Long range .303

[TonyE]

Whilst I completely agree with the bulk of your post Bruce, I do take issue with your comments about the Mark VIIIz bullet.

In practice it is no heavier than a Mark VII bullet. It is specified at 175 grains against the 174 grains of the Mark VII but both have a +- 2 grain tolerance so it is perfectly possible to have a 173 grain Mark VIIIz and a 176 grain Mark VII, both within tolerance.

Also, it is only the overall length of the cartridge that matters, not bullet length. The Mark VIIIz bullet is some 8% longer than the Mark VII. The Mark VII bullet averages 32mm in length but the Mark VIIIz averages 34.5mm, the extra 2.5mm being within the case.

Regards
TonyE

[Brian Dick]

If the throat or leade is worn in with cordite ammo, I guarantee it won't perform with boat tail bullets. see numerous posts in the past here by myself and others on the subject.

[Roadkingtrax]

If the throat or leade is worn in with cordite ammo, I guarantee it won't perform with boat tail bullets. see numerous posts in the past here by myself and others on the subject.

Brian...

In the absence of a throat gauge or some other measuring instrument, is there a ball-park way of identifying a cordite worn leade? Looking into the chamber end with adequate light at the muzzle, its fairly obvious to see how worn the rifling is...when compared to a barrel that is new. Goes without saying, but maybe shooting it with boat tails is the only practical way to really draw a conclusion on performance?

[Beerhunter]

the Hornady type 3130, 180 round-nose, with probably the longest cylindrical section you can get in commercial bullets. They are at least a partial cure if your rifle has a worn throat. Alternatives are the Speer 180gn round-nose and the Sierra 180gn ProHunter spitzer.

I'm so glad that you used the word probably. This 174Gn. bullet is available Attachment 44077 but only just.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I'm so glad that you used the word probably.

Experience has taught me to avoid words like "never" and "always". I have occasionally seen bullets like that offered in Germany. But even by muzzle-loader standards, I reckon the BC must be pretty poor, leading to a fairly rapid fall-off in velocity at long distances.

[Beerhunter]

I reckon the BC must be pretty poor, leading to a fairly rapid fall-off in velocity at long distances.

I agree. Flying dustbins (trash cans) comes to mind. They work well at 100 and 200 yards. I haven't had chance to try them at 600 and above. I imagine that they will not do well.

For the longer ranges I plan to use the BS Mk.VII bullets, when I can get a mortgage for a pack.

[WarPig1976]

Just a thought,
What if,for short range plinking you "removed" the boat tail, grinding it off to make a flat base bullet and of course a bit lighter. A lot of work but may work pretty good at 100/200yds.

[Beerhunter]

I still leaves the bullet with a small bearing surface and probably inherently unstable as well.

[Bindi2]

Why not get a friendly machinist to make you a die to expand the BT to a hollow base flat base.

[Peter Laidler]

Or....... just take the pragmatic view, shared by most of the Armourers reading these pages. If it's a worn barrel/throat/chamber as indicated by the Vickers leed gauge, then just accept that it is a worn barrel, therfore inaccurate - and just gotta be replaced. There's a saying that worn barrels NEVER, ever improve with age!