Prvi Partizan .303 British 174 FMJBT Ammo Review, Part 1

A bench top examination of the 174 grain full metal jacket boat tail load in .303 British from Prvi Partizan. Range testing, accuracy and velocity testing to follow in part 2. Part 2 can be found here: • Prvi Partizan .303 Bri...

[@559ninja0053]

Really good ammo, I use it in my No4 MK1 and have had zero complaints.

[@muncieboy68]

no issues with the boat tail bullets? my barrels shot out but i had tumblers with it. federal treated me well

[@gunnerjames1056]

Picked up 15 boxes of this exact same PPU 174 grain FMJ from Wards Auctions a few weeks ago. This is very good info on what I should expect, and the reloading info also very helpful. I am all set up for reloading, and ready at new family range built last summer to try this out soon I hope. Thanks 314299 Shooting Channel. On to part two.

[@mtslyh]

Another great ammo review. Thanks!

[@bojanmilankovic]

PPU is very good ammo. I'm really enjoying your reviews and in depth looks into it. Thanks for keeping up with the good content, always a pleasure to watch.

[@nzdochunts34]

Check out some Hunting in New Zealand on my page. Latest video is a Red Stag taken with a Lee Enfield 303. Shot using privi partisan 150gr

[@JunkfoodZombieGuns]

This was a really good video on the .303 British cartridge. Not many out there. Thanks for this. I Love my SMLE and now you've made me want ti go out and shoot it. :)

[@314299]

Thanks. I need to shoot mine more than I do.

[@JunkfoodZombieGuns]

314299 Shooting Channel I just got a couple K31 Swiss rifles and some GP11 ammo. Should have some videos of them up on my channel in the near future. If you like, I restored an old sporterized Enfield that was a rust bucket, and made some short progress videos of it. I sold it (not a fan of sporterized milsurp rifles, but it was free...) but it came out pretty nice when I was done. Have a good one. Be safe.

[@thorsaxe5881]

A few year back, I bought a case of that Ammunition, in my standard No#4 Mk-2 it will produce less than one inch @100 yards. I lucked out, Maybe on the rifle, maybe on the lot of ammo.. However I am very pleased with this factory Prvi Partizan. Peace - Dave

[@murphysmuskets]

.303 Brass can be such a pain in the ass to work with depending on the chamber. Great video!

[@garywinders3707]

Thank you so much for an outstanding review. Everything described in detail with very clear video. I'm awaiting delivery of my No4 Mk2 and will be using this ammunition for initial firing.

[@314299]

Thanks for the comment and good luck with your new No 4, they are lots of fun to shoot.

[@gradyhernandez4699]

I have brass for the .303 British.... new brass

[@camerl2009]

it relieves the stress from forming witch would cause cracking or splitting. its also good practice to anneal after a few times each case is fired for .303 every 5 firings I anneal my brass I am also just neck sizing for brass

[@haledmondson2756]

I've had 1 no1 lee enfield that was so shot out that a bullet would slide right through the barrel. On some of my no4s the barrel looked good but I plugged the muzzle with a dowel. Then I filled the barrel with ammonia left it for a couple of days, when I drained the barrel it poured out green. Even if your barrel looks good you should give it a good cleaning. If you don't want to fill your barrel, load your patchs with ammonia to pull through....Hal

[@314299]

Pretty much every old rifle I have bought has had a lot of jacket fouling when I received it and has required a fair bit of cleaning to get rid of it. I have used a number of different products, all worked but at different speeds. As for "Shot out" Lee Enfields I have an old MK1 Long Lee that a 311" bullet will fall completely through, a .312" will stop 1/2 way down. With a 316" cast bullet it shoots OK.

[@kyledonovan2987]

ppu is the only ammo i can find in 8x56r for my m95 carbine in Canada so I love it and so does my all my milsurp rifles.

[@314299]

Prvi has a terrific selection of "surplus" type calibers and brass for reloading. I have a couple of boxes of that 8x56R but I've yet to try it.

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

This stuff is sold in Australia under the "Highland" brand, but it's the same thing. I know you'll probably cover this in Part 2, but I found it shot quite adequately to SMLE military iron sights out to 600 yards (would put the bullets on paper within the scoring zone; the rest was up to me). As for the ballistic coefficient, I find it difficult when reloading to tell it apart from the Hornady FMJBT @ a quick glance. The brass is excellent SMLE reloading fodder. I wish I'd bought lots more.

[@clintonlayne9253]

Can you post a picture of the Highland ammo Box? Being a Scotland Highlander it might be cool to find some.

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

@@clintonlayne9253 Not sure how to post pics to YT.

[@clintonlayne9253]

I'm just seeing this today 11/08/23. This a very nice video. I have not used PPU 303 ammunition.I have used the 8mm and 30/30 Win. Recently I've used some Herters 303 Brit. 150 so & 180 sp. I had best results with the 180 . The 150 gr was not too bad either.

[@314299]

I'm glad you liked the video. I've not seen any Herters 303 ammo around here. I have heard that most of the "Herters" brand ammo is now made in the USA by Winchester.

[@clintonlayne9253]

@@314299 I found mine at my local Cabela's in Mitchell SD. I researched it and found out that Cabela's owns the Herters brand.

[@nitin1620]

Always love content of your channel.

[@314299]

Thanks.

[@camerl2009]

not really its a one time deal I've gotten upwards of 30 reloads from my .303 I also use nothing but prvi brass as it has no undercut while the American made stuff dose. ive had good luck with the .577-450 as well a .468" to .470" grease groove bullet is what's needed I also use thing but solid head brass no magtech stuff and don't use lee dies as they are made to size down the case to under the smallest size of .577-450 chamber and a .458" bullet I use .480 ruger dies to neck size only

[@slowhand1198]

Excellent info, as usual. I'm down to my last 450 rounds of Mk VII, so a good replacement with loadable brass will be required to feed the stable. Looking forward to the shooting tests. Thanks!

[@englishrupe01]

Excellent informative review. Thanks!

[@slowhand1198]

Thanks for the .480 Ruger neck size tip.

[@Gunnut357mag]

I purchased some of this about a year ago, same thing but it was sealed from moisture. Must have just been the particular lot.

[@muncieboy68]

thanks for this video, just finding your page now and this is awesome to see. subbed for more of your videos!

[@314299]

Cool, thanks.

[@kyledonovan2987]

I bought a sporterized 1918 no 1 mark 3* and ran 2 boxes of this through the gun for the first time. Shoots good decent ammo I noticed that it was annealed right away.it pricey tho at 30 bucks a box for the .303 in Canada which Is sad That theres not surplus around anymore.I used some also in 7.62x54 and it shot nicely outta my 1940 mosign.Good video.

[@314299]

+Kyle Donovan PPU 182 grain 7.62x54R is my favorite for my 91/30 Mosin Nagant sniper rifle, quite accurate.

[@terryb8294]

I have a 1918 sporterized Lee Enfield as well. My Mosin Nagant is a 1932 Tula. The PPU is mainly what I shoot for the Enfield, but I also get some of the Czech brand as well.

[@murphysmuskets]

I use Winchester brass (found a lot of it real cheap years back) Its week and a pain to work with. I envy anyone who has a stash of Prvi brass as its excellent stuff!

[@murphysmuskets]

Carmel2009, Alas I have done all this and its great advise! But having to do it makes it a pain no? The only other round I shoot that is as finicky as .303 is 577/450. Go figure another English cartridge!!! lol Cheers from another Enfield enthusiast!

[@camerl2009]

the only way I got my no 4 mk1 to shoot well is order a custom mold it cast a .316" 210gr bore riding bullet from cast bullet engineering in Australia

[@pr4runner]

Looks like that bullet was "capped at the end" to make it the correct diameter?/??

[@TheTonystearns]

My favorite ammo to shoot of my mk2

[@314299]

Does it group well for you in your rifle?

