Rifle · Obsolete / Non-standard

.303 Magnum

.303 H&H MagnumHolland & Holland .303 Magnum

Holland & Holland's early magnum experiment in .30 caliber — a rimmed cartridge on the large H&H case that predated the .300 H&H Magnum by decades.

Caliber
0.312″ · 7.925 mm
Introduced
1896
Case
Rimmed
Parent
.276 Enfield
Primary use
Hunting, Target
Status
Obsolete
Velocity2,600–2,900 fps
Energy2,252–3,358 ft·lb
Identity
Introduced
1896
Type
Rifle
Origin
United Kingdom
Inventor
Holland & Holland
Manufacturer
Kynoch (historical)
Standard
Obsolete / Non-standard
Status
Obsolete
Availability
Collector Only
Build
Case capacity
70 gr H₂O
Twist (typical)
1:10
Primer
Large Rifle
Case type
Rimmed
Pressure & range
Max pressure
48,000 psi
Eff. range
1000 yd
Max range
1500 yd
Recoil
18–25 ft·lb

Ballistics

Representative trajectory · 100 yd zero0–800 yd
100 yd · zero0″−116″116″ drop @ 800 yd0400800Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
Parent case
.276 Enfield

Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).

Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds

Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.

Wikipedia · approximate
Measuremmin
Bullet ⌀7.920.312·
Neck ⌀8.760.345·
Shoulder ⌀11.730.462~
Shoulder angle
Base ⌀13.460.530~
Rim ⌀14.150.557·
Belt ⌀n/a
Rim thickness
Neck length
Case length59.692.350·
Overall length85.093.350·

Size vs familiar rounds

Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .303 Magnum is highlighted below.

Missing a dimension for .303 Magnum? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.

Factory loads

7 catalogued loads. Top 7 shown.

BrandLoadGrainBulletFPSft·lbBC
Eley-KynochSP Service225SP2,6003,377
KynochSP Soft Nose225Soft Nose2,6003,377
KynochFMJ Solid225FMJ Solid2,6003,377
Eley-KynochSP 215gr215SP2,4002,749
KynochSP Soft Nose 215gr215Soft Nose2,4002,749
KynochFMJ Solid 215gr215FMJ Solid2,4002,749
KynochSoft Nose215Soft Nose2,2002,310

Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.

Suitable powders

1 reloading powder listed for .303 Magnum, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →

Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory

Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.

Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.

Lineage

Immediate parent
Family TreeOpen .303 Magnum in the interactive cartridge family tree

Connected reference

History

Holland & Holland introduced the .303 Magnum in 1896 as a high-velocity .30-caliber hunting cartridge on their large rimmed case. The cartridge delivered dramatically higher velocity than the standard .303 British, making it suitable for long-range plains game hunting in Africa and India. It enjoyed a modest following among serious sporting hunters of the Edwardian era. The development of the .375 H&H Magnum (1912) and then the .300 H&H Magnum (1925) — both on the belted case that became H&H's signature — gradually eclipsed the .303 Magnum. No current production exists; it appears occasionally in original Kynoch ammunition lots at auction and is collected for its historical role in the H&H magnum lineage.

FAQs

What twist rate does .303 Magnum use?
.303 Magnum typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
What bullet diameter is .303 Magnum?
.303 Magnum uses a 0.312″ (7.925 mm) diameter bullet.
Is .303 Magnum still in production?
.303 Magnum is obsolete; typical availability is collector only.
What is .303 Magnum used for?
.303 Magnum is primarily used for hunting, target.
What is .303 Magnum based on?
.303 Magnum is derived from the .303 British case.
What are the best powders for .303 Magnum?
Reloading powders commonly listed for .303 Magnum include Reloader 19.

Sources & provenance

Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 7 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →