.308 in a .303 brit?
- Thread starter direction88
- Start date
The #4 lee enfields were made strong enough to be rechambered to .308 win, not the #1 Mark 3's. this is a rebarrel job and keep your loads down. I would watch it with some of these new light magnum factory shells coming out. Most of the conversions done were based on military standard issue ball ammo with relaxed chamber pressures.
Just one question though, if you are here then who is guarding the peanut gallery?
Don't worry. I am
Edit - I also came up with a fun job, and a book you could write inspired by this thread:
It would test what guns would accept and fire what calibers they weren't designed for, and the results.
It would be titled:
Putting the Right Thing in the Wrong Hole
A Case Study on what will Fit and the immediate ensuing repercussions
Last edited:
- Location
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
welcome to the site. the peanut gallery is about 90% of the folks here.
personally, i look on the barrel. if it says .303, i shoot .303 in it. if it says .308, i shoot .308 in it. if it says .303/.308, then i would shoot both. do what it's made for, and you'll be ok.
Quote: "I would watch it with some of these new light magnum factory shells coming out. Most of the conversions done were based on military standard issue ball ammo with relaxed chamber pressures. "
I have had the Hornady Light Magnum 308 Win pressure checked. Pressure was about the same as most other 308 ammo. As for "relaxed pressure' for military, if you are referring to 7.62, the pressures are the same as for 308 Win. Nothing "relaxed" about it. I have seen Canadian 7.62 as high as 60,000 psi.
I have submitted sample ammo to the Canadian gov't lab and to the lab at Expro - the makers of IMR powder. I was the technical director of a company making ammo for target shooting, and for military and police applications. The misunderstanding about 7.62 pressures is due to military specs being set by a differnt presure system than most commercial ammo. It would be like thinking 60mph is a lot slower than 100 kph. Similar speeds - different systems.
I have had the Hornady Light Magnum 308 Win pressure checked. Pressure was about the same as most other 308 ammo. As for "relaxed pressure' for military, if you are referring to 7.62, the pressures are the same as for 308 Win. Nothing "relaxed" about it. I have seen Canadian 7.62 as high as 60,000 psi.
I have submitted sample ammo to the Canadian gov't lab and to the lab at Expro - the makers of IMR powder. I was the technical director of a company making ammo for target shooting, and for military and police applications. The misunderstanding about 7.62 pressures is due to military specs being set by a differnt presure system than most commercial ammo. It would be like thinking 60mph is a lot slower than 100 kph. Similar speeds - different systems.
Last edited:
To further muddy the waters yes there were Lee Enfield rifles produced in 7.62 (.308) as well. So there are Lee Enfield rifles that fire .303 cartridges, some that shoot .308 cartridges and some people who load .308 cal bullets in .303 cases.
Last edited:
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
I have never tried,but if it did fire, I believe you are risking some body parts.
I don't know who told you that,but don't do it......kaboom very possible.
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
He said "cartridges",that makes me believe he wants to know if .308 ammo can be safely fired in a .303 chambered rifle........I say NO.
Oh agreed!!!! But bearing that in mind, I can see where someone new to Enfields surfing the net for information could get a bit confused. I figure it's a valid question all things considered.
I wouldn't bet on that. My son's PAL trainer insisted that "ALL" rifles have their calibre marked on the bbl and if it doesn't match don't shoot. Well I don't know about you but my gun cupboard is dominated by Milsurps that don't designate any calibre whatsoever. Even if it has a BNP .303 stamp well how do you know it's not a .303 Savage? When I confronted him on it with the bubba'd No4. that they had there for training purposes he said "It says 'England' right here so that would be a good clue" WRONG!!!! that's an export stamp, and has nothing to do with ammunition. To make such an assumption is down right dangerous even if it does work out in this instance, after all there are a lot of Enfields that have Savage stamped on them too!
Anyway I hope the original poster now knows the answer for the question he asked, or meant to ask regardless.
Originally Posted by direction88 View Post
I have read on here that you can safely fire .308 cartridges from a lee enfield .303 brit. I just want to know if this is factual?
I sincerely doubt some-one on HERE told you that!
I have read on here that you can safely fire .308 cartridges from a lee enfield .303 brit. I just want to know if this is factual?
I sincerely doubt some-one on HERE told you that!
The answer to your question is, No. Howerver you can fire .308 cartridges in a Lee Enfield 7.62N (.308Win)
Possession and Acquisition License . Required to legally own firearms.
To get it, you need to pass a test.
Apparently not a terribly hard one, as it seems to be passed by a lot of folk that should know better than to believe anything that starts with "In an emergency, a soldier can..."
Funny ####, Maynard! Really Funny!
Now we know why the Nigerian scammers are still in business. Some folks will believe anything.
Cheers
Trev
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Hmm... considering the Brits have never 'taken over the trenches' of a NATO country, I doubt they'd find a ton of .308 to throw into their Enfields. Unless they have a time machine.
NO. It can't happen. No 7.62x51 in a .303 British chamber. End of story.
Perhaps he means during the Falklands War? The Argies used FALs and FN MAGs which were compatible with the Brit's SLRs and GPMGs as they all used 7.62x51 ammo.
