Anyone Use .303-25?

GRUNTER HUNTER · 06-08-2009, 10:05 PM

Hi All,

I just got a No.5 in .303-25 and i am just wondering what everyone loads their cartridges with for hunting?
I only hunt pigs and i was wondering if a 120 grain projectile would work alright in the .303-25?
I will only use this rifle for very close range shooting, so is the .303-25 capable of launching a 120 grain projectile? I have been told that 100 grains is the best weight to use in it, but i would rather something a little heavier.

Any opinions?

Thanks

pajaro · 06-09-2009, 12:35 AM

i think i have read something recently about 303-25......can't quite remember where, though...... i'll see if i can dredge it up from my memory.......... i think it was an article about various 25 calibre wildcats.......

GRUNTER HUNTER · 06-09-2009, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pajaro

i think i have read something recently about 303-25......can't quite remember where, though...... i'll see if i can dredge it up from my memory.......... i think it was an article about various 25 calibre wildcats.......

That would be great if you could find that article somewhere.

Cheers

rastus · 06-10-2009, 07:12 PM

GH,

What mark of SMLE are you using?

I have 2 in .303-25s. I have found that the 120grn projectiles are too heavy in the barrels I have they don't stabilise well. 100 grain projectiles may not either (they are ok in mine just). It may be better (and cheaper) to experiment with 90-100grn projectiles. Check out the ADI handloading website they have loads for the 25 using ADI powder.

I have some loads I have worked up for mine drop me a PM.

Cheers

GRUNTER HUNTER · 06-11-2009, 01:19 AM

Hi rastus,

Thanks for the info mate. My No.5 is a Mk1.
Hmm yeah i thought i would run into stability problems with the 120 grainers. So i think i will go with 100's.
The thing that still has me scratching my head though, is, why could the .303 British fire heavy projectiles and the .303-25 cant? I mean they are the same case and hold basically the same amount of powder right? I know they used 215grn projectiles in the .303's in the war and had no problem stabilising heavy projectiles. I just dont get it.

Cheers

Alan De Enfield · 06-11-2009, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRUNTER HUNTER

Hi rastus,

Thanks for the info mate. My No.5 is a Mk1.
Hmm yeah i thought i would run into stability problems with the 120 grainers. So i think i will go with 100's.
The thing that still has me scratching my head though, is, why could the .303 British fire heavy projectiles and the .303-25 cant? I mean they are the same case and hold basically the same amount of powder right? I know they used 215grn projectiles in the .303's in the war and had no problem stabilising heavy projectiles. I just dont get it.

Cheers

The standard 303 bullet used in both wars was 174gr FMJ, giving around 2440ft/sec. It is known as the MkVII.
The old 215 gr was used over a compressed charge of black powder & was used in the very early days, Boer war etc.

Dakoma · 06-11-2009, 04:02 AM

Takes a bit more twist for heavier bullets in the quarter bore to stabilize heavier longer bullets,most 25 cal.here in the states go up to 120gr.with a 1 in 10" twist.Hope I was helpfull?

pajaro · 06-11-2009, 07:57 PM

i've looked through my books and magazines and can't find anything....... if i can remember where i saw this i'll look it up and post it.... sorry......

Full MeTal Jack · 06-11-2009, 11:24 PM

BULLET WEIGHT / CALIBER / TWIST RATE CHART

posting a chart didnt work
Grain/Cal .257
85 1/ 12
100 1/10
120 1/ 10

That's what I have

GRUNTER HUNTER · 06-12-2009, 01:03 AM

You have all been a great help, thankyou very much!
Thanks for that pajaro, dont worry if you can't find it.
Is there any way to find out what twist rate a barrel has without taking it to a gunsmith?

Cheers all.

Alan De Enfield · 06-12-2009, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRUNTER HUNTER

You have all been a great help, thankyou very much!
Thanks for that pajaro, dont worry if you can't find it.
Is there any way to find out what twist rate a barrel has without taking it to a gunsmith?

Cheers all.

Take a cleaning rod and a piece of cotton type material that is large enough so that when you push it down the barrel it is tight enough to 'wedge' into the grooves.

Make a mark in any postion on your cleaning rod.

Push rod and cloth into barrel, make another mark where the rod enters the barrel, note the position of your first mark, push and watch the 1st mark, watch for 1 revolution. After 1 revolution, make another mark where the rod enters the barrel.

Measure between the two marks - if its 10" then your twist rate is 1:10, 5" would be 1:5.

roverboy · 06-12-2009, 12:57 PM

The 10th Edition of Cartridges of the World has
an article on the .303-25. It says typical velocities
run at 3100 fps for the 87 gr. and 3000 for 100 gr.

GRUNTER HUNTER · 06-12-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverboy

The 10th Edition of Cartridges of the World has
an article on the .303-25. It says typical velocities
run at 3100 fps for the 87 gr. and 3000 for 100 gr.

Hi roverboy,

Is it possible for you to scan that article for me? It would be extremely helpful.

Cheers

GRUNTER HUNTER · 06-12-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan De Enfield

Take a cleaning rod and a piece of cotton type material that is large enough so that when you push it down the barrel it is tight enough to 'wedge' into the grooves.

Make a mark in any postion on your cleaning rod.

Push rod and cloth into barrel, make another mark where the rod enters the barrel, note the position of your first mark, push and watch the 1st mark, watch for 1 revolution. After 1 revolution, make another mark where the rod enters the barrel.

Measure between the two marks - if its 10" then your twist rate is 1:10, 5" would be 1:5.

