Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Kills with the 303 British?

I am looking for feedback on bullet performance with various bullets on game. Both good and bad.
Any brand and weight of bullets

Sierra, Speer Remington Prvi Partizan, Hornady, Barnes Woodleigh, Winchester Norma, any of them!

Please tell me what kind of results you have seen from various bullets on game.
Details please, details.

This spring I took out two youth hunters for black bear using the 180 gr Speer RN at 2400 fps. They each got their bears and no bullets recovered, exit wounds were about 1.5" in diameter. Their shooting was a bit off but the bullets performed very well, I would definitely use them again.

Good to know your custom builds are coming along...can't wait to see pictures.

I've shot a few hogs with the 303 using 215gr Woodleighs. Have yet to catch one, even on 200 plus hogs.

The Hornady 150g SP's at just under 2700 fps have done well on WT deer out of my Grandfather's .303

Thank guys.
I am looking for details because on the 2 Lee "Speed" rifles I am making, I am installing express sights. They have to be filed to zero at 100,200 and 300 yards. I want to zero each rifle with a load that I know if dependable for the hunter. If I use a bullet that is so-so and the hunter wants to use another he will not have the sights set for that load or bullet.

So this is more then just a passing curiosity for me. I am looking for details on bullet performance so I know the rifles can be used on any game up to elk size and the hunter will not have to change his load.

Bones hit and broken,
angle of the hit,
total penetration,
Size of the game,
Retained weight (if the bullet didn't exit)-- and so on, are the kind of details I want.

I would set both for rifles to use 215gr Woodleighs, but they can be hard to get and are extremely expensive, so if I can find another bullet that works well on game up to elk size that is easy to get and/or cost less I will zero the rifles for it. If I use them to zero the guns and 2 years from now the customer can't get them, or can't afford them, I am going to paint myself into a corner.

I want to hear about Remington Core-Lokts and PPU bullets too, if anyone has experience with either one.

The Winchester Power Points get very good feed back, but you can't buy their bullets, only their ammo.

Steve: I'd go with Hornady Interlocks at 303 Speeds, they will perform for you

At 303 Enfield speeds a Sierra 180gr Pro-Hunter would work.

My 303 double pretty much dictates the bullet weight and powder charge for proper sight regulation, I shoot the 215 gr Woodleighs to 2168 fps with 40 gr RL-15, I've hit deer and pigs from 30 to over 200 pounds at every conceivable angle from 5 to a bit over 130 yards, always complete penetration, and 7 outta 10 hits are DRT.

I would think that most or the bullets weighing 174-180 gr should hit to a similar point of aim so that's where I would look at. Like I mentioned earlier I'm a real fan of the 180 gr Speer, Sierra and Hornady should be good as well. For a premium bullet the 174 gr Woodleigh should be very good from the reviews I have seen, going to try those along side the 180 gr Speer in my gun.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.303+British.html

You may have seen this but it is some interesting reading.

The 174gn Hornady RN goes well in my No.1 .303 at 2500fps. All kills on deer and pigs have resulted in 100% penetration so far. All have been 1 shot kills as well.

Some years ago I read "Man Eaters of the Tsavo". John Patterson used a 303 in all of his shooting. One thing I noticed is how often he'd shoot a lion and then say it escaped. I had to conclude that it's a poor choice for lion. Admittedly, I don't recall a glut of lions in No. America.

There 2 posts are encouraging. They are not theoretical but from experience.

"The 174gn Hornady RN goes well in my No.1 .303 at 2500fps. All kills on deer and pigs have resulted in 100% penetration so far. All have been 1 shot kills as well."

"This spring I took out two youth hunters for black bear using the 180 gr Speer RN at 2400 fps. They each got their bears and no bullets recovered, exit wounds were about 1.5" in diameter."

Can you men please tell me about the angles of the shots, bones hit if any, and the weight of the game?

I'd agree that the Woodleighs are probably the very best, but as a gun maker I can't set the rifles up with ammo that the owners may not be able to get a few years down the road. Availability is on and off and that can be a huge problem, and also the cost of the Woodleighs means that if I were to supply both guns with a "lifetime" supply of bullet it would add about $500 to each gun, and I am the one gambling that $1000. Gun-makers just don't make enough money to have an extra $1000 laying around to gamble that way with. (At least this one doesn't)

But good deep bone breaking performance with Hornady's or Speer's would be a real blessing. I can supply each gun with about 100 rounds of ammo, and the load recorded so the owners can duplicate it at any time. And if they wanted a "lifetime supply" when they get the guns it's within reach of the average shooter to buy 500-1000 American bullets.

Don't know if this counts cause my .303 liked .308 diameter Nosler Partitions, 180 grainers..and of course...they worked!

Nice pics of your Great Grandson Poobs, looks like you trained him well.

That was mean...

The 303 bullet I've used most often is the Sierra 180 gr Pro-Hunter. It's never been used on any game other than a dozen WI deer. Weights were from carry it out to 200 lbs dressed. Shot angles varied between classic broadside behind the shoulder to head on to Texas heart shot. Ribs, shoulders, and the pelvis were hit.as was the spine. The lone bullet recovered was the one that broke the pelvis. It had shed its core. Ranges were 10' to about 100 yds, tops.

I've been lookng for a turd in hell to no avail for months now.

No worries, you'll get one soon enough for disrespecting the Poobah...

, and a ripper cut soundly in my direction too I bet. lmao!