Best solid for .303?

[BenKK]

G’day guys, I’ve got Woodleigh’s last pack of 215 grain Hydros coming, as sadly they’ve discontinued them due to not enough demand.

Once I burn through them I’m not sure what solids are available for .303. Any ideas? Round nose is preferable to pointed in the absence of Hydros or similar.

Any Aussies have some .303 Hydros laying around feeling bored?

 

[bruce moulds]

ben,
look for old 303 mkv1 ammo.
it was good enough for tom cole.
bruce.

 

[BenKK]

ben,
look for old 303 mkv1 ammo.
it was good enough for tom cole.
bruce.

Good point. Hey, did he swing a normal .303 around one-handed, or did he use two hands? I can imagine using the Winchester lever-actions one-handed (but I’ve got no idea). I should try to watch that old movie again. Is it Jedda’s Leap that has the clip of buffalo shooting? Or We of the Never-Never?

 

[bruce moulds]

ben,
in the real world he used a martini with the barrel shortened, one handed, when on horseback.
don't know about in movies.
I have seen old photos from the territory of guys with levers actions as well.
bruce.

 

[BenKK]

In one of those movies they stitched-in a bit of real footage, but I haven’t seen it for such a long time. It would be interesting to know who the shooter was.

 

[bruce moulds]

too right ben.
bruce.

 

[Major Khan]

I was wondering why the .303 British calibre 215 grain Woodleigh Hydrostatic monolithic solid brass bullets were listed in their 2019 catalog ... But not in the 2020 catalog .

Our Bangladeshi Ordinance Factories still have several of these Woodleigh Hydrostatic monolithic solid .303 calibre 215 grain bullets in their inventory . They use them for loading .303 British calibre cartridges ... For our Maulvi Bazaar and Chittagong Hill Tract Forest Department Officials , who frequently have to contend with rogue elephants .
They use these , in their depart issue Lee Enfield bolt rifles . How ever , now that Woodleigh stopped manufacturing thes in 2019 ... I strongly suspect that the Forest Departments will source other ammunition , when existing stocks are exhausted .

Our Bangladesh Ordinance Factories also manufactures a 215 grain round nosed solid metal covered bullet , which is also loaded in to Forest Department issued .303 British calibre cartridges . These use an impressively thick steel " Jacket " and a lead core . I suspect that once the existing stocks of Woodleigh Hydrostatic monolithic solid brass .303 British calibre bullets are exhausted ... Our Forest Department Officials shall be issued these , once again . They work exceptionally well , for brain shots on Asiatic elephants ( Even frontal brain shots on the large bulls ) .

Normally , we do not export them ... But if you like ... I could arrange to have some exported to you ( Since I am a retired defense personnel and used to work as the supervisor at the Ordinance Factories , from 1982 to 1988 ) . But not more than 250 cartridges , at a time .

 

[BenKK]

That is very interesting to learn about your Forest Department! They chose well with the Hydro. And it’s also neat that they make their own traditional solids. I think Australia would make it impossible for me to import, but thank you for the kind offer.

Approximately how many problem elephants would the Department deal with in a year?

Thank you!

 

[Major Khan]

That is very interesting to learn about your Forest Department! They chose well with the Hydro. And it’s also neat that they make their own traditional solids. I think Australia would make it impossible for me to import, but thank you for the kind offer.

Approximately how many problem elephants would the Department deal with in a year?

Thank you!

I am afraid that there is no crystal clear answer to this , Ben . We had 28 rogue elephants in 2019 . So far , we had 5 ... This year . In 2004 , we had the highest of any year ... So far . We had 36 . That would be roughly 3 in a month . Our forest department officers are issued Lee Enfield bolt rifles , chambered in .303 British .

Back when I used to work as a supervisor at the Ordinance Factories in the 1980s ... The very 1st solid metal covered .303 British calibre bullets used to utilize a copper “ Jacket “ . How ever , Forest Department Officials reported unsatisfactory results , when ever frontal brain shots on large elephant bulls were taken . We shifted to a steel jacket in 1987 , and also flattened the round nose , slightly .

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

G’day guys, I’ve got Woodleigh’s last pack of 215 grain Hydros coming, as sadly they’ve discontinued them due to not enough demand.

Once I burn through them I’m not sure what solids are available for .303. Any ideas? Round nose is preferable to pointed in the absence of Hydros or similar.

Any Aussies have some .303 Hydros laying around feeling bored?

@BenKK
Have you given Geoff a call mate he may do a special run as he would still have the tooling.
C ant hep to ask. In the meantime I will ask my gunshop if they have any. I have seen them there but don't know what caliber.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That is very interesting to learn about your Forest Department! They chose well with the Hydro. And it’s also neat that they make their own traditional solids. I think Australia would make it impossible for me to import, but thank you for the kind offer.

Approximately how many problem elephants would the Department deal with in a year?

Thank you!

@BenKK
If you are in NSW you get a B709 permit to import free of charge or what ever form in your state. You can scan it and send it to the supplier along with a reason why you want them/ it.
The person sending includes your forms and a letter saying they can be exported.
I have done this with pre chambered barrels out of the state's.
Just check your state regs
Bob

 

[nztimb]

I have a bag of the 230gn game ranger bullets which I believe are south african and no longer made. They would be a good bullet for some of the heavy game in the 303 class of animals