[@04eire]

I find .312" bullets work much better in my No4. I hear that from some other notable and well respected 303 owners. I reload and get impressive groups with IMR3031 and .312" sst or sp hornady bullets. The difference was quite something. I"m about to try some of these factory loads as a reference and starting point for newer Enfield acquisitions.

[@314299]

As the loading manuals often say "groove diameter of 303 barrels can vary considerably", and a lot of them are large and for them a .312" bullet can make quite a difference in accuracy.

[@camerl2009]

not really put a oring on the case right against the rim fire it and then neck size from then on and only use them in that gun. this stops case head separation that is caused by the case headspacing on the rim and not being tight to the bolt face. doing this trick the case will form to headspace on the neck the oring is only needed the first firing

[@reddevilparatrooper]

I finally got to shoot this ammo through my No.1 Mk III* 1942 Lithgow that has been FTR in 1951.The result was fantastic firing the PPU .303 British because previously the Wolf 173 grain FMJ i had fired failed badly.The Wolf ammo would "key hole" at 50 yards and 100 yards just horribly.Shooting at a # 11 British NATO target aiming at the head the best was 1 1/2 inch with the PPU,the rest was 4 inches center mass in the kill ring at 100 yards.Good accuracy with 1916 style battle sights.This ammo is good for my old WWII and Korea vintage service Lee Enfield.I am very happy with it now.I will be buying more PPU ammo.Stay the hell away from the Wolf .303,it is fricken garbage!

[@ahmedalteeb]

Nice

[@ezzz42]

excellent! thanks for the info and upload

[@brit750]

ezzz42 I

[@canadianpatriot9566]

Enfield were used in both ww1 AND WW2.

[@314299]

...and the Boer war, and the Korean war, and many, many, other conflicts around the world.

[@jcasoriousa]

its crazy what people are trying to sell this ammo for now. Gunbroker has ppu fmj 303 selling for over 3 dollars a round

[@314299]

Yeah, there are some pretty crazy asking prices on 303 ammo out there at the moment.

[@yevgenz]

What is the purpose of annealing the cartridge case?

[@pr4runner]

Sorry, wonder if 3030 brass has an under = cut base

[@MrHondaguy1]

Yeah I ordered some of that exact stuff since it was the same bullet weight as the original service loads.

[@314299]

It's sort of a hybrid between Mk VII and MK VIII ammunition.

[@didiermasclet9886]

Hello sir. I occasionally fire the PPU ammunition in my Lee Enfiels n ° 3 as well as in 2 Mosin Nagant (M44 and 91/30). Having so far used new and recent weapons in my shooting practice, I wonder about the lifespan of the guns in terms of the average number of shots on these old military weapons. In view of your experience, can you give me an indication on this point? Thanks to you for your videos.

[@314299]

It's pretty hard to say just what the "lifespan" of a given firearm will be because there are so many variables. Things like maintenance and the conditions the gun is used in can make a big difference in durability as well. Some of the less durable designs like the Czech CZ-52 pistol was only considered to have a service life of something like 3000 rounds, most service rifles should be good for 10,000 rounds before being "worn out", and generally that would mean the barrel was no longer capable of acceptable accuracy. Not may people will shoot a firearm enough to actually wear it out.

[@didiermasclet9886]

@@314299 Hello sir. Thank you for your reply. This allows me a better knowledge of these rifles ... I live in France and I do not master the English language very much, but I greatly appreciate your videos which are a real source of learning because unfortunately in Europe weapons remain a taboo subject for many of my contemporaries. Thank you again for what you are doing. Greetings from France.

[@billybobbillybob7598]

My Lee Enfield No1 Mk 3 keyholes when shooting the Wolf Bimetal. Has anyone else had this problem?

[@314299]

I have not personally used any Wolf 303 because it is not sold where I live. Reviews on the web and here on KZbin of the Wolf .303 ammo mention inaccuracy and keyholes on the target. A lot of 303 rifles have tired bores and dont shoot well unless you shoot round nose bullets.

[@andylipana5297]

Good caliber of coise!!...

[@314299]

I like the 303 round in spite of it's "challenges".

[@davidwagner4355]

good video

[@bassamahmad1927]

I bought a 50 pack of these same projectiles from graf and sons for 30 cents a piece to try out with my lee loader. I'm going to try them with 43.4 gr of bl-c(2). I wanted to buy varget but Bass pro was sold out,i also considered imr3031 but I only have the volumetric spin that the kit came with and there was no load data for 3031 and I want sure about it for projectiles above 150gr.I'm new to reloading do you think bl-c(2) will give good results in my mk1no5? the bore is in brand new condition, my grandfather have me the rifle he purchased it new at Kmart in the 60's. thanks for the excellent videos!

[@314299]

Hodgdon lists a load with BL-C(2) for 174 grain bullets, start load of 43.0 grains (2442 fps) to a maximum 46.5 grains (2616 fps) using an overall length of 3.075". Their data is with a .312" bullet. So your planned load of 43.4 certainly sounds safe and reasonable. IMR 3031 has been used a lot in 303, Hodgdon also lists a load of 41.0 grains for 2632 fps with a 150 grain. The only way to find out how these loads will shoot is to try them in your rifle, Lee Enfield rifles can be rather individual in their load preferences. For faster loads Varget is a good powder as is Reloader 15. You might want to get a set of Lee dippers, that will expand the number of loads you can assemble with your Lee Loader. Best of luck with your 303!

[@bassamahmad1927]

Thank you for the response sir. I loaded my first test round with 43.4 gr of the BL-C(2) and the 174 gr FMJBT. the hardest part was that the data sheet provided lists a min C.O.A.L of 3.075" with that powder and projectile and as you know, the cartridge max OAL is 3.075" so I was obessing over mine being 3.074" I finally concluded that the min cartridge length listed by lee is for a max powder charge and as long as im seated to the cannelure, I'm not going to sweat it. furthermore i'm assuming that Hodgdon doesnt list any load data for imr 3031 with a 174 grain projectile because there wouldn't be any room in the cartridge without compressing the powder?

[@314299]

There is no 3031 load for the 174 grain bullet on the Hodgdon website, but it is listed in my Sierra manual. Start charge of 38.5 grains (2100 fps) to a maximum of 38.8 grains (2300 fps) with an OAL of 3.075" for the bullet used (a Sierra .311" MatchKing HPBT). I would load the PPU projectile to a length suitable for the cannelure and would not worry about the OAL too much as long as the length is close and the bullet is not seated against the rifling (which is highly unlikely to happen in a .303).

[@bassamahmad1927]

Once again, thank you very much sir, this is exactly what I needed to know.

[@Colicious89]

I just shot five rounds of this for the first time, then I went back inside and this appeared in my feed. Creepy.

[@314299]

You should have bought a lottery ticket!

[@hardyakka6200]

I feel i missed out I have never had a case separation.

[@314299]

Full lenth size 303 reloads and you will soon join the case head separation club.

[@Logjam5]

Nice.

[@314299]

It's a decent loading.

[@bigtrev761]

🇦🇺😎👍

[@314299]

Thanks buddy.

[@garyh1449]

a lot of Enfield's don't like boat tail bullets

[@314299]

In my experience most rifles with worn or oversize bores shoot poorly with boat tail bullets, Lee Enfields included.

[@bradleylove4918]

Same as the Russian 7.62x54R

[@314299]

What is the same as the Russian 7.62x54R?

[@nzdochunts34]

Check out some Hunting in New Zealand on my page. Latest video is a Red Stag taken with a Lee Enfield 303. Shot with privi partisan 150gr

[@gradyhernandez4699]

Carcano 6.5x 52 mm

[@314299]

What about Carcano 6.5x 52 mm?

[@trapperv9630]

this ammo is the dogs b******* very affordable and easy to get hold of.

[@314299]

Indeed. Shooters of surplus type rifles should all be thankful that PPU makes so many useful loadings for this and many other calibers.