Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP – Great Hunting Ammo

Description

There are still a great many Lee Enfields in the woods every autumn, and most of them are being fed whatever surplus ball turns up. The Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP is what the rifle actually deserves. A proper controlled expansion hunting bullet at 2685 feet per second, loaded in fresh brass to consistent modern standards rather than to a 1940s military specification.

• Why ball ammunition is the wrong choice
• Full specifications
• Deer, black bear and old rifles that still work
• Honest notes before you buy
• Headspace and bore diameter, worth checking
• The bottom line

Why ball ammunition is the wrong choice

Full metal jacket military ammunition does not expand. On a deer it makes a small hole going in, a small hole going out, and a long tracking job in between. It was designed for a different purpose entirely. The Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP uses an InterLock soft point with a raised ring inside the jacket that locks into the core, so expansion is controlled and the bullet stays together.

The difference in the field is not subtle. A 150 grain expanding bullet at 2685 feet per second with 2401 foot pounds behind it is a genuinely effective deer load. The Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP turns an old battle rifle into a legitimate hunting rifle rather than a nostalgic one.

Full specifications

• Caliber: 303 British
• Bullet weight: 150 grain
• Bullet: InterLock soft point
• Muzzle velocity: 2685 fps
• Muzzle energy: 2401 ft-lbs
• Ballistic coefficient (G1): 0.361
• Case: reloadable boxer primed brass
• Quantity: 20 rounds per box
• Part number: 8225

The 0.361 ballistic coefficient is modest, which is the honest character of a 150 grain 30 caliber soft point. The Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP is not a long range load and was never meant to be. Inside 250 yards it does everything asked of it, and that covers the great majority of hunting done with a 303.

Deer, black bear and old rifles that still work

Whitetails, mule deer, black bear and hogs are all comfortably within what the Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP handles. The 303 British has been killing deer since before smokeless powder was common, and a sporterised Enfield with decent sights or a scope remains a perfectly capable hunting rifle in thick country.

Recoil is moderate, similar to a 308, and Enfields are heavy enough to soak up most of it. Shooting a box of the Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP at the range is a pleasant afternoon rather than a chore, which matters because getting familiar with the rifle is the main thing standing between you and a clean shot.

Honest notes before you buy

The brass is worth keeping. Fresh boxer primed 303 British brass is far better than the berdan primed surplus cases most people encounter, and it reloads readily. Because the chambers are generous, neck sizing rather than full length resizing will considerably extend case life.

Set expectations on accuracy. A military Enfield with its original barrel and two piece stock may give you two to three inches at a hundred yards with the Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP, which is fine for hunting and not what a modern bolt gun does. A well bedded sporter can do considerably better. Either way, the ammunition is rarely the limiting factor.

Headspace and bore diameter, worth checking

The 303 British headspaces on the rim, and Enfields were built with generous chambers so they would function with dirty or corroded wartime ammunition. Excessive headspace in a well worn rifle causes case stretching and can lead to separations. Before shooting much of the Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP through an old rifle, have a gunsmith check it with proper gauges.

Bore diameter also varies. Wartime production ran anywhere from about 0.311 to 0.316 across different factories, and a rifle with a generous bore will not group as well with standard diameter bullets. If the Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP shoots poorly in your rifle, slugging the bore usually explains why rather than anything wrong with the ammunition.

The bottom line

If you hunt with a 303 British, the Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP is the load that lets the old rifle do its job properly. You can read more about the bullet design at swiftbullets.com, or browse the rest of our stock on the MAG5 Firearms ammunition page.

MAG5 Firearms keeps the Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP in stock and moving, and we are glad to talk through bullet choice before you order. If you are working up a load for a new rifle, a single box of the Hornady 303 British 150gr InterLock SP is a sensible place to start.