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> Lee Enfield 303-25
Lee Enfield 303-25
@ 02:39 am (GMT) |
Ben GradyHi guysWhile my 25-06 is being re-barrelled I have dusted off my 303-25 #4mk1. I'm trying to find a good all round load for Goats and the odd pig. Say 0-300 yards. It shoots an inch group with 75gr sst, 90gr blitzkings, 90gr gamekings and 100gr prohunters. It has a good barrel and seems happy with what ever I put through it. I am keen on the 75gr sst, chrony at 3200fps. The 100gr prohunters at 2800 fps some times go right through a goat with a small exit hole. The blitzkings at 2900fps sometimes put a fist size hole as the entry hole, too frangible I guess (very accurate though). The 90gr gamekings I haven't any kill data (only on paper). And the 75gr sst @3200fps smacked a pig 70lb maybe over at 185yards and attached is the picture of the exit wound. Shot just behind the ear. Pig dropped on the spot. Do you think the 75gr sst will be good for what I am after. Or would you suggest something different? cheers Ben |
Replies
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@ 02:48 am (GMT) |
Ben GradyRe: Lee Enfield 303-25Lets see If this works?
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@ 04:23 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Lee Enfield 303-25Really depends on what sized pigs you are going to encounter Ben. On a really large boar that has been rolling in mud, there are times when a 100gr bullet will not produce clean kills with neck shots.Light bullets were the bane of the .250-3000 in NZ during the culling era. Large stags or boar would not go down, the variables including bullet weight, shot placement and game body weights. The .250 could be dynamite one minute, then abysmal the next. But for goats and porker sized pigs, I see no reason why you cannot use a light bullet. Generally speaking, the smaller the bore, the more reliant it is on high velocity in order to create wide wounding for fast killing. But this puts us into a somewhat difficult situation as you say- because a very light bullet can suffer surface bullet blow up or shallow penetration. It is therefore important that we select an appropriate cartridge first, then an appropriate bullet weight. We can only do so much with shot placement in a field situation. There will be tasks for which your rifle is optimally suited along with limitations. U.S gun writers often write somewhat romantic articles regarding the .257 Roberts. This casts a very nostalgic light on the Roberts and will on occasion cause a few hunters to dust off their Roberts rifles and work up fresh deer loads. The net result, is emails to me from both older and younger hunters complaining that the cartridge has been wanting- "the deer ran x yards and we had to track it for x time", "How can I get more power out of this?". " I had forgotten how mild this was". And so it goes on until all goes quite again. That's the reality versus the fantasy. Velocity is a key factor plus matching bullet weights to game as best as you can. |
@ 05:32 pm (GMT) |
thomas kitchenRe: Lee Enfield 303-25hi benis it possible to use the same projectile you plan to use in your 25.06 dont no if your twist rates a similar. might mean restricting distance for your 303-25 but will give you good understanding of your bullet choice and range for your 25.06. thats some wicked damage to that pig. if you hit it in the shoulder do you think would of had same affect? my mate caught a pig few years ago had a 12g solid healed over in its shoulder. pigs always amaze me how tough they are |
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@ 07:45 pm (GMT) |
Ben GradyRe: Lee Enfield 303-25Hi Thomas, Yes I could use the 75 gr sst in my 25-06 at 3650 fps it's going to be a barrel burner.I haven't tried 117gr in the 303-25 but expect the barrel twist to be too slow. But I'm set on 117gr for the 25-06. As for a shoulder shot at the pig, not with a 75gr sst. I've had pigs run off, shot in the shoulder with bigger projectiles. So I prefer just behind the ear or just behind the shoulder, with these lighter rounds. As for the 25-06 117 gr, no problems at the shoulder but then you lose a bit of meat. My apprentice stuck a pig a while back that had a cluster of shotgun pallets (20-30) just under the skin all healed over. |
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