 220 grain in the 30-40 Krag. 43 grains of IMR4350 gave 2,205 fps in a 25.5 inch barrel with a pressure of 38,700 CUP. This is old data from the 1970's. The two cartridges are very alike with similar capacity. I offer it for what it is worth. Also some .303 rifles shoot the .308 dia projectiles well if any 220 grains can be found for a test. I tried 150 grain .308 projectiles in my two groove and they shot OK.
GPM.
Yes i treat the 303 and 30-40 krag as one and the sameQuote:
Originally Posted by grandpamac
Trouble is i couldn't get heavy RN bullets when i built the 1885 30-40 earlier this year
Seems there are RN 174s in both calibers in stick now
there are 180s around too.
YesQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Options in order of preference would be
Woodleigh 303 215 .312 RN
Speer 303 180 .311 RN
Hornady 303 174 .312 RN
It looks like there are a lot of recipes out there for powder and bullet options
Waiting to hear about the Woodleigh's availabilty
And the rifle is maybe 2 weeks away
Need to find some more decent brass
Some interesting reading.
http://nitroexpress.info/ezine/Nicku...esJackLott.pdf
Some woodLeigh’s on the yellow site at the momentQuote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
From Dead Eye DicksQuote:
Originally Posted by omark
Retail plus trademe trade commission plus freight
DED have the Woodleigh 303 215s in stock and i have ordered 100
Woodleigh list that bullet as recommended for impact velocity of 2000 - 2200 fps
Assuming a conservative muzzle velocity of 2200 fps
Can anyone tell me at what range the velocity is down to 2000 fps ??
B.C. is .359
I'm away on an off grid job and don't have access to my books and tables
@akaroa1 about 75 yds.
Unfortunately thats what i thought it might be likeQuote:
Originally Posted by stug
Would have been nicer if its was 125m which is a long shot for a double rifle
they will still kill just fine,they might not expand as well as your pure lead PC jobbies but they will still be boring a reasonable sized hole into and through whatever they hit..take out the front wheels and any animal wont be going anywhere...
And just because I canAttachment 235659
Looks a bit like rolling a boulder off a cliffQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
still jolly useful at the range you will likely be using a double rifle with irons.... the energy figures look good too.... you can always find out which barrel will shoot something lighter and faster the best and have a long range load on hand....
I emailed Woodleigh's about the terminal velocity on the 303 215 and he said it has a thinner jacket for better expansion at 303 velcities.Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
He didn't give a lower impact velocity but he did mention it was thinner than the 308 180 grainers jackets
He also mentioned knowing several 303 double rifle owners in Australia who used the 303 215s with great success
Well the sights are a peculiar open express V and ramp.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Then it raises up to be a ladder sight which seems to be marked to 1800 yards
So @Micky Duck i think the range chart will be exceptional
Maybe it comes in vertically like a tank buster.
And actually accelerates back to terminal velocity on its vertical free fall
Optimism, a can do attitude plus the martini Henry and later the Enfield rifle are part of what made the British empire.Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
Thats fine on a Battle Rifle but putting sights like that on a double rifle is pretty eccentric rather than optimisticQuote:
Originally Posted by Marty Henry
I was hoping for it to be 150m capable
But am i capable ?
One thing is for sure it will be a joy to fire a 303 double rifle in the 8 to 9 pound range after recent firings of the Webley 500 3" BPE at 7 1/2 pounds
Your right I should have said, optimism, eccentricity, coal, steam, a can do attitude etc etc
And a jolly good cup of tea...can't forget the tea old chap
Any chance of some pics of the rifle? I remember reading Capsticks article about a cursed .303 double in Rod and Rifle.
@stug I will maybe have it in hand some time next week.Quote:
Originally Posted by stug
It's actually a few years since I last saw it in the flesh and it's been an ongoing conversation since it spent a few weeks with me in 2020.
I had it home for a while and didn't shoot it at that time.
So the details are a little bit dim.
What I do remember well was knowing that it was a great solid entry level 303 double rifle and would be the one to own without having to spend more than 10k
Good things take time and I can wait another week or two when I've been thinking about it for a number of years
The long range sights are there should the owner be required to stand with local forces and participate in their musketry drill.Such as engaging massed troops at extended ranges.Where by he would have stood in rank and fired according to the sergents range instructions.Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
" Zulus sah,fousands av em
That worksQuote:
Originally Posted by norsk
Local forces of one ! Me :thumbsup:
