I've got more 32 caliber hollow point revolver bullets than I can use at present. Anybody have any experience loading such bullets in a 303 British rifle? The diameter is right, .312. Don't know as if I'd want to drive them much past 1000 fps. Load suggestions welcome and/or published sources where I could find some loads.

I've also thought of shootong some 100 grain .312" handgun bullets through my 1909 Argentine. It's a bit tricky to interpolate down to that bullet weight. I was thinking of pushing them to about 2000 fps with some of the faster rifle powders,... maybe 4198,.. but if you want to shoot them at no more than 1000 fps you'll probably be better served by using magnum pistol powders,... maybe H4227.

Here's some info that I dug up.

http://www.public.asu.edu/~roblewis/SMLE/IIID2a11a4.html

An excerpt:

[BEN: I buy commercially-cast bullets designed for .32 H&R magnum, instead of casting my own. These are 100gr SWC style with a good wide forepart (ahead of the bearing surface) of about bore (.302-303") diameter. These puppies shoot GOOD in my .303s!]


Charges for such loads are 6-7gr of Bullseye, Win. 231, Green Dot, Red Dot, or 700-X. You may also use 7-8gr of Unique, PB, Herco, SR-7625, or SR-4756. The 7.62x39mm 123gr, 100gr .32-20 or .32 H&R Mag. jacketed handgun bullets will also work well in new barrels with these charges.


[BEN: Ummm... I've been known to use Speer's 100gr JHP (.312", for .32 Mag) bullet over 40gr of 3031 for a "2-liter load" (2-liter plastic Coke bottles, filled with water). At 50 yards, this load is dead-on with the battle sight of my Long Branch #4 Mk1*, and boy does it make a mess out of those bottles!]

Well, I'm not wed to the 1000 fps figure. Actually, that is probably too conservative. I notice that my copy of the Hodgdon's data manual, 26th ed. has some loads for 100 gr. bullets, 308 diameter. Minimum load for H4198 is 32.0 gr. yielding 2561 fps. I'm thinking that I could use that as a basis for working up loads for 90 gr. Sierra hollow points. I just want something that will work with the battle sights out to about 100 yds. or so.

Both Hornady Half-Jacket and Speer Plinker boxes had data for their .308 diameter 100 grainers.
There would be little difference with the larger bullets at the low pressures envisioned.
I like the .32 HBWC bullets in both Krags and in the Arisakas, but they are a lot less than jacked velocities.

I use 14 gr of Unique with a 125 gr cast bullet in my 30-06, and it shoots real good for grouse and rabbits -- heads shots only. No reason why a light load of Unique wouldn't work in the 303 as well. My old Lyman manual shows a 155 gr cast bullet with a gas check loaded with Unique - 11 to 15 grains. MV range was 1600 to 1873. With a lighter bullet, the lower end charge would be plenty safe, and velocity would be less, IMHO. The manual also shows loads with 2400 and IMR4227, but they use a lot more powder and the velocity is too high for bullets without a gas check.

The ones I have have were loaded by my father about 40 years ago.
They are 115 soft points with 43 grains of IMR 4895.
They give the same point of inpact at 20 yards as a 180 grain
Saber Tip, IIRC.
Cat

For years I have used a load of 7gr. Bullseye with any 100gr. bullet in any .30 cal. Never did clock any. Just a good 50-75 yd. plinker load.

The same should work great in the .303.

Well, I just got back from the range. I used 90 gr. Sierra hollow points with a load of 32 grains of IMR 4198. C.O.L. was 2.495. Air temperature about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They worked great at fifty yds. They grouped about as well as any other bullet would, considering my skills as a shooter and that I was using the battle sights. They were a little to the right and low at first, but once I got the hang of things, they clustered neatly in or near the center ring. I think this one's a keeper. I suspect something like this would work very well with the 7.65 Arg. and 7.7. Jap. also.

Thanks for the update. I have both a very nice 1909 Argie and a 1955 Fazakerly No.4 Mk.II that I'll have to try out.