Old .303
- Thread starter Pocketrocket
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.303 what? British or Savage?
FMJ bullets usually are banned from hunting game animals.
I purchased several boxes of this stuff a decade or so ago. Lots of hang fires. Pull the trigger, keep the gun pointed in a safe direction and there is a good chance it will go off in time for your daughter's wedding.
I had the same experience as above with that Pakistani ammo, a mix of outright duds and dangerously long hangfires. Add to that the corrosive berdan priming and they are at best donor bullets.
The actual British surplus is also corrosive but usually reliable.
The best of the military surplus is the Greek HXP. Boxer primed in brass that holds up pretty well (for a .303), and accurate.
Interesting side note, since the Russian x54 round uses the same bullet diameter and is a just slightly larger round with the same pressure, some folks have just used a chamber reamer and blown their .303 British rifle out to the Russian. Of course, that was when you could get the Russian ammo...
I don't know about the legality of FMJ where the OP is, but interestingly the British used a wood filler in the front of the jacket to make the bullet back-heavy. This tended to help long-range accuracy but I've read it also made the bullet tend to tumble on impact which would reduce the risk of pass-through.
The actual British surplus is also corrosive but usually reliable.
The best of the military surplus is the Greek HXP. Boxer primed in brass that holds up pretty well (for a .303), and accurate.
Interesting side note, since the Russian x54 round uses the same bullet diameter and is a just slightly larger round with the same pressure, some folks have just used a chamber reamer and blown their .303 British rifle out to the Russian. Of course, that was when you could get the Russian ammo...
I don't know about the legality of FMJ where the OP is, but interestingly the British used a wood filler in the front of the jacket to make the bullet back-heavy. This tended to help long-range accuracy but I've read it also made the bullet tend to tumble on impact which would reduce the risk of pass-through.
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ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Like said above, if the bullet in those rounds is a FMJ its not suitable as a hunting round. You don't want to risk a passthrough that hits nothing important which will cause the game to suffer. I see no reason not to use that ammo in your post for practice, just be sure to clean your barrel well after shooting it.
I know ammo is difficult at best to find. Do you have a family member or very close friend you trust who might be able to load some 303 British ammo with a proper hunting bullet? That seems one of the few or only chance of finding 303 hunting ammo at this time. I loaded up some 303 British hunting ammo using a Hornady 174gr Interlock Bullet #3130. That bullet is accurate in my rifle.
I know ammo is difficult at best to find. Do you have a family member or very close friend you trust who might be able to load some 303 British ammo with a proper hunting bullet? That seems one of the few or only chance of finding 303 hunting ammo at this time. I loaded up some 303 British hunting ammo using a Hornady 174gr Interlock Bullet #3130. That bullet is accurate in my rifle.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I have about 300 rounds of Iraqi 303 linked for a Browing 30 Cal. I can't read the date but was told it was mid 1970's.
I also have a 100 round bandolier of Pakistani that is marked on the outside that it is from 1974.
The best 303 Brit. I ever shot was surplus 1944 W.R.A., good old Winchester! I've read that it was the choice of British snipers, but I'm sure Kynoch was better!
I still have a No 4* and No 5 and a 1903 Citadel Martini. The Martini doesn't like the WWI or WWII spitzer ammo, I was made to shoot the 220 grain Jacketed RN over 40 gr of Black Powder. (it has Medford rifling instead of Enfield!
Ivan
I also have a 100 round bandolier of Pakistani that is marked on the outside that it is from 1974.
The best 303 Brit. I ever shot was surplus 1944 W.R.A., good old Winchester! I've read that it was the choice of British snipers, but I'm sure Kynoch was better!
I still have a No 4* and No 5 and a 1903 Citadel Martini. The Martini doesn't like the WWI or WWII spitzer ammo, I was made to shoot the 220 grain Jacketed RN over 40 gr of Black Powder. (it has Medford rifling instead of Enfield!
Ivan
gwpercle
Member
Don't hunt with military Full Metal Jacket bullets ... the bullet will not expand and in most states it is illegal to use non-expanding .
Paper Targets are OK ...except for the corrosive priming thing ... Properly Clean the bore after shooting this ammo ...corrosive means it will quickly corrode the bore .
If you have to hunt with FMJ ammo , emergency situation ... take head / brain shots only , they will work there .
Gary
Paper Targets are OK ...except for the corrosive priming thing ... Properly Clean the bore after shooting this ammo ...corrosive means it will quickly corrode the bore .
If you have to hunt with FMJ ammo , emergency situation ... take head / brain shots only , they will work there .
Gary
That’s was my question too
You'll need hot water to clean up after those corrosive primers. The Limeys issued a nifty funnel that fit the chamber of a Lee Enfield just for that job.
As far as hot water goes, the Vickers was an excellent source. My nephews turning surplus Radway Green into noise and hot water. If you shoot the corrosive stuff it's as much of a hassle to wash out the bore after one as it is a thousand.
Hangfires sure screw up the rhythm of a machine gun.
As far as hot water goes, the Vickers was an excellent source. My nephews turning surplus Radway Green into noise and hot water. If you shoot the corrosive stuff it's as much of a hassle to wash out the bore after one as it is a thousand.
Hangfires sure screw up the rhythm of a machine gun.
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Fair assumption given that he pictured a round of .303 British, but perhaps another warning should be included: don't try to fire that in a .303 Savage.
OP
Pocketrocket
Member
.303 British
Ok thanks for the info guys. We will relegate this to target ammo, and
I'll let him know about the clean up and hang fires. I think this is for a back up gun to his 30-06 for hunting so may not get used in the field much if at all.
Ok thanks for the info guys. We will relegate this to target ammo, and
I'll let him know about the clean up and hang fires. I think this is for a back up gun to his 30-06 for hunting so may not get used in the field much if at all.
GypsmJim
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Cleaning up after using corrosive primers would be the least of my worries. Its the click-boom that is dangerous.
Many years ago I learned not to buy surplus .303. The ones I tried were loaded with cordite, not ball powder.
I didn't even feel comfortable reclaiming the bullets. It all got disposed of...
Many years ago I learned not to buy surplus .303. The ones I tried were loaded with cordite, not ball powder.
I didn't even feel comfortable reclaiming the bullets. It all got disposed of...
In years past when there was tons of surplus military ammo for sale in the US .303 British was available but was not of the quality of other rounds like the 8mm Mauser and 9mm Luger. There have been untold numbers of .303 British rifles sold in the US and most owners bought commercial soft point ammo for their once a year Deer hunts.
ggibson511960
Member
Two posts asked if the search was for .303 Brit or .303 Savage, though the OP's picture is clearly .303 Brit. Unsettling but reaffirms to not take Internet traffic to be completely accurate, even mine.
Several have suggested reloading soft points if commercial ammunition cannot be sourced, a reasonable solution if current commercial .303 Brit cannot be found. I haven't seen any for many moons. It was not common before the pandemic. Suitable soft point 0.311 bullets might be harder yet to find. Haven't seen those in a while. A last gasp desperation move would be paper patching 0.308 bullets. Ross Seyfreid published many successful accounts of his use paper patching to get oddball calibers shooting.
When I first asked the question his pic was not in his post, he added it later. Also you are making the assumption that because he bought .303 British ammo he knew the difference between it and the .303 Savage. Other questions in past threads have shown that some folks do not know that there are two different .303s.
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