Lee Enfields and Boat Tailed Bullets

[enfield303t]

Okay I need help!

Went to the range today and the 174's did not shoot that well. The guns shoots 150's so well it is unbelievable but I now need it to shoot Match King 174's.

I used 36gr of CR17 which is virtually identical to 3031 with a OAL of 3.045 inches.

At close range pretty good, not happy at all at 300 yards where I want it to be very good.

So if someone on this forum has had accuracy using Match King 174 please tell me what powder you used, how much and the OAL you used.

Any suggestions would be appreciated as I am now determined to get this gun accurate at 300 yards and beyond, I know it is possible.

Thanks

[vintage hunter]

I've never tried Sierra 174's, but have had excellent results with Hornady 174 BTHP's in my no.4T over 40.5gr Varget. Cartridge O.A.L. 3.030''. Also had good results with 40.7gr IMR 4064, same O.A.L.. Try seating the bullet out as far as you can and still have it feed from the magazine. Sierra has max O.A.L. at 3.075''. MK's can be picky about seating depth.

[enfield303t]

vintage hunter, thanks for your information and I will try what you recommend. The OAL will not be a problem as I am using it as a single shot and not mag fed.

I have some 4064 and will buy some Varget as I really want this to work.

I am open to any suggestions and short of buying a pound of every powder made will try all suggestions 'till I find a winning combination.

Will post results.

[newbieDAN]

I use 46.1 grain of ADI2209 behind sierra 174 match kings with good results. Want to try the 180grain pro-hunters with the flat base. To see if the boat tail vs flat base argument rings true in my 3o's

[hans slagter]

Hello gentlemen,
I am reading your posts with great interest.
What i missed with your comparisons between reloaded ammunition with flat and
boattail bullets.
Is that i would recommend you to measure the rim thicknes of the case first make batches of the same size to obtain an equal headspace
then do the comparison between the bullets.
Thats in opinion the most honest way instead of blaming a boattail for beeing a bad performer while the culprit
lies in the headspace.

With friendly regards.
Hans.

[enfield303t]

I have loaded 10 each of the following.

38gr. of RX 15
39gr. of RX 15

39gr. of Varget
40gr. of Varget

All with the Sierra Match King 174 gr. bullet.

I will post results when I get time to shoot them.

Next weekend my best friend from Poland arrives with her husband who is a Capt. in the Polish Commandos and got back from Afghanastan in Nov. 2010. My friend and I have been friends since 2005 and I have only talked to her husband Matt on the phone a couple of time.

I presume he is a pretty good shot and for sure will have some fantastic stories as I know the base he was stationed at (Warrior) was attacked by Taliban several times.

This will be there honeymoon so will take them to Banff and Lake Louise two beautifull places which I know they will enjoy.

PS.

If you ever want a great holiday go to Poland, inexpensive and my friend took me all over the country to see historic sites. Have met so many wonderful people who have really made me feel welcome.

[vintage hunter]

According to the manufacturer of Varget (AR2208) the maximum load in the .303 w/174gr bullets is 42.0 gr so you have a little room to experiment with slightly heavier charges. If the profile of .303 174 mk's are anything like .308 175 MK's the closer you can get them to the rifling the better they shoot. Good luck.

[enfield303t]

According to the manufacturer of Varget (AR2208) the maximum load in the .303 w/174gr bullets is 42.0 gr so you have a little room to experiment with slightly heavier charges. If the profile of .303 174 mk's are anything like .308 175 MK's the closer you can get them to the rifling the better they shoot. Good luck.

Thanks for this, I am starting out low and will work up to higher charges as necessary. I have a little room left for a longer length but to be honest the 150gr. that shot so well were under 3.0.

I really want this to be a very accurate long range gun and I think with help from others it will happend. Son sent me his information and I am going to use what he told me in a PM.

[BushyFromOz]

Ive been using federal hot-cor factory ammo (i think its a speer projectile) and have been thoroughly impressed

[Nigel]

Try 42.5 grains Reloder 15 in HXP brass with the Sierras. It matches service velocity in most rifles. I'd start at 41.5 and work your way up. This load works for me at 600 yards in my No.4(T). Shot a 48 ex 50 on the McQueen sniper target at 200 yards two weeks ago. That means 8 of ten shots were in the 4 inch bull with a 3 sec exposure of the Huns Head in one of ten different positions - you don't know which of the ten positions the next exposure will appear at. Sequence is - spot it, move, aim, fire. I imagine the group would have been smaller if I'd have had the time to slow down a bit. Same load in a P14(T) achieved 46 ex 50. I've been using this load for about 14 years.