.308 bullets in .303 for plinking.

[Jacobite]

As some of you know I have been playing with reduced loads in both my 8mm and my .303.
Today I tried .303 brass necked down to .308 and used 147 grain .308 bullets pulled from some ammo that had alot of duds. I have close to 400 of these and no .308 so I figure I would find out if I could get a semi accurate 100 yards load with them in the .303 Lithgow.

I started with 10 grains of Blue Dot and worked up to 17 grains. Accuracy was terriable untill I hit 15 grains. At 16 grains I got 4 shots in 3 inches at 100 yards with a velocity of 1595 average for 5 shots. 17 grains gave me 4 shots in the same group with 1665 for an average speed. Both loads had one of 5 shots a flier.

I will stick with the 16 grain load as it was POI at POA with my sight at the lowest setting. 17 grains was 2-3 inches high.

[WildBillCody]

Thanks, I tried loading some old .308 bullets, I had also, terrible, amazing what a few thousands will do for ya hugh?
Never tried blue dot for rifles, I have used red dot for pistol loads.

[Jacobite]

The .308 bullets are working in a 5 groove barrel but not very well in my 2 groove one.

[Geilt]

Hornady makes a very light weight "plinker" bullet in .311. I can scan the relevant pages from my Hornady manual and give you a look at the load data if you like.

My guess is that the two groove barrel isn't imparting enough spin to the bullet and isn't fully stabilized when going down range.

[Jacobite]

No need, I just found out that pennbullets.com sells cast bullets in the proper diameter for bot my Enfields and 8mm.