James River Armory M1903A4 Sniper Rifles1903-04 30-06 reloading

[84mmcarl-gustav]

Hi,i stated to reload for this rifle,any info for start will be appreciated,shooting range 100 METER TO 300 METER,,thanks

Information

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[WarPig1976]

A guy I shoot with found his James River 03A4 liked 155g Hornady A-Max over 47 grains of Varget. I witnessed and signed his target for a benchrest comp where he had 10rds in one ragged hole @ 100yds. Of course your mileage may vary.

[browningautorifle]

info for start will be appreciated,

You need at least three good books on reloading so you can compare notes between them. The thoughts that aren't written in a reloading manual can be hazardous as they carry no warranty or liability with them. A reloading manual has tested and proven information. Get into the books.

[CINDERS]

Agree with BAR hit the books and start low as every rifle is a different animal I am glad the guy had a 10 shot ragged hole but was he using a 30 thou jump a 15 thou jump or a 10 thou jam what was the trim length of his cases what primers did he use, did he neck turn, neck size only or FLS, did he dial in the projectiles (Run out). As you can see too many variables it is up to the individual get the books like Jim says study and determine what may suit your type of shooting. Going straight to the MAX load is fraught with danger as it may not work in your weapon start at the recommended start loading and progress from there and change one thing at a time until the desired result is found.
It means allot of range work but who cares it took me over 20 months to find a loads my 6.5/284 liked to give consistent 1/2 ~ 1 MOA results from 300m - 1000m oh and 2 barrels as I had to consider allot of things especially keeping the 140 grain Bergers supersonic at 1000 M as you do not want them to be entering into the transonic stage at say 950 M.

It is awesome fun reloading but it is a set process repeated time and again if you can afford it buy the best you can afford as the extra cost is given back to you in the quality I started with Lee dies and a single stage lee press and a tiny weigh scale weighing each charge (No thrower). now I use better stuff. Take your time and do not have distractions like yakking to a mate stopping and starting loading, no alcohol at all I am not being a kill joy but your playing with incredibly powerful pressures that are not very forgiving if you get it wrong at the very least you will wreck your rifle the worst is well lets leave it there shall we.
Enjoy reloading its great fun and you never stop learning.

[WarPig1976]

C'mon guys, I would hope you think better of me then to assume I'm giving some sort of unsafe data. The guy asked for a starting point, I gave him one based on my observations of a rifle of the same make. Of course he has to put the work in but the info I gave is indeed well within the Max Published data.
Hornady 9th lists a Minimum charge of Varget for 150-155g bullets as 41.0g and Max as 51.6g. Can't we point people in a good direction?

[CINDERS]

Sorry WP I was not making a swipe or remark that you would give unsafe data just better to let a person get to grips with all the finer points (reading and understanding) before embarking on a reloading journey so may I offer an apology if you have ruffled a tad

I have often gone with new shooters wanting reload to the gunshop and helped them pick out their gear keeping in mind what they can afford then going to their place and helping them set it up and understand the data that is in their book/s what better way to encourage long term membership. (I was not on a bonus scheme or graft either from the gunshop before someone says or thinks that)

[84mmcarl-gustav]

Hi,thanks for yours conserne,i got books,already. Reloading 308 with very good succes,my point is, somebody already shooted this James River Armory rifle and how it performed.Anyway,i do my homework ,work up my load with IMR 4064+168 gr bthp,win brass,cci primer.For shure every rifle is different,reloading equipement to,but if you gather a lot of info, you can make you minde after. thanks

[rugersworld]

I have an A4 with a new criterion barrel. It shoots well with 49.5gr IMR 4064 & 155gr Nosler CC bullets. Load was worked up from min book load. FC cases and wolf or cci primers.