303 loads to soften recoil

[BigDuncs]

My whippet like lad is getting hammered by his No4 although he won't admit it, but after 100 rds, he's got a nice mark on his shoulder and I don't want that to develop into flinching. Club has got competitions from 100 yds up to 500 yds. Can anyone suggest the sort of loads and bullets I could be looking at for this?

I do reload 303 myself but it's soft loads with cast bullets for my Martini Enfield so I've no idea what is appropriate for FMJ bullets. (And I will of course check any suggested load. but it would be great to have a starting point.)

Will appreciate any recommendations. Thanks in advance.

[enfield2band]

Have you checked the length of the butt?

I have had a .303" No.4 and the recoil was not a problem.I have fired a couple with long butts and they kick like hell, probably because it does not fit well enough.

Just a thought.

[BigDuncs]

Yea, and it seems OK. Thanks.

He shoots a lot of clays so well used to recoil, despite his light 21 yr old frame, but as I want to calibrate the sights for a 'standard' reload, I'd like to settle on something a little softer before I start the 'zero at all ranges and positions' process....

[amc577]

My K31 is a bit of a beast with GP11 factory. If I shoot at Bisley, 200 yards I load up 34/36 gns of 3031 over 174 fmj and this produces an accurate but less shoulder jarring load. The lyman reloading book provides these loads with 3031

180gn fmj 35gns 2044fps 39gns 2320fps

amc577

[BigDuncs]

My K31 is a bit of a beast with GP11 factory. If I shoot at Bisley, 200 yards I load up 34/36 gns of 3031 over 174 fmj and this produces an accurate but less shoulder jarring load. The lyman reloading book provides these loads with 3031

180gn fmj 35gns 2044fps 39gns 2320fps

amc577

Thanks AMC
PS - been trying to reply to your earlier PM and your inbox is full so message won't send.....

[amc577]

My inbox now cleared.

amc577

[Maverick61]

Have used Dodgyrog's 200g GC lead bullets out to 300y with 25g Acc5744 in my 303 L/E No4 with good results.
I would thoroughly recommend that you try rog's bullets if you get a chance, even more so if you have an oversize bore as mine are sized at 0.314" & work just fine in my rifle.

Have also used the slip over leather butt pad intended for shotgun use & this helps considerably too.

Hope this helps.

[tacfoley]

My K31 is a bit of a beast with GP11 factory. If I shoot at Bisley, 200 yards I load up 34/36 gns of 3031 over 174 fmj and this produces an accurate but less shoulder jarring load. The lyman reloading book provides these loads with 3031

180gn fmj 35gns 2044fps 39gns 2320fps

amc577

I'm very surprised that with a load like that - ie. bullet first, then powder - that the bullet actually leaves the barrel.

Just syain'.

tac

[English]

I have two friends who struggled and to be honest the brass butt plate has bitten me a time or two you only need to be a bit sloppy in the shoulder and you are done for.

One friend changed the butt to have a sporting one on, which he liked as it has a proper recoil pad and got a better position for the use of a scope.

The other had a Pachmayer slip on recoil pad which just slipped over the end of the butt.