Why is .303 british so god damn expensive to shoot? smh.

[HeadDamage]

Get a .303 action get a .30 calibre barrel. Get it profiled and installed. Get a SAAMI chamber cut on it, get it throated generously. Get sights on it. You will be able to use common bullets for it, the SAAMI chamber will help with brass longevity. You will still be able to use .303 factory ammunition in it.

From experience I can confirm that 311 bullets will pass through a 308 barrel but the pressure is a bit high

 

[kevin.303]

from a manufacturing standpoint, its a massive pain in the ass. it requires a non standard bullet diameter that in most product lines it is the only loading requiring it, same with the case head, a rimless .473 drawn brass blank can be made made into over two dozen different cases at least, but the .303 rim is unique to itself. and with no mass production of new guns, far lower demand.

most manufactures will only do a run of oddballs like .303, 30-40 krag 38-55 once a year. and if market or military demands more mainstream offerings the oddities are the first cut from the schedule.

 

[fat tony]

I have thought about making a tool and die to bush up the head of .303 cases with a formed collar of the correct dimensions. Probably made from copper. It is a fussy step but I know USOG used this trick to make brass for an obscure caliber. Or just get a .308 instead.

 

[Mulletard]

I load my military enfield plinkers with cast 210s and imr 4227. 1900fps is still super fun and cheap. Feels close to a full power round.

Still hunting with a bsa model D and jacketed150grn .312s. 300 savage velocity gitten er done. Learn to reload and Just stock up on projectiles and brass when you see em cheap

Be vigilant on the EE and GP for deals.

 

[Big Bad]

Here's where I come in with my 'in the old days' input. .303 British was of course the British Empire's military round and after WWII there were wooden cases of aging surplus hard ball to trip over just about everywhere, plus every farm boy who hunted deer had a sporterized old Lee Enfield. It was never an American round however, neither military nor sporting, they had .30-06, and so when ammunition production left Canada during the Liberal years, .303 shooters were bound to be in for a bad time and then came all the reasons already listed.

 

[rajczak_kashka]

Supply, demand, availability…quite simple as to why the vast cost increases. As 303 mil-surplus is now becoming extinct…expect factory new 303 to increase in price just like the rest

 

[track]

at's that will not be our problem, right?

that will not be our problem, right?

That's right, we'll be long gone.

 

[HeadDamage]

Too bad Imperial isn't still being made/sold, they made some nice 303 loads.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

From experience I can confirm that 311 bullets will pass through a 308 barrel but the pressure is a bit high

0.003" is absolutely nothing in the scope of obturation for a lead cup-core bullet. I highly doubt there would be any pressure difference.

 

[Kevin32]

Budget shooter supply has 303 180gr for 33$/20. About the same price as the cheapest 30-06.

 

[55recce]

Like everything else you should buy when readily available and cheap

 

[HeadDamage]

0.003" is absolutely nothing in the scope of obturation for a lead cup-core bullet. I highly doubt there would be any pressure difference.

The pressure difference was enough to blow out the primers (yes plural) and damage the bolt face of a rem 700.

 

[Eaglelord17]

Something to consider as well is PPU isn’t able to export ammo anymore. They used to generally be the cheapest manufacturer of surplus calibers.

 

[Kevin32]

The pressure difference was enough to blow out the primers (yes plural) and damage the bolt face of a rem 700.

What caliber?

Afaik Ruger uses .30 Cal barrels in their 7.62x39 rifles. Of course that's a much lower psi cartridge in a rifle capable of 60k PSI+

 

[mkrnel]

.303 military ammo is still made in India, Pakistan and for Nepal as they still use Lee Enfield's in these countries for police and militia use.


India use

Pakistan use

Nepal Police

And surplus ammo is still available in the USA as their market is easier to import it into. If you Google it you will still finds heaps of surplus ex-mil .303 ammo from countries like India, Pakistan, Greece, South African, UK and even a fair bit of Canadian ammo for sale down south.


2020 dated box of 1000 rounds



South African or Dutch

 

[QM 8687]

Yes 303 British is expensive at most stores.
Go to your Gun Shows where you will usually find 303 ammo for 1 or 2 bucks a round. And reloading is good too.