Convert 303 to 308?
- Thread starter Grendeb
- Start date
There are real enfields made in 308, id do it with a no4 or 5 not an no1 or older though, you can buy the 308 barrel bolt face and mag for 308 install and done.
The no1 rifles india made in 308 used a different steel in the recievers so they arnt the same as old no1's that were made in 303.
No4's would be fine though, they are known to be alot stronger
And thats lee enfields, if you have a p14 they are forsure strong enough, and im sure the few parts needed can be found.
The 303 bullet is .311 and the 308 is .308 so you idealy want a 308 barrel or if you just rechamber a 303 barrel id reload he 308 cases with .311" projectiles.
The no1 rifles india made in 308 used a different steel in the recievers so they arnt the same as old no1's that were made in 303.
No4's would be fine though, they are known to be alot stronger
And thats lee enfields, if you have a p14 they are forsure strong enough, and im sure the few parts needed can be found.
The 303 bullet is .311 and the 308 is .308 so you idealy want a 308 barrel or if you just rechamber a 303 barrel id reload he 308 cases with .311" projectiles.
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SupersonicSupply.ca
Expired Business Member
Ream your chamber to 303 Epps improved - and you have the same performance of the 308w. You can use your 303B brass and the cases last much longer. If only there was a sponser who does this - oh yeah - Elmwood Epps. This mod works best in modern rifles or the rugged action of the P14.
http://www.303british.com/id20.html
http://www.303british.com/id20.html
I've a Ross MK 3 that works quote well with .308 bullets. OP, you didn't specify what 303 BR rifle you want to convert.
Don't assume bore size because of legends about a particular cartridge.
I have a No4 Mk1 and I don't reaload I'd mainly take bulk 308 ammo just for fun and good ammo or the reloads (a guy do for me) when hunting.
I was thinking of having a barrel in case I sell it in the future who knows if it's possible to change back to the 303 barrel but still could add resale value. ps: 303 barrel I have is in great shape.
I'm aware there are enfields in 308 but I never been able to find one.
While i agree, I have to ask this, how many flying rats asses do you honestly thinks he gives about your opinion?
A great deal over the hunting/shooting many of us do could be done with a SMLE in 303. Please keep that to yourself. I don't need that info becoming the talk of Facebook.
Likely none. However, many years ago a friendly shop tech gave me essentially the same advice regarding an old bike I wanted rebuilt. I never forgot that sage advice.
750 is very pricey. I have been looking into doing the same but have now given up due to cost. What I have now been researching is taking some already molested Enfield and have it shoot .410 These already exist too but finding one is difficult. It would be single shot but I don't care I just really like Enfield's. Not sure if a gun smith/machinist could just drill out the barrel. and if it is chambered for .410 you could put 45 colt in it?
Converting a 303 to a 7.62X54r also has some potential. Not sure if it is physically possible but 54r is also .311 diameter and the rounds do fit nicely into the magazine. Some will can it blasphemy but 54r is way cheaper than 303.
Ar180shooter
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For a few hundred dollars (about half the cost of the conversion) you can get a basic reloading kit and roll your own .303 Brit. Cost is around $.75/round for components, and ammo is generally match grade once you've developed your load and if you take your time making sure everything is consistent. If it's ammo cost you're concerned about this is definitely the way to go.
Yeah, 4-500 could have done it but for 750 a guy sold a ishapore for 950$ so I guess it would've been better option.
I think I might simply go with a 223 CZ ebony or Su-16 still I wanted to have this rifle a shooter now I don't feel much need of keeping it hanging on the wall other than having my gun room with WWI and WWII weapons on the wall next to a mini bar and pool table.
Your cheapest option since you have a no4 is to, buy a complete 308 bolt head and a 308 mag.
set the barrel back a turn and rechamber in 308. Then fire factory 308 ammo, or relaod 308 brass with 303 projectiles.
Ive seen/read of 308 projectiles in 303br brass in lee enfields still shooting nice groups. Useing a flat base bullets. Since there are soooooo many more options of .308 projectiles then .312.
Ive also converted two no1mk3's to 410. That was easy going. They are smooth bore .410 barrel. I just drilled out two rusty bore 303 barrels and polished the bored they ended up at .414". No chokes but they are good for upto 15 meters for shooting squirrls. There is a but of extra head space going on since the 303 and 410 rims are different thickness. I just used the longest bolt heads a i had. I could set the barrel back and rid the rifle of extra head space. But thats too much work i figured for such a low pressure rounds
Primers back out about .010"
set the barrel back a turn and rechamber in 308. Then fire factory 308 ammo, or relaod 308 brass with 303 projectiles.
Ive seen/read of 308 projectiles in 303br brass in lee enfields still shooting nice groups. Useing a flat base bullets. Since there are soooooo many more options of .308 projectiles then .312.
Ive also converted two no1mk3's to 410. That was easy going. They are smooth bore .410 barrel. I just drilled out two rusty bore 303 barrels and polished the bored they ended up at .414". No chokes but they are good for upto 15 meters for shooting squirrls. There is a but of extra head space going on since the 303 and 410 rims are different thickness. I just used the longest bolt heads a i had. I could set the barrel back and rid the rifle of extra head space. But thats too much work i figured for such a low pressure rounds
Primers back out about .010"
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What is a .308 bolthead?
Setting a barrel back one turn will not result in all the original chamber being removed when the .308 reamer is used. Setback is about.071", a .303 case is .107" longer than a .308.
A standard .308 reamer has a pilot that is intended for a .300 bore. Bit loose in a .303 bore. A reamer which uses a floating pilot could have one sized for a .303 bore installed.
.308 is at the upper limit for No. 4 rifles. The Indians got away with the SMLE based 7.62 rifles by eliminating the oiled proof round. Oiled proof rounds resulted in bent receivers.
I have installed .308 barrels in No. 4 actions. It can be done on a cost effective basis - if you do the work yourself. Doing it so that surplus .308 can be used isn't reasonable, if you have to pay someone to do the conversion.
In the US, .303 rifles have been reamed to 7.62x54R, without setting the barrels back, to take advantage of the cheap ball ammunition. The result is a fired casing with a strange double bottleneck.
How many gunsmiths have a 7.62x54R reamer? Might be necessary to ad the cost of the reamer to the cost of the project.
Lower cost .303 ammunition can be made by cannibalizing 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R ammunition to load .303 cases. That might be the easiest way to reduce the cost of shooting a .303.
Setting a barrel back one turn will not result in all the original chamber being removed when the .308 reamer is used. Setback is about.071", a .303 case is .107" longer than a .308.
A standard .308 reamer has a pilot that is intended for a .300 bore. Bit loose in a .303 bore. A reamer which uses a floating pilot could have one sized for a .303 bore installed.
.308 is at the upper limit for No. 4 rifles. The Indians got away with the SMLE based 7.62 rifles by eliminating the oiled proof round. Oiled proof rounds resulted in bent receivers.
I have installed .308 barrels in No. 4 actions. It can be done on a cost effective basis - if you do the work yourself. Doing it so that surplus .308 can be used isn't reasonable, if you have to pay someone to do the conversion.
In the US, .303 rifles have been reamed to 7.62x54R, without setting the barrels back, to take advantage of the cheap ball ammunition. The result is a fired casing with a strange double bottleneck.
How many gunsmiths have a 7.62x54R reamer? Might be necessary to ad the cost of the reamer to the cost of the project.
Lower cost .303 ammunition can be made by cannibalizing 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R ammunition to load .303 cases. That might be the easiest way to reduce the cost of shooting a .303.
