There doesn't seem to be alot of .303 around. I have a pretty good stash of Greek HXP on clips but I am wanting to lay in some more-mainly for shooting.
About all I see is Pakistani -32 rds, berdan, corrosive $7 a box. I have never shot any of this ammo, no idea how it is.
PriviPartisan- newly made in former Yugoslavia, boxer, non corrosive $10/20 rds. I have shot quite a bit of their .223 and it is excellent.
Anything else?
I have been kinda hoarding my Greek ammo cause its' so darn good...been reloading alot of cast bullets etc....I have about 500 cases- ancient Winchester made military cases- 1944, I have 5 firings on some of them-Good Stuff....
I like my old Enfields but they are kinda sidelined by ammo considerations right now. I have considered that I might sell my two Enfields and put the money into CMP Greek .30-06 for my many Garands/Springfields/P17's.
I have no shortage of "battle rifles"- I just kinda like the old guns but they aren't getting alot of use these days and I can't really see alot of surplus .303 coming on the market anytime soon. The last stuff, the South African and Greek was excellent but it's dried up. I have one No. 1 Mk III that I will always keep but the other two are "just because" rifles.....
Will: Don't lose hope. Save up your money for the next time a shipment comes in. The likelihood is that there will be another shipment.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=405051&kwtid=267833
32 rounds for $8
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/POF_.303_Brit_FMJ.html
about the same price
http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php?cPath=0_24_98_210&products_id=1224
probably the same ammo at several places. does seem to be a lot of it out there as there are quite a few more places selling it.
Cheaper Than Dirt! - remember them? - has commercial stuff as low as $14.95 (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemListing.aspx?catid=544 (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemListing.aspx?catid=544)) - it's reloadable - buy two boxes and use promotion code 1037-9508 (good through October 31, 2008) to save $5 a box - say, that's getting the price down to ten bucks a box!
Pass the word along about this discount. AS can pick up some much-needed financial support if we do...
Pakistani (POF) ammo is generally regarded to be Poor Old Fodder for your Enfield. Some people have had good luck with it, but usually it is click-bang, erratic and inaccurate. Go for the commercial ammo unless you luck onto some Greek or SA. Some of the WWII vintage Canadian and British production can be good, but you won't know until you buy it and try it.
Just reload it with either the cheaper option, Hornady 174 gr. RNSP or the expensive option the Sierra 174 gr. Matchking in that caliber.
All kinds of powders will work, whatever you can find cheapest.
Buckshot
Quote...but usually it is click-bang...
Hmmmm...that makes it ball-and-dummy stuff, right? Good ammo for busting flinches.
Actually, the "click-bang" part makes it more like a real flintlock shooting experience - teaches you to keep that steady hold after the "flash" - which means you CANNOT flinch - not no-how, not no-way...
Good stuff for teaching marksmanship.
NOTHING teaches follow through like a flintlock, especially one that needs a little tuning.
An experience to be tried at least once. Trust me, I have, as I used to own a Flintlock Kentucky rifle.
Click........Bang ammo works almost as well.
Best shooter I know, a young man of 21 or maybe 22 now, is that good because he STARTED with a rock lock.
Working with him in both smallbore and highpower, we never had to explain or point out the importance of follow through, he KNEW it the hard way from the rock lock.
Buckshot
Will,
Mostly 180 grain gaschecked cast bullets with Unique.
The factory ammo scene usually favors .303 and 7.62x54 in terms of decent prices.
The best variety, quality and quantity of ammo is in the 7.62 config today, in my opinion.
I've had hangfires with UK origin, Korean War-vintage MkVII ball that was stored in a soldered tin.
Consider using 7.62x54 as a source of harvested projectiles and propellant for your Enfields; then sell the primed 7.62 cases to another shooter for even more savings. Of course, you'd develop your own powder charge like you would with any new load. The small (0.001 nominal inch) projectile diameter difference probably won't give you a headache, especially with the generous land profile of the Enfields. 7.62x54 slugs shoot within 4MOA in mine, at any rate.
Doing the same switch with 7.62x39 cartridges into 303 brass, I found that the 7.62x39 bullet and powder charge were OK in terms of pressure in the 303 casing, but that accuracy was worse than 4 MOA and magazine feeding was unreliable in a #1 Mk IV.
Depending on your barrel construction, cast bullets are capable of 4 MOA accuracy or better, and that's your cheapest solution of all, provided you have 5-groove rifling. With 2-groove rifling plus cast bullets, though, I get are poor results and keyholes.
Of course, I'd recommend any (reliable) 303 mil surp ball at $0.20 per shot that you come across. In this market, that's bargain rifle ammo that should be bought by the case.
FM, Pm in your box.
As a point of interest, the POF stuff is being sold by many companies. One dealer, in response to a bad review regarding hangfires, stated that their reports indicated reliable operation in rifles with proper mainspring power. I've never had a problem with my No4, but I have seen one that a hangfire took apart. But then again, that operator works his bolt really fast. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt, but the rifle is out of commision until he can find a #3 bolthead to replace the damaged one.
Springfield Sporters has boltheads for $15.
Far from selling my Enfields as I had thought I bought another one. It's a No. I MK III. Pawn shop bubba special. I just ordered a set of wood from Springfield Sporters to set it right.....It's an Aussie Ligthgow, the wood will be Indian....going to be messed up but for $120 total I can't complain.
A Sniper (Mark IV) digests about every thing with a reasonable amount
to very accurate with both .311 and .308. A favorite load is a cast 180
gain, gas checked 308 with 4895. Use both the Sierra and Hornaday in
.311 jacketed SP with 4895 also with great results ;D