303:British hunting use

[Potashminer]

Yeah, I've seen federal show up at Canadian Tire and PeaveyMart. $75/box in both cases. Workable for those folks that use one shot to sight in and the second to drop their deer... but $3.50 per trigger pull is pretty steep.

Yeah - I have an acquaintance who come by a nice looking Weatherby Mark V rifle in 7mm Weatherby Magnum. Very proud of it to show me. Had me get in a set of Tally ring mounts and a Leupold 3.5-10 x 40 scope for it and install. Buddy appeared shocked that 40 rounds of factory ammo cost him $320 for 40 rounds - Weatherby brand ammo, with 160 grain Partition bullets. Then about had a conniption to discover that is not possible to install new rings and new scope and be "sighted in" for those 350 yard coyotes he was dreaming about - he was going to have to expend 10 or 20 rounds of that ammo, from a rest, to get his scope dialled in. And if he changed bullets or bullet weight, was going to have to do that all over. He figures I am an idiot and do not know what I was describing, so he took that rifle and scope that I installed for a 2 1/2 hour drive, one way, to a "gunsmith" in the city who "bore sighted" the rifle. From my shooting bench and with sandbags, he was then about 15" high at 100 yards - was three shots, decent enough "hunting" group, but again buddy figured it was all on me, the shooter - the gun was good to go, according to him - it was "bore sighted" - and ready to start using that $8 a piece ammo on things...

 

[Potashminer]

Yeah, I've seen federal show up at Canadian Tire and PeaveyMart. $75/box in both cases. Workable for those folks that use one shot to sight in and the second to drop their deer... but $3.50 per trigger pull is pretty steep.

Many decades ago I had a "friend" stop in at my house - he was about 2 feet off the ground - just livid about a new-to-him rifle and scope that he was trying to sight in at local range - about 5 minutes from my house. I went out with him - at 100 yards, he would fire a shot - find hole on paper, and crank on the scope adjustments. Next hole would be random - other way, higher, lower - was so "wound up" because he had gone through a full box of shells and still was not sighted in. I asked what size groups that thing would shoot - he had no clue. So it took some arguing - but I fired three shots at the aiming point - "wasting shells" as far as he was concerned - about a 12" or larger "pattern" at 100 yards. Found that his front scope ring cap screws were not torqued, or something simple like that - we then sighted it in with next few shots. He was trying to "save money" by not shooting even three shot groups, before cranking on the scope adjustments.

 

[iron cat]

Dumped another buck yesterday morning at 194 yards , kneeling position with my .303 and 150gr. TSX bullets, that rifle has been dropping deer and moose since 2010!

Cat

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Dumped another buck yesterday morning at 194 yards , kneeling position with my .303 and 150gr. TSX bullets, that rifle has been dropping deer and moose since 2010!

Cat

Well done guy and nice photo. Any details on the rifle?? In my safe at the moment is a fairly recently acquired Winchester model 95 in 303Br that I hope to put to similar use in the field this season. The other 303 in the safe is a MINT Jungle Carbine with all the trimmings, sling and bayonet with sheath etc. It gets the odd trip to the range for a little informal paper punching.

 

[iron cat]

Well done guy and nice photo. Any details on the rifle?? In my safe at the moment is a fairly recently acquired Winchester model 95 in 303Br that I hope to put to similar use in the field this season. The other 303 in the safe is a MINT Jungle Carbine with all the trimmings, sling and bayonet with sheath etc. It gets the odd trip to the range for a little informal paper punching.

John this rifle was the preclude to the Ruger #1, I had Bill Leeper build it. After Clay Smiley at Prophet River had many inquiries , he Lobbied Lipsey's to do a limited run.
With all the fanfare here and on the 24hr. Campfire about it, Ruger decided to bring it out as a regular item in 2011( I think)
This rifle has been detailed before, but I will gladly again
This action is a #3 action, not a #1A
Opening lever has been re-profiled.
All metal work and bluing was by Bill leeper.
McGowan 26" barrel .311 with a Brno banded from sight and NECG express rear sights, as well as a Weaver rail( eventually will be Rechnagel mounts)
Scope is a 1.25-4X Leupold FXR in Zeiss QD mounts. it is very Very repeatable at 200 yards with irons or scope and back again
Quarter rib is milled right into the half round/half octagon profile and the front sling swivel is octagon milled as well.
trigger is a Kepplinger single set, Wolf springs are in the action.
Wood came from George Peterson of Treebone Carving ( shadow line cheek piece and ebony forend tip) and fitted and finished by Bill Leeper
Checkering was done by Dennis Davidson
Favorite Load these days is 44.0 grains of IMR 4895 and 150 grain Barnes TSX , it runs right around 2775 FPS.
This is a fantastic looking and straight shooting rifle, animals have been taken from 17 paces right out to just over 370 yards with either the irons or scope!
Cat

 

[Johnn Peterson]

