I see Woodleigh offers a 215 grain bullet for handloaders of .312 diameter cartridges. This is the bullet weight that made the .303 legendary on African game. I was wondering if anyone loads this and if so what kind of accuracy are you getting?
moosemike I have been looking at loading the 215 woodleigh. Right now I have been loading a cast lead bullet that is weighing in at 208gr sized and lubed. I am only pushing it around 1600fps right now but I am going to see if I can push them a little harder to see how accuracy works for me. As it stands right now they are acurrate but they drop off very quickly. I bought a box of Hornady 150gr soft points to try out as well so i'll load them up before I buy the 215s.
I read somehere about the woodleighs mushrooming quite nicely as they were designed for the .303 velocities.
If you get some let us all know how they perform. I am very interested in them as well.
I load and hunt with the 215grn woodleigh in .303. I use them in my No4s and have had very good results. They are definitely not a long range projectile though.
I have some ADI powder loads I have worked up if they will help. You can probably find a similar powder where you are as a starting point. Drop me a PM if you like for the loads.
ADI is a Aussie powder company I believe. They make alot of powders for Hodgdon but relable to hodgdon. So we should be able to figure out what it translates to in Hodgdon and go from there. I think Velocities are around 2000-2200fps. That's what I read on the .303British site anyways.
I'll check my handloading data today and have a look at the powder comparision charts that are on the ADI handloaders website and get back to you. If you like I'll pm you some of my loads for reference .
Rastus, I've got some 215gn Woodleighs and am working up a decent load (read, working towards the tightest possible grouping) for my No1. MkIII* - what have you hunted with them, and what are the terminal effects like? Is there game you would NOT recommend tackling with them?
I have had a look at my loading data. Obvious cautions about using this data at own risk etc...
Woodleigh 215grn RNSP
41.0 grains of 2208 ADI
Federal lg primer (FED 210)
Fired out of No4 Sporter - 22'inch brl Average vel: 2256 f/s.
Remmington 180grn Core Lokt RNSP
42 grns 2208 ADI
Federal lg rifle primer (FED 210)
Fired out of No4 Longbranch (full wood)
Average vel: 2330 f/s
Same rifle with Remmington 180grn factory round Average vel: 2424 f/s
.303-25
100grn Nosler B/T
33.0 grns 2208 ADI
Federal large rifle primer
Fired out of No5 .303-25 Jungle carbine
Average vel: 2583 f/s
Same load fired out of a No4 sporter in .303-25 with 24 inch brl
Average vel: 3040 f/s
I have used the Woodleigh's on pigs and buffallo and have had good results. The all rounder for the cost in the Remmington Core Lokt in .303. I have used the .303-25's (100 grn Noslers) on pigs as well with good results but shot placement with the .25 is the key.