What about the old 303!!!!

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crash60

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I'm amazed that there hasn't been more threads about the old 303. With ballistics being what they are, with new bullets/powder, etc, the 303 caliber is right up there with the 308/30-06 calibers. The 303 was carried by soldiers in South Africa during the Boer War, Allied troops carried this caliber/rifle through the trenches of WW1 and the allies during WW2. Also our boys packed the 303 during the Korean uprising (war). A lot of lives were protected and saved by this incredible caliber and rifle. Sure they were heavy and cumbersome, but that's what they were issued, and had to work with.
Today, with conversions, and sporterizing done to the old rifles is a modern marvel. (At least I think so). I started my hunting days back in the 60's with a $32 Mk 5 Jungle carbine. It put a lot of meat in the freezer and on the table. Kicked like a mule, ouch, but I only have fond memories of those bygone days. I'm starting to hunt again after a long absence from the sport, and by george I'm going to do it again with a sporterized 303. Sure there are more powerful calibers out there in rifle land, but how much do we really need to bring the bacon to the supper table? My $.02.....Crash
 
The 303, in a front locking action like the P14 or a Ross, is the ballistic equivalent of the 308 Winchester. [not a 30-06]
But you must still deal with a Rimmed case. [can precipitate feeding issues] and a case with plenty of
taper. Additionally, the bullet choices are not as great as the true 30's nor the 7mm's.
In the Lee-Enfield's and the P14's, the chamber dimensions are all over the map, and one must
be careful or case life can be very short, due to separations.

One more issue is the large variances present in bore/groove diameters in most 303 British offerings.
I have slugged several dozen over the years, and have seen factory barrels as tight as .3115",
and as loose as .3177" The latter seldom shoot well with anything available.

Regardless, it's a grand old chambering that is often laughed at or overlooked by many. I have a Ross M10,
and a couple of P14's in 303 British, plus a P14 rechambered to the 303 Epps.

They are quite capable, and I would not hesitate to take any of them hunting. Dave.
 
Don't get me wrong, I like the .303, but your theory is flawed.......

The same improvements in powder and bullets that elevated the .303 also elevated the .308 and the .30-06....... One could also argue that the greater availability of 30 cal bullets in many varieties actually increased the gap......
 
Ruger did a run of #1's in .303 which would be nice to own.... little too pricey for me though. It would be comparable to the .308, and bullet selection isn't that bad when you look at .310 & .312 bullets.
I load and shoot for a 4 digit ERA P14 that I picked up for $300 around 10 years ago. The previous owner accurized it for target shooting...PH5B target sight, front sight base was ground and a PH front globe was installed. Rifle was bedded too. I've since restored the front sight to original, and it's a lazer with .310 123gr, and .312 174gr. Lots of fun to shoot this thing.
 
I also started hunting with a Parker Hale sportered #4 with a Monte Carlo stock . My brother is still killing deer with it. I currently own another Parker Hale #4 with a Bishop sporter stock that is a fine shooter. Both guns carry low power scopes in Parker Hale mounts.
I have one of the Ruger #1A in 303 Brit. as well as an 1895 Winchester and a sportered Ross Mk III that is the spitting image of one my Dad carried on every hunt.
 
I wouldn't mind a Winchester 95 in 303 brit. Nothing wrong with a 303. I hunt with a 30-30. Mostly because I like the rifle it's chambered for, but also because it works. Plus it gets the ballistic chart snobs all nose in the air like "my god... A 30-30? I wouldn't hunt whitetail with anything less then a 375 ruger... It's just unethical with a 30-30." so if you like the 303 and the rifle it's chambered for then what else can you really want? Ammo is still available in a lot of places, I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon
 
The 303 is OK and gets a lot of warm fuzzy here in Canada after two world wars and countless deer drives. The rifles are not easily adapted for sporting use. Compared to some of the modern cheapo entry level guns in 30/06, 308 and 270, it's not a good idea from a practical sense to go with an old military sporter. They are heavy, the combs are very low and they don't take well to scopes.

I have a #1 here with a Lyman receiver sight. It would be ok for deer hunting, but needs a 5 rnd mag for easier carrying. I'd prob leave it at home and take the 257Roberts on the next deer hunt.
 
I bought one from a guy walking around looking to sell about 3 yrs ago, it's a real nice sporter, got it for what I thought was a real good price, even came with a decent scope. Only fired a few shots to make sure it works, got many other rifles for hunting, so I think I will put it on the table this yr. I gotta start downsizing, getting old and only need a few for my shooting/hunting pleasure. I hunt every yr but find myself target shooting less and less even though we have a 196 yard range in the backyard and a heated shelter to shoot in the winter time! Crazy, aye! I'm planning on selling one gun a month for 2-3 yrs to help supplement my now downsized income. Will have my mini van paid off by then and things should smoothen out. Almost fully retired.
 
