Load for 1903

Currently loading 48 gr. 4895 with 150 gr. SHPBT. All barrels very good. Results MOA. Anyone have a recommendation for a load using a little less expensive bullet? All shooting is at 100 to 200 yds. Thanks in advance.

Hi there, I have had good sucess with Hornady's 150 gr. BT-FMJ in W-W brass, Federal 210 primers, with 54.5 gr. IMR 4350. These bullets are relatively inexpensive. I am assuming this is not for a hunting load.
Good luck.

Thanks RJ. Not for hunting, just paper targets.

I have had a lot of good shooting using .30 cal 147 grain FMJ bullets. They used to be the least expensive way to go. That bullet on top of 44-45 grains of IMR 4064 worked well in my old 1903. I could usually keep them in the 10 ring of a Slowfire bullseye at 100 yards from the sitting position.
Pete

If for casual shooting you can go with almost any of the less expensive bullets, shop around. If this is for match work you need to continue to use a better grade of slug.

Regards
BudT

I use 44.5 gr of 4895 in either IMR or H and Varget works almost as well for my 03 and I bump it up to 47 grains for the 03A3. This is using either 150 gr FMJBT bullet or a Lee cast bullet. It's a 155 gr flatnose and they work surprising well even out to 200.

.......you might tinker with inexpensive flat base bullets. I have had them go neck and neck, or sometimes better,than the matchgrade boatttails, at 100yds, especially from well used/worn milsurp rifles. It's when you start getting out past, say a couple hundred yards the boattails start coming into their own. I segregate my inexpensive flatbase bullets, by weight, to help give them a little better chance against the matchgrade fodder, as well. I have seem some of the inexpensive commercial bullets run up to 1.5gr or more in weight variations. The matchgrade Sierra's typically run no more than 3/10ths a grain variation, from my experience. I find the Hornady product line a good product for the price. I have also had some surprising results with Remington's plain 'ole inexpensive core-lok bullets, as well.

Dale

One of my 03's really likes a 144gr fmjbt sitting on top of 49.5gr of IMR4895. the results are 3" groups at 200 yards.

They sure don't make em like this anymore, do they?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmckeon

One of my 03's really likes a 144gr fmjbt sitting on top of 49.5gr of IMR4895.

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I use the very same load for my Garand, and it is indeed quite accurate.

Don

150 gr. bullet

55.5 gr. IMR 4350