Ballistic gelatin test results : .303 British soft-point

[Brass Fetcher]

Special thanks to 351 WINCHESTER for sponsoring this test in full.

Cartridge : Sellier & Bellot 150gr Soft-point (Part #SB33131)

Firearm : Lee Enfield No 5 Mk I

Block calibration : All depths corrected (From 10.3cm @ 605 ft/sec)

Single shot impacted at an estimated 2621 ft/sec (single shot velocity recorded after the event), penetrated to 16.0" and was recovered at 0.721" average diameter and 132.1gr weight. Bullet experienced total core-jacket separation.

 

[rangerruck]

thanks for that info, quite good performance , really, for such an oldie.

 

[dao]

Another good reason to love the .303 !

 

[Waywatcher]

Wow that would really hurt.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Looks like that would make a good antipersonnel load, but I'd be leery of using it on anything bigger than a small whitetail.

 

[Limeyfellow]

Looks like that would make a good antipersonnel load, but I'd be leery of using it on anything bigger than a small whitetail.

Its more than capable to going bigger. Just last year a .303 British round took down a polar bear attacking children and its been used in Africa to hunt everything on the continent. It does often seem rather underestimated in the US of how good the round can be.

I would like to see a heavier bullet sp test though.

We had a problem in Northern Ireland in particular of how well they shot through body armour.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Its more than capable to going bigger. Just last year a .303 British round took down a polar bear attacking children and its been used in Africa to hunt everything on the continent. It does often seem rather underestimated in the US of how good the round can be.

LF, I was referring to this specific load. The .303 British is one of my favorite cartridges. I have four Lee-Enfields: a Lithgow No.1 Mk.III*, a Fazakerly No.4 Mk.I, a Fazakerly No.4 Mk.II, and a No.5 Mk.I (maker unknown b/c a prior owner refinished it and removed all the markings).

The .303 British is capable of cleanly dropping everything on this continent. But if going after game larger than deer, you want a bullet that won't fragment in 16" because you need more penetration to take something like an elk or moose.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Oh I agree. The bullet tested would be perfect for deer. I think for hogs, elk, moose and bear the 180 core lock would be much better. I just didn't have any of those rounds to test.

 

[Tony Williams]

Slightly OT, but does anyone know of any gel tests of the .303 Mk VII ball round?

The front half of the core consists of light alloy, which should in theory produce a faster turn-over on impact than an all-lead core, and therefore more serious wounding, but I've never seen any hard evidence for that.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Tony,

See this piece on AR15.com. Scroll down a little more than halfway and there's a pic of gelatin results of .303 Mk. VII and several other full-power rounds.

 

[Titan6]

The wife dropped a buck years ago; a 170lb 8pt Whitetail cleanly with one shot from her MK1 #4. 150 Grain Soft point at 100 yards went clean through one lung and lodged in the second. Range about 100 yards. Off hand, open sights...

The .303 is just a little under the .308 in power. A fine round; accurate, deadly. I much prefer it over the 30-30

 

[Tony Williams]

Thanks Dave, that .303 profile looks quite impressive!

 

[irishvet]

Guess i'll have to get an Enfield now. At least I can show the wife this as proof.