Re: Best bullet weight for .303

; To my way of thinking, the best bullet weight for a .303 is anything over 200gr.
Friend of mine had me chamber a new .308" barrel for his P-17 US Mauser(.303). His thinking was that he cannot buy 215gr. bullets here for a reasonable price and the 220gr.RN .308" Hornady's worked well on moose and deer in the odd .303 he owns. he wanted a new, exceptionally accurate .303 that would shoot factory .303's with 180gr.WW Power Points as well as the 220gr. Hornady's, hense the .308" barrrel. We ground the pilot to fit a .308" bore, then chambered his .308 barrel for this round. Firing .303 factory rounds will not increase pressure( in this action, wouldn't matter if it did) as the neck is the proper size for the .312" bullet in the case. Also, the bullet will be several to 8" down the tube before max pressure is reached by the charge, and by then, it's the correct size, isn't it.

So- my premise is that anything over 200gr. will work and if you can't get 215 Woodleighs, try the 220gr. Hornady's. If they don't shoot, put a new barrel on it. If you can get the 215gr. Woodleighs, be happy. BTW - 180gr. Power Points have also worked well on moose and elk and shot well in almost all of my friend's .303's - he has had several hundred - really.