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G'day fellas,
I have just got myself a basic lee loader setup kit (keeping it simple) and some .303 dies, the next things i will be needing are some primers, projectiles and powder.
Any idea on what sort of loads i should be trying for a complete newbie (this will be fore enfield no1 and no4's)
Cheers n beers.
You need several books to compare loading data. Any of the loads listed will be safe in a rifle in good repair.
Never hurts to start a bit on the light side, work up from there if you really need to.
Much depends on what you want...... and our basic philosophy on shooting. Personally, I hold that a deer gets into the freezer much better if you can HIT it with 2000 ft/lbs, than if you MISS it with 3000 ft/lbs.
My test load produces only 2030 ft/lbs ME in most SMLEs but it is also extremely accurate in many rifles. MilSpec .303 produces 2300 ft/lbs ME but tends to be a little less accurate. I am using American components in Canadian (Defence Industries) brass: 38 grains of IMR-4895 with a Sierra 180 Pro-Hunter (their cheapest flatbase heavy .303 slug), seating to the OAL of a Mark VII Ball round. Half-inch in a Ross, well under an inch in many LEs. Good enough? You get 2250 ft/sc in the SMLE, which is a little on the slow side. It is also the by-test-1910 most accurate velocity for the .303 round with a bullet of that weight. Service ammo was a compromise between the most accurate ammo which could be produced...... and the Max load which would be safe in a worn-out rifle with a new Minimum barrel: very smart thinking on the art of Enfield and the Royal Laboratory.
I have also found that the Hornady 150 Spire Point .312" bullet, ahead of 40 grains of 4064, seated so that the entire cannelure shows, can produce very small groups in some SMLEs and definitely in P-14s. It is also rather on the zippy side, but safe. Deer do NOT like it one little bit. Tin cans don't sass back; they just blow up nicely.
Hope this is some help.
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Firstly, I highly recommend the Lee neck sizing collet die used in conjunction with the simple and rugged Lee Classic press. I like Remington or Privi Partisan brass fire formed and neck sized(keep your brass segregated by the rifle it was fire formed in). 39 grains of good Ole Aussie made Hogdon Varget,Hornady 174 gr BTHP, Winchester standard LR primers. I seat for a COL .030" shy of the lands. I won a Service rifle match last Saturday using this load in my 1955 NO4 MK2. I shoot my 55 that is what it was made for.
As you are in australia, stick with the ADI powders, AR2206H, AR2208 and AR2209.Reloading data is available on their website, it's accurate and up to date.
I use 27gr AR2206H WITH 174GN projectiles, good consistant load.
As for reloading gear, get your local gun shop to do a package deal, basic but comprehensive, and don't let them talk you into any fancy gear, plenty of time for that.