James1873 said:
I wouldn't mind a Winchester 95 in 303 brit. Nothing wrong with a 303. I hunt with a 30-30. Mostly because I like the rifle it's chambered for, but also because it works. Plus it gets the ballistic chart snobs all nose in the air like "my god... A 30-30? I wouldn't hunt whitetail with anything less then a 375 ruger... It's just unethical with a 30-30." so if you like the 303 and the rifle it's chambered for then what else can you really want? Ammo is still available in a lot of places, I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon
Click to expand...

Should hear the ballisticaly challenged moan when ye tell 'em that you've taken numerous deer & black bear with the .22 LR.;)
 
I have zero problems with hunting with a 303. Picked up a #1 in that caliber last year and have been mucking around with cast boolits for it ever since.

Also have a Lee Enfield sporterized and a Ross M10 that I had to have the barrel shortened by about 6" because of overzealous cleanings that wallowed out the rifling. I've carried the Ross and the Lee deer hunting and will probably do the same with the Ruger.

I have no problem with the ballistics or any of the shortcomings anybody has perceived about the 303. It just plain works.

(Wasn't a world record moose shot with a 303 last fall?)
 
Hi.
One thing about the old british 303, they always worked. It is a firearm that you can depend on. Someone mentioned the clips. Well, you will only put the shells in wrong once. It is easy to figure out. I have a shorter one with simple peep sights. One for close, one for far away targets. You just flip it back and forth. The second used to have a scope. The scope somehow in storage, getting banged around, was broke. Now it has the original sights on. The old trusty 303 will bag any game you come across in Canada.

Kevin
 
The 303 is right in the sweet spot for cup and core much like the 30-30. I settled on a clean No5 "Jungle Carbine" for field carry. I wanted a military rifle to honor the Canadian Army history. Mine was drilled and tapped for a scope mount so it was priced right. Also the other non-sporterized rifles are too heavy for a geezer my age. The drop in popularity is due to the scoping issue IMO. Also the 2-3 MOA usual accuracy, some do better, makes them dandy 200-250 paces hunters with superb receiver sights.

Loose or forget your ammo, it happens insert red face here, and you will find a box of factory ammo anywhere in Canada. Sitting right beside the 30-30 on the shelf.

My uncle worked the fire towers in the Swan Hills after the war. It was serious grizzly country then. He was issued a sporterized government issue with 215 gr CIL loads. He carried it everywhere at the tower and used more than once. When talking rifles he thought my 444 was a "foolish cannon" for a trophy hunter. Not a compliment from a northerner of that generation.
 
Lots of emotion for the 303 British here.
The M1 rifle made this WW1 design obselete in the late 1930s IMO.
Only superb Commonwealth soldiers with this old design forced on them speaks volumes of thier soldiering abilities and mastery of improvisation.
Think about this for one second; If you were on your way to Korea as a Commonwealth infantry rifleman and by chance you were given a choice between a No4 LE with adequate ammunition, or the M1 30-06 rifle with adequate ammunition, which one would you choose for the defence of Seoul from the regular Chinese PLA?


rant off
 
I have had a few .303's over the years... but none of the ex-military junk...

Nothing wrong with the cartridge... except that there are better options and so unless one has a historical or romantic attachment, it really is a poor choice in the modern age.

One rifle that it did make sense in for me was my Ruger No.1... the rim gave purchase for very solid ejection... I prefer the number one in rimmed cartridges... I let that one go, due to its redundancy in my personal collection... I have too many .30 caliber options in the safe... and the other true .30 cals have more readily available bullets and more options.

In short; nothing wrong with it, nothing special about it.
 
Quite fond of my 303 #1, took my first deer with it last fall and I'll sell sperm or a kidney before I let it go. Still need the offset rings, but I have no issues shooting 180 grainers as is. Might try S&B 150 grainers this fall though.
 
Its Classic for sure but without trying new things we can't find out if something is better or how to improve on anything. The CEO of Kodak in the early 1900's stupidly claimed that everything that could be invented has been.
 
hoytcanon said:
Nothing wrong with the cartridge... except that there are better options and so unless one has a historical or romantic attachment, it really is a poor choice in the modern age.
Click to expand...

The modern, hyped up beyond all reason age ye mean. Fook it! I done a pile of good hunting with a No.1 Mk3 back in my youth and the rifle never let me down & folks that have a good shooter have nothing to worry about as far as game getting goes.;)
 
I had a lot of fun with 215 grain roundness cast and full loads of BP in .303. Great guns, always regret selling my No4 Mk1. The barking report is such a distinctive sound, always brings a smile when I hear it.
 
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