+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Shooting Greek 303 Surplus Ball

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    cprher's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Last On
    12-23-2018 @ 09:23 PM
    Location
    Palmyra, VA, USA
    Posts
    109
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:59 AM

    Shooting Greek 303 Surplus Ball

    There are only a few mentions of Greek surplus 303 ball recently available through online sources such as Sportsmansguide.com. Who here has shot this ammo and can compare it to other ammo such as PPU 303 (174 BT match) or Hornady match 303 also with a 174 BT match bullet?

    I have two cases of 480 rounds each bulk packed in boxes of 48 each. It looks good, almost as if it was made yesterday.

    Keith
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member ActionYobbo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:52 PM
    Location
    Flippin Arky
    Posts
    417
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:59 AM
    The HXP is fantastic. I run it in my BREN and can get consistent hits out to 600 on steel. I also use it in the No4 and get the same results. I have used PPU in the past when it was available and basically got the same size groups but the HXP shoots a little lower. once sighted in for the HXP the rifles all shoot excellent. With the No4 with hxp I have the sights on 400 to hit at 300 where with the PPU was 350 to hit 300
    1ATSR 177AD & 4/3 RNSWR

  4. Thank You to ActionYobbo For This Useful Post:


  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Legacy Member enfield303t's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Last On
    12-05-2022 @ 02:54 PM
    Location
    Okanagan BC
    Posts
    1,166
    Real Name
    Donald
    Local Date
    03-27-2024
    Local Time
    11:59 PM
    Frustrated none of this ammo came into Canadaicon. Would really be nice to get some.
    Why use a 50 pound bomb when a 500 pound bomb will do?

  7. Thank You to enfield303t For This Useful Post:


  8. #4
    Advisory Panel
    Roger Payne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Last On
    03-20-2024 @ 06:05 AM
    Location
    Sutton Coldfield, UK.
    Posts
    3,429
    Real Name
    Roger Payne
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:59 AM
    I'll second that. HXP is good quality ammo. The only thing I would say, if you're a keen reloader, is that the brass is a little on the soft side.

    ATB.

  9. #5
    Advisory Panel Son's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last On
    03-26-2024 @ 07:30 AM
    Location
    On the right side of Australia, below the middle and a little bit in from the edge.
    Posts
    1,239
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:59 PM
    I have been through over a thousand HXP and have reloaded a lot of those cases, some six times to MkVII ball pressures without a case failure. As long as you segregate the cases for each rifle and only neck size (and trim to length) until they are firm to chamber (usually every two neck sizings) then use an adjustable FLR die to just bump the shoulder back so it chambers again without resistance.
    As Roger said, the brass is a bit soft and does flow, hence requiring trimming to length every time, but I think the softness acts in its favour as I have never annealed any necks and have had no splits either. Don't know if I will be doing too much more reloading. I now have about 70kg of it and as it groups about 2MOA in my comp rifles there isn't too much to gain from reloading.

  10. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Son For This Useful Post:


  11. #6
    Advisory Panel Brian Dick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 05:18 PM
    Location
    Edgefield, SC USA
    Posts
    4,038
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:59 AM
    I've been shooting HXP ammo for many years. It's good quality and consistent Mk.7z. I was told many years ago that the plant was set up by Dominion of Canadaicon but don't know if it's fact. The Mk.8z as manufactured by PPU and S&B is excellent but the boat tail projectiles WILL cause problems in barrels that have been shot a great deal with cordite Mk.7. I reckon it always boils down to whether a particular rifle will print with it as it does with any ammo. I attended a well organized range test at a friends place in the mountains of Virginia back in September. They tested eight variants of rare WW1 optical sighted rifles, (no telescopes), as installed on both MLE, CLLE and SMLE rifles. The control shooters were a former US Army SF sniper in his 50's and a recent USMC scout sniper in his 30's. They tested HXP,(Greek), PMP,(South African), and FNM, (Portuguese), Mk.7z ball and decided that the FNM was slightly more consistent and accurate in the wide variety of rifles with the added optical sights. The Greek ran a close second and the South African third. It was an interesting day and both those guys were tired at the end with a five gallon bucket of empty brass between them and bruised shoulders. Hard work!!

  12. The Following 8 Members Say Thank You to Brian Dick For This Useful Post:


  13. #7
    Legacy Member Catch22's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Last On
    01-15-2024 @ 01:58 PM
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    87
    Real Name
    Mike Redshaw
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:59 AM
    I missed out when CTD had a bunch of it (no budget at the time), but I've heard of a lot of guys that love it.

    In the reloading world I see a lot of guys that like the brass for reloading, as well. I'd love to find me a mess of ammo or brass cheap to give a try.

  14. #8
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    MrGriso's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last On
    01-15-2016 @ 01:28 PM
    Location
    California
    Posts
    11
    Real Name
    Patrick
    Local Date
    03-27-2024
    Local Time
    11:59 PM
    Hi. Just joined the forum recently but I am a LE owner since about '99.

    I was going through my inventory last week. Forgot that I have stashed away about 300-400 rnds left of HXP from a batch that I'd bought back in about 2001! Some in bandoleers, some in boxes. What a surprise. I had a bit more at one point. Shot really well. And I have saved all my brass, reloaded some with good result.

  15. #9
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:59 AM
    I have fired thousands of rounds of HXP through rifles, Brens and Vickers MMG's. It was made to UKicon MoD spec so it shoots and acts exactly as the weapon was made to shoot it does (does that make sense.....?) If it was good enough for the UK MoD to buy, issue and use, then it's good enough for the worlds shooters.

    Light heartedly......, we didn't do a lot of reloading the brass. We just shoveled it up into big sacks and returned it for scrap so I can't comment on its reloading qualities!!!!!

  16. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  17. #10
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    No.6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last On
    03-05-2016 @ 04:11 PM
    Location
    South Wales, UK
    Posts
    9
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:59 AM
    HXP shoots (shot - alas no more here ...) very well. If reloading you need to trim to length the first time as ~98% of cases are overlength. After that they are fine, and having reloaded some 6-8 times they don't go overlength again/yet, but then I save each batch for each rifle and only neck size.

    Ian

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Greek Surplus 303 British Ball for sale at Cheaperthandirt.com
    By cprher in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 01-10-2015, 06:32 PM
  2. Greek Surplus 303 British Ball for sale at Cheaperthandirt.com
    By cprher in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-22-2014, 06:31 AM
  3. Greek .303 Surplus
    By bbrunelle in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 69
    Last Post: 12-04-2014, 12:34 PM
  4. Greek Bren
    By Brit plumber in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 10-09-2013, 09:53 PM
  5. Historical Question: Transition from M1 Ball to M2 Ball Ammo
    By P-07ShortLee in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 11-21-2010, 09:32 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks