Built For American Patriots · Independent · Constitutional Absolutist
Guide

.303 British Ammo 2026: Loads From Federal, Remington and Hornady

By , EditorUpdated How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 5 current .303 British loads on Federal's, Remington's and Hornady's own product pages on November 5, 2026: 2 from Federal, 2 from Remington and 1 from Hornady. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 3 makers, not every .303 British load sold.

Federal and Remington loads show the usage label each maker prints on its own page, copied as written. Hornady is listed in its own table, because Hornady prints no usage label. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses.

Federal and Remington loads

Figures are copied from each maker page. The usage label is the maker’s own wording.

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker usage labelMaker status (Nov. 5)
Federal Power-Shok Rifle303 British303B150 gr Jacketed Soft Point2,690 fps2,410 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Big GameAvailable
Federal Power-Shok Rifle303 British303AS180 gr Jacketed Soft Point2,460 fps2,418 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Big GameAvailable
Remington Core-Lokt303 British21471180 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point2,460 fps2,418 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Big GameAvailable
Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle303 British23701174 gr Full Metal Jacket2,475 fps2,366 ft-lbNot listed on maker page20Target ShootingAvailable

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line, the Custom line. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table, and the test barrel is the one the table names.

LoadCartridgeItem #BulletMuzzle velocityMuzzle energyTest barrelBoxMaker status (Nov. 5)
Hornady Custom303 British8225150 gr InterLock® SP2,685 fps2,401 ft-lb24 in20Not listed on maker page

Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each maker's ballistics table. Test barrel is the length the maker lists. "Box" is the round count per box. Status is the maker's own wording on its product page, and it changes daily. All pages checked November 5, 2026.

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Loads in our tables run from 150 gr to 180 gr. The lightest are Federal Power-Shok Rifle 150 gr (303B) and Hornady Custom 150 gr (8225), and the heaviest are Federal Power-Shok Rifle 180 gr (303AS) and Remington Core-Lokt 180 gr (21471). The fastest listed muzzle velocity is 2,690 fps, Federal Power-Shok Rifle 150 gr (303B), with no test barrel listed. The highest listed muzzle energy is 2,418 ft-lb, Federal Power-Shok Rifle 180 gr (303AS) and Remington Core-Lokt 180 gr (21471), with no test barrel listed. Because test barrels differ or are not listed, compare across makers with care.

The makers label loads for game or for target use. They don't tell you one weight is right for a species. The right choice depends on bullet construction, range and your state's rules. Check your state hunting rules and your state wildlife agency before you buy.

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 5 loads, 4 list no test barrel, 1 list 24 in. The loads with no test barrel are from Federal and Remington. A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's test barrel for the .303 British is 24 in.

No barrel-length-velocity page exists yet for the .303 British, and we have not charted one. Our barrel length vs velocity data covers other cartridges, so do not read those numbers as .303 British data.

.303 British: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "303 BRITISH [303 BRIT]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, its centerfire rifle standard (approved Feb. 10, 2025). The cartridge drawing was issued 05/29/1979 and revised 02/10/2023. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 49,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 490 in psi/100). SAAMI also lists a crusher maximum average pressure of 45,000 CUP (the table shows 450 in CUP/100). Cartridge overall length runs from 2.915 in minimum to 3.075 in maximum. Case length is 2.222 in (−.020). The drawing shows 5 grooves and a twist of 1 in 10.00 in, right-hand (marked optional). Bullet, bore and groove diameters are Not yet verified, because the PDF text does not pair each figure with its label clearly. SAAMI reference velocities are Not yet verified, because the PDF text does not clearly pair each bullet weight with its velocity. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.4 PDF. The .303 British MAP row is also on our SAAMI maximum average pressure table (Z299.4, 49,000 psi / 490 psi/100).

SAAMI says all standard rifle test barrels are 24 in long and that exterior ballistic data for centerfire rifle cartridges is based on that length. Its listed exceptions (7.62x39, 277 Sig Fury, 30 Carbine, 300 AAC Blackout, 300 HAM'R, 350 Legend, 350 Remington Magnum, 360 Buckhammer, 400 Legend and 44 Remington Magnum) do not include the .303 British, so SAAMI measures it on a 24 in barrel.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Rifles for .303 British

The .303 British is a rifle cartridge, and the loads in the tables run from 150 gr to 180 gr. See also new rifle releases and the new hunting rifles of 2026.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal and Remington show availability on their own product pages. Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see 8mm Mauser (8x57) ammo, .30-30 Win ammo, .308 Win ammo, .30-06 Springfield ammo, 7.62x39 ammo, 45-70 Government ammo, .35 Whelen ammo, .375 H&H Magnum ammo, the SAAMI maximum average pressure table, the barrel length vs velocity data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .303 British?
SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 49,000 psi for .303 British, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 (the table shows 490 in psi/100).
What grain is .303 British ammo?
In our tables the bullets run from 150 gr to 180 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your rifle is set up to shoot.
How fast is .303 British ammo?
In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 2,460 fps to 2,690 fps, and muzzle energies from 2,366 ft-lb to 2,418 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.
What does test barrel mean?
It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box.
Do you list prices or stock for .303 British ammo?
No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 5, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

Sources

  1. Federal: Federal Power-Shok Rifle .303 British 150 gr Jacketed Soft Point, item 303B (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  2. Federal: Federal Power-Shok Rifle .303 British 180 gr Jacketed Soft Point, item 303AS (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  3. Remington: Remington Core-Lokt .303 British 180 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point, item 21471 (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  4. Remington: Remington UMC Centerfire Rifle .303 British 174 gr Full Metal Jacket, item 23701 (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  5. Hornady: Hornady Custom .303 British 150 gr InterLock® SP, item 8225 (checked Nov. 5, 2026)
  6. SAAMI: ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 centerfire rifle standard, .303 British drawing (checked Nov. 5, 2026)

Keep exploring

Free weekly email

The Gun Release Report

Get new gun releases and NFA law updates. Free, weekly. Unsubscribe at any time.

About the newsletter · Privacy

Subscribe free on beehiiv