Enfield P14 .303 British Ammo maximum possible muzzle velocities

[Sunray]

"...the No. 4 has an a bit shorter barrel..." Should be 25". A P-14's was 26" with a 1 in 10 LH twist. Mind you, it was designed to use the .276 Enfield, not the .303.
Keep in mind that the Pattern 14 was intended to use Mk VII ammo with its 174 grain bullet at 2440 FPS. Typical 180 grain loads run a couple hundred FPS less. Said typical loads have been killing big moose here since the 1920's or so.
Rummage around here. There's lots of load data. 303british.com

Information

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[Enfield Enforcer]

"...the No. 4 has an a bit shorter barrel..." Should be 25". A P-14's was 26" with a 1 in 10 LH twist. Mind you, it was designed to use the .276 Enfield, not the .303.
Keep in mind that the Pattern 14 was intended to use Mk VII ammo with its 174 grain bullet at 2440 FPS. Typical 180 grain loads run a couple hundred FPS less. Said typical loads have been killing big moose here since the 1920's or so.
Rummage around here. There's lots of load data. 303british.com

Hello Sunray, thanks

Yes, at first the difference seems to be a little one. Having a look at some velocity-data, the impression is another one. I get a bit hope that the P14 converts the powder into higher muzzle velocities than this amazing low 725-730 m/s or 2370-2400 fps. Compared with other .303 British-MV's - 750-760 m/s or around 2500-2525 fps in a No. 4 with Factory 174-180 gr-loads, and compared with the cartridge GP 1911 from Switzerland, too. The K31 reaches with his 650 mm-Barrel in the best case with the Standard Army-Service-Ammo GP 11, short said, a MV of around 780 m/s or 2559 fps. And our GP 11 is not known as a truly strong Army-Service-Ammo-Example and is a rather close relative for the .303 British-Round.

And I have to mention, I would like to use it only on paper targets, hunting is in our country nowadays here not allowed with such calibers. But I want to use it also for distances of more than 300 yards/meters. So I hope for a load within the usual pressures, good enough for maximal distances of 700-800 Meters or 775-875 Yards. Like other service ammo does it, too.. .

I will of course have a careful look to this reloading-Book-title - I say thanks, Sunray :-) I found it already.

[Patrick Chadwick]

But I want to use it also for distances of more than 300 yards/meters. So I hope for a load within the usual pressures, good enough for maximal distances of 700-800 Meters or 775-875 Yards.

Enfield Enforcer, I really do not understand your problem. Take a look at the sight leaf on your rifle, and you will see that it is calibrated for a couple of thousand yards. Even my LP08 Artillery Luger with its 20 cm barrel is calibrated up to 800 meters. And that's using 9mm ammo! I have seen reports of some lads in the South of France firing Enfield No. 8s - .22s - at 300 meters. And myself fired .22 short at 200 meters and a 45-70 at 1000 yards. Any rifle will reach 300 meters, and yes, I include my percussion and flintlock muzzle-loaders in that claim. And any military cartridge rifle will reach 1000 meters.

What are you worrying about? Just follow good reloading practice and, in the interest of your safety and your rifle, don't try for the ultimate velocity.
On the basis of the front-locking system and the overall constructional strength, a P14 might theoretically be able to reach the same muzzle velocity (for the same bullet weight) as an M1917, but since the .303 case is much smaller than the .30-06, it would IMHO be a risky business, requiring faster powder than usual with potential pressure problems.

[ArtPahl]

Greetings from Michigan, USA:

I am not sure if this will be helpful or is the kind of information you're seeking, but here goes: I have a Remington made P14 that I have shot and chronographed quite a bit. I shoot mostly cartridges that I have reloaded but I've fired some factory and a few military loads in my rifle. You mentioned that you were after maximum velocity loads so I'll list what I have.

150 Hornady spire 2874 feet per second (handload)

150 Sierra spitzer 2897 fps (handload)

174 Military FMJ loaded with 37.3 grains of what looks like cordite 2335 fps

180 Remington round nose factory load 2384 fps

180 Sierra spitzer 2642 fps (handload)

Case life is good with this rifle; I have cases that have been fired 6 times and are still in service.

I did some experimenting with a friend's #4 (I often regret not buying that rifle from him--it shot under 3 inch 5-shot groups with almost anything I put through it). Velocities were within a few fps of my P14 with similiar loads, sometimes even a little faster.

I've also done some experimenting with #1 Enfield Rifles: Another friend owned 3 of them.

[Enfield Enforcer]

Hello ArtPahl,

many thanks. I have been involved in many other things since this spring, only therefore i answer very late.

Thats really interesting information. And even surprising, too. If I understand it in that way correctly:

The 180 grs-Load reached 2642 f/s that means 805 meters per second, thats a true surprise. If I may ask: what type of case was in use ? Which manufacturer.. .

And the 2874 f/s respectively 2897 f/s = 875 m/s resp. 883 m/s for this two 150 grs-Loads really impress me too.

Greetings from Grison/"Heidiland"
Enfield Enforcer

Greetings from Michigan, USA:

I am not sure if this will be helpful or is the kind of information you're seeking, but here goes: I have a Remington made P14 that I have shot and chronographed quite a bit. I shoot mostly cartridges that I have reloaded but I've fired some factory and a few military loads in my rifle. You mentioned that you were after maximum velocity loads so I'll list what I have.

150 Hornady spire 2874 feet per second (handload)

150 Sierra spitzer 2897 fps (handload)

174 Military FMJ loaded with 37.3 grains of what looks like cordite 2335 fps

180 Remington round nose factory load 2384 fps

180 Sierra spitzer 2642 fps (handload)

Case life is good with this rifle; I have cases that have been fired 6 times and are still in service.

I did some experimenting with a friend's #4 (I often regret not buying that rifle from him--it shot under 3 inch 5-shot groups with almost anything I put through it). Velocities were within a few fps of my P14 with similiar loads, sometimes even a little faster.

I've also done some experimenting with #1 Enfield Rifles: Another friend owned 3 of them.

[Enfield Enforcer]

ArtPahl, which powder have you used by loading the 180gr Sierra Spitzer-Ammo for 2642 fps, please ? And which charge ?

Now im in contact again with my reloading-specialist.

Many thanks.

Greetings from Michigan, USA:

I am not sure if this will be helpful or is the kind of information you're seeking, but here goes: I have a Remington made P14 that I have shot and chronographed quite a bit. I shoot mostly cartridges that I have reloaded but I've fired some factory and a few military loads in my rifle. You mentioned that you were after maximum velocity loads so I'll list what I have.

150 Hornady spire 2874 feet per second (handload)

150 Sierra spitzer 2897 fps (handload)

174 Military FMJ loaded with 37.3 grains of what looks like cordite 2335 fps

180 Remington round nose factory load 2384 fps

180 Sierra spitzer 2642 fps (handload)

Case life is good with this rifle; I have cases that have been fired 6 times and are still in service.

I did some experimenting with a friend's #4 (I often regret not buying that rifle from him--it shot under 3 inch 5-shot groups with almost anything I put through it). Velocities were within a few fps of my P14 with similiar loads, sometimes even a little faster.

I've also done some experimenting with #1 Enfield Rifles: Another friend owned 3 of them.