Thanks for that Alan, i just did that and figured out that it is a 1:12" twist.
That probably means that 120 grain projectiles are out, but i will probably still try 100 grains. Have any of you guys used 100 grain projectiles in your No.5 .303-25's? I wonder if that twist rate and the short barrel are enough to stabilise that weight projectile?
Any opinions would be great as i am off to get some projectiles, and i dont want to buy too many so should i get 100 grains or lighter?

Thanks!

roverboy · 06-13-2009, 07:03 AM

Actually its not an article on just the .303-25.
Its on Australian wildcat rounds. It mentions
several Australian conversions. I really don't
know how to scan it for you. But I'll see what
I can come up with.

roverboy · 06-13-2009, 07:12 AM

25/303
This might help. It takes you to www.reloadbench.com and they have some good loads
for the 303-25. Sorry I couldn't scan for you. Just click on .25/303 at the top.

rastus · 06-17-2009, 05:17 PM

Mate for my .303-25's - I have a jungle carbine and a sporter with a 24' brl (both N04 actions). I have settled on a 90grn projectile...... But try some 100grn projectiles firts and see how you go.

I didn't realise that Reloaders had .303-25 info I'll check that out.... Thanks

pathdoc · 06-18-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan De Enfield

The old 215 gr was used over a compressed charge of black powder & was used in the very early days, Boer war etc.

By the time of the Boer war, they had switched to cordite (about 31gn IIRC). The Australians were still using the 215gn load (1970-2050fps depending on the mark) when they deployed to Gallipoli in 1915, as there weren't enough MkVII-sighted rifles for them to convert. I don't have Skennerton's history immediately to hand, but I believe the BP load didn't last very long.

06-08-2009, 10:05 PM	#1
GRUNTER HUNTER Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 70	Anyone Use .303-25? Hi All, I just got a No.5 in .303-25 and i am just wondering what everyone loads their cartridges with for hunting? I only hunt pigs and i was wondering if a 120 grain projectile would work alright in the .303-25? I will only use this rifle for very close range shooting, so is the .303-25 capable of launching a 120 grain projectile? I have been told that 100 grains is the best weight to use in it, but i would rather something a little heavier. Any opinions? Thanks

06-11-2009, 11:24 PM	#9
Full MeTal Jack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,909	BULLET WEIGHT / CALIBER / TWIST RATE CHART posting a chart didnt work Grain/Cal .257 85 1/ 12 100 1/10 120 1/ 10 That's what I have __________________ Guns and cameras don't mix Last edited by Full MeTal Jack; 06-11-2009 at 11:30 PM.

06-12-2009, 12:57 PM	#12
roverboy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Moss,Tn. Posts: 1,580	The 10th Edition of Cartridges of the World has an article on the .303-25. It says typical velocities run at 3100 fps for the 87 gr. and 3000 for 100 gr. __________________ A redneck boy can survive.

06-13-2009, 07:03 AM	#15
roverboy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Moss,Tn. Posts: 1,580	Actually its not an article on just the .303-25. Its on Australian wildcat rounds. It mentions several Australian conversions. I really don't know how to scan it for you. But I'll see what I can come up with. __________________ A redneck boy can survive.

06-13-2009, 07:12 AM	#16
roverboy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Moss,Tn. Posts: 1,580	25/303 This might help. It takes you to www.reloadbench.com and they have some good loads for the 303-25. Sorry I couldn't scan for you. Just click on .25/303 at the top. __________________ A redneck boy can survive. Last edited by roverboy; 06-13-2009 at 07:16 AM.

06-09-2009, 12:35 AM	#2
pajaro Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: newcastle, california Posts: 316	i think i have read something recently about 303-25......can't quite remember where, though...... i'll see if i can dredge it up from my memory.......... i think it was an article about various 25 calibre wildcats.......

06-10-2009, 07:12 PM	#4
rastus Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 72	GH, What mark of SMLE are you using? I have 2 in .303-25s. I have found that the 120grn projectiles are too heavy in the barrels I have they don't stabilise well. 100 grain projectiles may not either (they are ok in mine just). It may be better (and cheaper) to experiment with 90-100grn projectiles. Check out the ADI handloading website they have loads for the 25 using ADI powder. I have some loads I have worked up for mine drop me a PM. Cheers

06-11-2009, 01:19 AM	#5
GRUNTER HUNTER Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 70	Hi rastus, Thanks for the info mate. My No.5 is a Mk1. Hmm yeah i thought i would run into stability problems with the 120 grainers. So i think i will go with 100's. The thing that still has me scratching my head though, is, why could the .303 British fire heavy projectiles and the .303-25 cant? I mean they are the same case and hold basically the same amount of powder right? I know they used 215grn projectiles in the .303's in the war and had no problem stabilising heavy projectiles. I just dont get it. Cheers

06-11-2009, 04:02 AM	#7
Dakoma Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southeast Tennessee Posts: 1,119	Takes a bit more twist for heavier bullets in the quarter bore to stabilize heavier longer bullets,most 25 cal.here in the states go up to 120gr.with a 1 in 10" twist.Hope I was helpfull?

06-11-2009, 07:57 PM	#8
pajaro Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: newcastle, california Posts: 316	i've looked through my books and magazines and can't find anything....... if i can remember where i saw this i'll look it up and post it.... sorry......

06-12-2009, 01:03 AM	#10
GRUNTER HUNTER Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 70	You have all been a great help, thankyou very much! Thanks for that pajaro, dont worry if you can't find it. Is there any way to find out what twist rate a barrel has without taking it to a gunsmith? Cheers all.

06-17-2009, 05:17 PM	#17
rastus Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 72	Mate for my .303-25's - I have a jungle carbine and a sporter with a 24' brl (both N04 actions). I have settled on a 90grn projectile...... But try some 100grn projectiles firts and see how you go. I didn't realise that Reloaders had .303-25 info I'll check that out.... Thanks