John this rifle was the preclude to the Ruger #1, I had Bill Leeper build it. After Clay Smiley at Prophet River had many inquiries , he Lobbied Lipsey's to do a limited run.
With all the fanfare here and on the 24hr. Campfire about it, Ruger decided to bring it out as a regular item in 2011( I think)
This rifle has been detailed before, but I will gladly again
This action is a #3 action, not a #1A
Opening lever has been re-profiled.
All metal work and bluing was by Bill leeper.
McGowan 26" barrel .311 with a Brno banded from sight and NECG express rear sights, as well as a Weaver rail( eventually will be Rechnagel mounts)
Scope is a 1.25-4X Leupold FXR in Zeiss QD mounts. it is very Very repeatable at 200 yards with irons or scope and back again
Quarter rib is milled right into the half round/half octagon profile and the front sling swivel is octagon milled as well.
trigger is a Kepplinger single set, Wolf springs are in the action.
Wood came from George Peterson of Treebone Carving ( shadow line cheek piece and ebony forend tip) and fitted and finished by Bill Leeper
Checkering was done by Dennis Davidson
Favorite Load these days is 44.0 grains of IMR 4895 and 150 grain Barnes TSX , it runs right around 2775 FPS.
This is a fantastic looking and straight shooting rifle, animals have been taken from 17 paces right out to just over 370 yards with either the irons or scope!
Cat

Thanks Bud. Appreciate the info detail on the rifle. And again, well done. Hope I can do something similar with my model 95.

 

[iron cat]

I'm sure you will!
Cat

 

[Leg]

If only IVI would sell .303 to us lowly peons. I was on Op NANOOK in 2014 (I think?) and we were on some sound about 100 Nauts from Iqaluit. After the Ex was over I stayed behind to rig loads that were being slung back under helos and we had a couple Rangers stay behind for predator control. I still remember one of them pulling out a full can of 400rds IVI 174grn soft point and letting us fire a few rounds. It sounded like each Ranger was given an allotment for the year for practice as well as practical use.

 

[Why not?]

……

I got ahold of some 180 grain spire point bullets a friend of mine made up and loaded them up with some IMR4451. The rifle shoots most of the groups shoot around an inch or a bit better! Had a few groups that were amazing! Boy was I happy with that!

I know this is a long way back, but just rereading this thread and came across this post from you. Is he still making these bullets?

Ted

 

[Eagleye]

I really like my Ross Mk 10. I has a replacement barrel, since the original was pretty well shot.
It shoots moa or better with several loads, and I shot a meat doe with it a couple of years ago.
It will hunt again. Really likes the Sierra Pro Hunter 180, chased by IMR 4320 or Norma 203B.
Dave

 

[Rod]

Here's a British made Lee Enfield, from 1917, I've had for a number of years and recently found the time to clean it up and mount a scope. I thought it would make a good loaner rifle but wouldn't mind using it myself. Brings them in tight at 100 yds with a Bushnell scope I already had in the cabinet. All numbers match with an excellent bore.

..

 

[wasa]

My spring/fall bear hunting rifle is a sporterized P14 with a Cabela's 3-9x40 scope. At the range at 100 yards, all shots within 1.5" from a rest with my handloaded 150gr Hornady SP with Varget. My buddy uses my sporterized No4MK1 Enfield with a 3-9x40 Tasco scope (same ammo). He's able to shoot 1" - 1.5" groups also.

Great bolt action rifles. Highly recommend them for hunting!

 

[Bushbasher]

Excellent!

 

[MiG25]

I've taken 2 kinds of Deer and a Grizzly with the 303. Always used either Dominion (ages ago) or now Remington factory 180 grainers for hunting, because I got a bunch from a Hardware Store closing sale.

 

[BigUglyMan]

It has been calculated that more big game has fallen to the .303 British in Canada than all other calibers combined. Not ###y, not currently popular but very very reliable.

I don't think that means what you think it means.

But semantics aside, you're absolutely correct that the 303 is a very underrated and not particularly exciting cartridge by modern standards. But it has plenty of potential in the hands of almost any hunter. I kinda regret not getting one in a #1 when they came out. I'm sure they're worth a king's ransom these days.

 

[Slimbo]

I don't think that means what you think it means.

But semantics aside, you're absolutely correct that the 303 is a very underrated and not particularly exciting cartridge by modern standards. But it has plenty of potential in the hands of almost any hunter. I kinda regret not getting one in a #1 when they came out. I'm sure they're worth a king's ransom these days.

I’ve heard the same line regarding the 30-30 and 3006 as well. Always wondered who calculated it? And from what data? Lol

 

[BigUglyMan]

I’ve heard the same line regarding the 30-30 and 3006 as well. Always wondered who calculated it? And from what data? Lol

Especially during those lean years on the Prairie in the 30s. No one was buying a license in those days but they damn sure were killing deer and moose.

 

[MD]

I’ve heard the same line regarding the 30-30 and 3006 as well. Always wondered who calculated it? And from what data? Lol

I remember when a new Winchester Model 94 30-30 or 32 Special was $99.99 and a Lee Enfield 303 was $19.99.

Which one do you think someone on a modest or low income would choose?

 

[351 power]

nice looking rifle Rod. makes me wish i kept my loading dies

 

[MiG25]

I’ve heard the same line regarding the 30-30 and 3006 as well. Always wondered who calculated it? And from what data? Lol

I think they made it up.

Looking at the old Game Warden reports it seems pre WWII the most common rifles in BC were 32's (Winchester, Remington and Rimfire), while in the adverts I've seen, 44-40's were the cheapest.

Post WWII, from advertisements, the various 30-30's were the cheapest new rifles, while 303's were cheaper, the ammo was more expensive and the cheapest rifles were Martinis converted to 357 and 32 Special (32-20?). Cheapest 60-70 years ago, but I've never seen one.

I'm skeptical of any claim that a cartridge has taken more game than everything else combined.