.308 Ross?

[Kano]

I have always payed with the idea of finding a Ross action and custom building it into a .308win gun.

For those in the know, is this even a possible project? Is the action strong enough?

 

[tiriaq]

Mk. III (1919)? Action is strong enough. Boltface is set up for the larger rim of a .303, so that would have to be addressed. The magazine would also need attention.

 

[Ganderite]

It would be a lot easier to install a 308 barrel and chamber it for 303. That way bolt and mag are fine.

 

[Kano]

Mk. III (1919)? Action is strong enough. Boltface is set up for the larger rim of a .303, so that would have to be addressed. The magazine would also need attention.

Does that mean new bolt is the only option? Or could machine into the bolt face and chamber a bit shorter?

 

[tiriaq]

Does that mean new bolt is the only option? Or could machine into the bolt face and chamber a bit shorter?

I don't know. Try a .308 case on the bolt face and see what would be needed.
Ganderite's suggestion would work.
Or, if you want something .308ish, how about .307 Winchester?

 

[Blastattack]

Does that mean new bolt is the only option? Or could machine into the bolt face and chamber a bit shorter?

New bolt, new extractor, or a combination of both. You’re better off changing it to .300 WM or 7mm RM, or anything that already has a magnum rim diameter.

 

[tokguy]

There was a dearth of .312 projectiles 2 years back...I ran .308 in my Ross. Worked fine. Made my best shot hunting ever with this setup... maybe slug your's and see how tight the bore is.
And no I've not slugged it, that is a tad painful on smaller bored rifles I find.

 

[RifleDude]

There was a dearth of .312 projectiles 2 years back...I ran .308 in my Ross. Worked fine. Made my best shot hunting ever with this setup... maybe slug your's and see how tight the bore is.
And no I've not slugged it, that is a tad painful on smaller bored rifles I find.

I did the same with my No4Mk1. Made handloads using .308 155gr AMAX bullets. With the iron sights I was getting 2.5 - 3" groups at 100y. Groups were actually a bit smaller than the 150gr Hornady SPs in .311 I usually use. Just add another step after decapping/resizing stage by removing the the decapping pin and another pass through the sizing die to decrease the neck diameter sufficiently to firmly hold the bullets. I use a Lee neck sizer for that.

 

[tiriaq]

The main reason to undertake a Ross project is for the diy challenge.
Bad choice if a gunsmith is being paid to do it.

 

[Kano]

New bolt, new extractor, or a combination of both. You’re better off changing it to .300 WM or 7mm RM, or anything that already has a magnum rim diameter.

.338 Lapua?

 

[rempel429]

I'd like to try .404 Jeffrey

 

[Kano]

Shamelessly stolen for /k/.

A custom Ross in .300 Win Mag



Gives one ideas.

 

[zuke]

I alway's liked the idea of a 35 Whelan Ross

 

[Ganderite]

I alway's liked the idea of a 35 Whelan Ross

It would be easy to make a 358 Brit (Use 303 brass for the mag and extractor)

 

[Blastattack]

.338 Lapua?

The action is long enough to fit. Would be fun to try, once. And from a distance.

 

[Oldguncrank]

K
PM me and I will send some pics of a Sedgely 30-06 custom that has all the news you Ned.
Suggest a shot out M-10 as a starting point.
I have several if you are interested.
OGC

 

[smellie]

Action is long enough for almost anything sane. Factory used to produce them in 35 Winchester.

For 308W, I should think that a wee bit of judiciously-placed heliarc around the top inner surface of the bolt-face, followed by alterations on the ejector and extractor, should fit a Ross action to the task. It is certainly strong enough; the 308 is actually a ballistic twin for the old 303, once you get over the American fetish for high pressure.

 

[Mike Webb]

I alway's liked the idea of a 35 Whelan Ross

Ross did build some sporters in .35 Winchester.

 

[cantom]

Action is long enough for almost anything sane. Factory used to produce them in 35 Winchester.

For 308W, I should think that a wee bit of judiciously-placed heliarc around the top inner surface of the bolt-face, followed by alterations on the ejector and extractor, should fit a Ross action to the task. It is certainly strong enough; the 308 is actually a ballistic twin for the old 303, once you get over the American fetish for high pressure.

I did have a Ross Mk III in .308/7.62 a few years back. It was built for DCRA shooting.

 

[tiriaq]

Ever shoot the rifle, or track down the owner, Cantom? If he shot in Ottawa, the DCRA office has all the competition records, would be interesting to see how well he did with the rifle.
Boltface and extractor wouldn't be problems with a single shot conversion.