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    Legacy Member desky85's Avatar
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    Reloading .303 for the MLE action

    I have read that the MLE actions aren't quite as strong as the later No1MkIII actions.

    For the people who reload for the MLE, do you use lighter loads for these rifles?
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    Legacy Member ActionYobbo's Avatar
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    I dont have an original MLE but for my early rifles I load gc cast lead with an adequate but not light load so I can shoot them with out punishing my shoulder.
    cast lead is more forgiving than jacketed when it comes to pressures and not so new barrels. I find the old barrels shoot better with slightly oversize cast bullets.

    early lee speed
    martini
    sporterfied LE1 with a SMLE barrel
    sporterfied LEC (x2) with original barrels
    Last edited by ActionYobbo; 01-05-2017 at 09:46 PM. Reason: spelling
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    Legacy Member desky85's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr E View Post
    I dont have an original MLE but for my early rifles I load gc cast lead with an adequate but not light load so I can shoot them with out punishing my shoulder.
    cast lead is more forgiving than jacketed when it comes to pressures and not so new barrels. I find the old barrels shoot better with slightly oversize cast bullets.

    early lee speed
    martini
    sporterfied LE1 with a SMLE barrel
    sporterfied LEC (x2) with original barrels
    Thanks for the reply Mr E. I probably should've said it in my question but I am looking for loads to use at longer ranges than cast projectiles would be suitable for. I'm wanting to get a shortened range pattern rifle going for some .303 target rifle (Fullbore) matches that are starting to gain momentum here in Australiaicon. Thinking I will reduce my loads a little from what I usually run in my SMLE rifles

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    Legacy Member Omark's Avatar
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    Apart from cast bullets, the load I use which I find very mild and accurate is 39 gns 2208 with a 174gn flat base projectile. These are the barnaul ones which we get her in NZicon

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    Legacy Member mikedal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Omark View Post
    Apart from cast bullets, the load I use which I find very mild and accurate is 39 gns 2208 with a 174gn flat base projectile. These are the barnaul ones which we get her in NZicon
    Hi. I am interested in trying the barnaul projectiles can you tell me where you get them from. I can't see them on the barnaul nz website.
    Cheers Mike

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    Legacy Member Omark's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mikedal View Post
    Hi. I am interested in trying the barnaul projectiles can you tell me where you get them from. I can't see them on the barnaul NZicon website.
    Cheers Mike
    They are out of stock so your best bet is to use the 174 hornadys
    Rusa reloading should have some

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