Reloading for 1903 springfield

[M95Dennis]

Just getting started reloading for my 1903. I have Imr 4064 and 150gn flat based spire point factory seconds. Any tips or experience to share. Should I keep to listed OAL. I have a redfield peep sight on it and wanted to go for accurate loads . It has a 1944 1903a3 2 grove barrel on it. Yes it was sporterized when I got it but barrel wasn't cut. With some factory loads it seemed pretty good. I won't be using it for hunting so was interested just in target shooting.

Information

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[Ex Crab]

I've tried some reduced loads with Red Dot. I put 13 grns behind a 147 grn FMJ which produced 2" groups at 100 mtrs. The same amount of powder behind a 168 grn HPBT produced a large group that I didn't even bother to measure. I suspect that the bullet wasn't going fast enough to be stabilised. For full loads I use Vhitavouri powders with either 147 FMJs or 168 HPBTs (Sierra or Hornady).
Anyone wanting to copy the reduced loads be advised that they are not in the loading manual and you therefore use them at your own risk. They did however function without problems in my Remington built M1903 A3.

[WarPig1976]

Hornady 155g A-Max bullets give very good accuracy for me in 30.06 and .308. I load them long and single load so my OAL is customized to my rifles.

[M95Dennis]

Thanks for replies.
I will try single load method and keep with the lighter bullet around 150gn. Now I have read to take an empty case and put the bullet in slightly and close the bolt so bullet is pushed in which would give Max OAL. Then work back from there on length to help with the bullet jump to throat. I have only made bullets using listed lengths. If I start with middle of listing for powder charges will the OAL affect pressures much in making them longer. I haven't done any experimenting outside of whats in the loading manuals. I do have a chronograph to check velocity.
With factory 150gn PPU ammo I'm getting around 3 inch groups at 100yards with the peep sight which is fairly good for me with blurry vision. I just don't want to put a scope on it.

[WarPig1976]

I'm cheap and never bought the O.A.L gauge. That's how I do it, with a cartridge with slits cut in the neck and a bullet colored with a Sharpie. Not benchrest precise but good enough for most.
I've never even worried about pressures. I Back off 10 or 15 thousands.

[Ex Crab]

For short range loads take a look at https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....086#post360086 to see what can be achieved.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I Back off 10 or 15 thousands.

Agreed. A range that I use myself with good results. Since any setup has some tolerances (bullet shape, measurement accuracy, seating die action) it is illusory to think that one can hold the spacing between bullet ogive and land contact constant to 1/1000. In other words, trying to get too close will result in pressure variation as a simple result of the seating depth variation.
BUT,
if there is not enough of the (more or less) cylindrical portion of the bullet within the neck of the loaded cartridge, then there will be inadequate expansion of the neck on firing before the bullet comes free, resulting in a gas loss around the neck that will be visible as a dirty deposit. So optimum seating depth is often incompatible with the use of boattails.

[TDH]

I have used the 4064 but prefer IMR 4895 (or H 4895 or Varget, basically the same burn rate) and I push the 147-150 grainers with 47 grains. Max in the book is 51 grains. I shoot 2 to 3 inch groups off the bench but I'm 65. Now a patient young man with good eyes used my Smith Corona with my reloads and covered 4 shots with a dime and all five with a nickel.

[Ex Crab]

Now a patient young man with good eyes used my Smith Corona with my reloads and covered 4 shots with a dime and all five with a nickel.

Groups like that would do a lot of modern rifles proud.
65 years old? When I was that old we were still using Lee Enfields!

[Wineman]

I am of the KISS school. Your rifle has been around for over 100 years. There have been several variations on barrels, sights etc. That said any factory bullet at 150 grains going 2,700 fps is going to shoot very well (assuming a good barrel, upward muzzle pressure, and everything tight and to spec). Lots of shooters have loaded millions of rounds and the sweet spot is still 150-168 grains and 2,600-2800 fps (safe loads from a manual). At a match on Saturday, a shooter with his AR said he wanted to work up a load for his M1 Garand. OK, go for it but there is not much new under the M1 Sun. No amount of ammo tweaking is going to turn my Rack Grade M1 into a Remington 40x or be as accurate as 90% of the AR's out there. My go to 100 yard load for a M1903A3 is a 170 grain cast bullet at 1,400 fps. No recoil, inexpensive and accurate enough to score well in a CMP match. As a benchrest rifle, it has a way to go though. I don't doubt TDH's results. I have put five shots into one hole once at 25 yards with cast. Given a really good rifle and a really good shooter good things happen. Enjoy your rifle, and enjoy loading for it. Pride of ownership is something to covet.

Dave