303 Brit in a modern bolt action, fun?

Canuck Bob

Canuck Bob

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I have always wondered about chambering a 303Brit in a left hand action. Has anyone chambered a modern rifle in 303 or considered the implications. I have never built a rifle and this idea just hangs around as something interesting. I know a nice lefty like a Tikka, Savage, Ruger or such in 308 or 30-06 would be sane and sensible but I am a Canadian gunnut after all.

My rough calculations suggest a long action is required. The 303 specs out at 3.075" oal and the short action cartridges seem to come in at the 2.8" range. Magnum case bolt face at .532 is adaptable to the .540 of the 303. However when I consider feeding issues and magazines I just drool on my shirt, rimless versus rimmed makes this complicated I realize!

Can short actions be modified to handle a 3" cartridge oal? If that were possible a used WSM action could theoretically handle the rim and conversion.
 
.303

I'd stay with standard length action. Being a rimmed case is the issue with modern actions although anything can be done. I own a W.W.Greener Mauser sporter chambered in .303 and it feed flawlessly. The easy way out would be to get one of the new Ruger #1 .303's . I love mine.
Geoff
 
longbranch* said:
I'd stay with standard length action. Being a rimmed case is the issue with modern actions although anything can be done. I own a W.W.Greener Mauser sporter chambered in .303 and it feed flawlessly. The easy way out would be to get one of the new Ruger #1 .303's . I love mine.
Geoff
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I actually had one of the rugers on the initial order but Clay let me swap my order over to Winchester 92 32-20 from Davidsons to catch a sale.

The only rifle I'm adding in the near future is a left bolt. I owned a lefty Rem 700 in the 80's in 7MM Mag set-up with a receiver sight. Thats the only bolt I've ever used.
 
There are a number of issues with getting a 303 to work well in a modern bolt action with magazine function being the main one. CRF actions- or any action with a non-rotating extractor-are more easily adapted to the use of a rimmed cartridge. Regardless of the action choice, one would have to really want to do it. I kind of like the idea of adapting a Lee Enfield, detachable, magazine. Otherwise, one would want to copy the P-14 box. Regards, Bill.
 
I would say that it is very poosible that one of the older-style savage/Stevens short actions with a magnum bolt face might work with a few key modifications. The magazine box cutout may have to be lengthened slightly, and you would have to have a custom magazine box made for it. I say the older style staggered box because it is easily removable, and the feed lips are built right into the box, thus the custom bagazine box would not only provide the correct box dimensions, but the feed lips are easy to change.
This could still run into a lot of money though.
Mike
 
I looked at some current lefties at the gunshop today. I realized I know nothing about bolts and need to start thier.

The Ruger SS was a sound gun. The bolt was a bit sloppy when pulled but i'm told that is a function of the mauser style action (?).

The Tikka was nice but I'm not sure about the polymer. I can't decide if it makes a rifle better or just cheaper for the manufacturer.

The A-Bolt was slick and priced right, a 325 WSM. I'm a real geezer, here I'm talkng 303 and there seem to be scores of new cartridges I've never heard of.

No Remmies or Savages on the shelf. I know Savage is well known for real good accuracy for the buck. I owned a 700 once so it is known to me.

I stumbled on the new Ruger Gunsite Scout. If a guy used a SMLE 10 shot mag, threw the forward scout rail in the bush, and did the same stock in a plain straight piece of walnut it is what I envisioned. They rave about this wonderful design and for all the world it is a remake of the SMLE #5 Mk1 with a scout rail to my eye.
 
Kevan,
Having worked quite a bit with a Siamese in 30/40 Krag, I feel pretty secure in saying it is not a good basis for a 303. I can be made to work passably but not as well as a P14. If I was going to build one on a modern bolt action, I think my first choice would be a Ruger 77. Regards, Bill
 
Leeper said:
Kevan,
Having worked quite a bit with a Siamese in 30/40 Krag, I feel pretty secure in saying it is not a good basis for a 303. I can be made to work passably but not as well as a P14. If I was going to build one on a modern bolt action, I think my first choice would be a Ruger 77. Regards, Bill
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When you say 77 Bill, are you refering to the first Ruger models or the current Hawkeye as well?

Do you think a short action would work or standard length action instead? It seems good sense that the rifle chamber factory ammo easily.
 
Thanks guys, took a deep breath and added a Lee Enfield No5 Mk1 rifle nicknamed the Jungle Carbine to my safe, kinda 2 birds with one stone. A true Commonwealth milsurp and a 303 bolt action. Haven't shot a right bolt since my Cooey a long time ago but a small price to pay to add some history to the safe.

If I hit the lottery this ones next though.
 
I would think a Tikka would suit the mods; the extractor claw has a fairly flexible spring, might grab the rim of a .303 casing. At the same time I kind of have my doubts with the straight feed. Also, the magazine already forces you to feed the primer end first.

This is a project that has crossed my mind before, but instead of building a rifle I always seem to just buy more. When I get back home I am going to take a .303 shell and with my T3 .300 WM bolt removed, I will see if I can push the casing straight back into the bolt face with reasonably gentle force, and I'll post the result.
 
Canuck Bob said:
Thanks guys, took a deep breath and added a Lee Enfield No5 Mk1 rifle nicknamed the Jungle Carbine to my safe, kinda 2 birds with one stone. A true Commonwealth milsurp and a 303 bolt action. Haven't shot a right bolt since my Cooey a long time ago but a small price to pay to add some history to the safe.

If I hit the lottery this ones next though.
Click to expand...

I did the same a short while back.

MyJCwithbayonet.jpg


The Jungle Carbine has always been one of my favorites and this is the 4th one I've had but this one's a keeper;).
 
A factory 180 gr .303 round is almost half an inch too long for a 700 Remington short action mag box, but it sits comfortably in an unaltered 98 Mauser magazine. While it shouldn't be too difficult to find an appropriate left hand bolt action, finding a quality .311 barrel might prove to be the greater challenge. I think I'd be tempted to match the .303 chamber with a .308 barrel and take advantage of the .308's greater bullet selection. While precluding the use of factory .303 ammo, a .308/.303 isn't so much of a disadvantage when weighed against the advantages.
 
Very nice Enfield!

Thanks for comparing that loaded round to the Rem. I'm going to enjoy my No5 and probably buy a left hand 308 some day.

My little girl went to the Orthodontist on Friday. He's smiling, I'm not!

This darn postal thing is holding up delivery of my No5. I'm going to enjoy loading up for that rifle.

A 30-303 is a dandy idea. I read a report once that a run of early ruger #3s were produced in 303 for a northern Canadian supplier. The rifles were 303 chambers and 308 barrels and supposed to be destined for the arctic. The report stated that Ruger tested the rifles with 311 bullets and found an increase of 5000 psi in pressure. Please do not blow up any guns as this was an internet story with no verification.

Might try and verify it with some searching tonight.

Anyone ever heard of any older 303 Ruger #3s in existance, I haven't.
 
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