.308 in a .303 brit?
- Thread starter direction88
- Start date
Oh ya but if you can tap the bolt closed on a 30-06 you have a much longer range rifle!
Knowledge can be a good thing you know
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Must be talking about .308 dia BULLETS in the 303 British, which usually uses .311 or .312 dia bullets.
you've misinterpeted- you SHOULDN'T- however, there are 308 LEE ENFIELDS outhere- but for the vast majority, 303 is 311 diameter, and it's a REAL sloppy fit,but you can fire 308 PROJECTILES in it- ie a reloader, having only 308 diameter bullets can load those to fire in his lee-enfield: joe consumer , walking into a store, wanted 303 cartridges, was told they only have 308, SHOULD NOT USE THOSE CARTRIDGES - the difference is the 308 is rimless and considerably shorter- in other words it WILL DROP IN but it's disaster waiting to happen
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
Oh not again!
Oh ya but if you can tap the bolt closed on a 30-06 you have a much longer range rifle!
See its a**holes like you guys that make people not want to ask LEGITIMATE questions on this board because some people are too immature to give a reasonable response.
At least the guy asking the question is here to find advice on something that he heard, and wanted to make certain.
There is no such thing as a stupid question. Only stupid answers from immature people.
/End Rant.
Did you get your answer? To be honest I'm not sure what you were asking in the first place, as enfields were produced in both .308 and .303, and .303 bore diameter is usually about .311, and people tend to not use the right wording, so saying case sometimes means they're talking about the actual case, or the bullet, or maybe they're wondering about resizing one common caliber to make another... Hence the wide range of answers.
For comparison search images of .308 and .303 on google - you'll see that they're very very different in many ways. Wikipedia also often has good starting info on dimensions as well as random interesting tid bits of information.
Actually, the response was pretty tame this time I thought
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
I looked up the different pictures and measurements in one of my reloading books. They are much different. I did also remember a previous thread on the same subject a while ago and an answer was along the lines that if a soldier was to run out of ammo for his 303 or 308....he could revert to the other ammo. I do not remember what way it could be switched in a real pinch, or if it could be done. But reality does tell you that one size does not fit the other....... as you cannot put a Ford rim on a GMC product for instance, they look much alike but are meant for different vehicles....guns are the same.
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
Not many times in history or places even now where a soldier armed with a .303 would also have .308/7.62 available to them. Excluding guerillas or other less than organized forces.
Did you get your answer? To be honest I'm not sure what you were asking in the first place, as enfields were produced in both .308 and .303, and .303 bore diameter is usually about .311, and people tend to not use the right wording, so saying case sometimes means they're talking about the actual case, or the bullet, or maybe they're wondering about resizing one common caliber to make another... Hence the wide range of answers.
For comparison search images of .308 and .303 on google - you'll see that they're very very different in many ways. Wikipedia also often has good starting info on dimensions as well as random interesting tid bits of information.
Actually, the response was pretty tame this time I thought
Yes I did, however not from the smart asses in the peanut gallery.Wording was the problem. I now understand that a .308 bullet can be fired from the .303 cartridge and not the loaded .308 cartridge from the .303 rifle. I did however appreciate the newer guys rant about immature comments. I find that the most knowledgeable people on any give subject rarely (if ever) give rude or sarcastic answers, its mostly the wannabe know it alls that behave in that manner.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
What about the British forces that were on the front lines and took over the invading army trenches and run out of thier own ammo, the other army rifles and ammo was available. There are occasions where the two shall mix ....but main question was could the two calibers of ammo be used in an emergency in opposing calibers and which way?
Well, speaking respectfully to everyone on this thread, the question did say cartridges not bullets.
"I have read on here that you can safely fire .308 cartridges from a lee enfield .303 brit."
If you passed your PAL exam you should have learned the answer to that question.
"I have read on here that you can safely fire .308 cartridges from a lee enfield .303 brit."
If you passed your PAL exam you should have learned the answer to that question.
It is a poorly worded querstion.
A 308 round will not chamber (or fire) in a 303 chamber.
The other question is, can a Lee Enfiled be re-chambered or re-barreled to 308? This question is a pressure question, because obviously the round will chamber and fire. The answer is that the 308 has too much power for a #1 action and problems will develop fairly quickly. But many thousands of #4s were rebarreled to 308 as target rifles and they shot just fine. The 303 magazine would not work and neither would the 303 ejector.
Just to go full circle, you can also install a 308 barrel and chamber it with a 303 reamer, giving you a "308 Brit". It shoot 308 bullets.
A 308 round will not chamber (or fire) in a 303 chamber.
The other question is, can a Lee Enfiled be re-chambered or re-barreled to 308? This question is a pressure question, because obviously the round will chamber and fire. The answer is that the 308 has too much power for a #1 action and problems will develop fairly quickly. But many thousands of #4s were rebarreled to 308 as target rifles and they shot just fine. The 303 magazine would not work and neither would the 303 ejector.
Just to go full circle, you can also install a 308 barrel and chamber it with a 303 reamer, giving you a "308 Brit". It shoot 308 bullets.
