Some Ross Questions,

K

Kevan

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
24   0   0
Location
Lower Mainland B.C.
A long neglected acquisition has me looking for some answers.
Its a Ross M-10 originally described as a " factory sporter " has a 22" barrel and the wood appears to be a factory sporter stock unlike some of the military Ross rifles that ran into Bubba.
Its all intact and weighs 7lb. 5oz. and has factory barrel sights.
Serial # 17**6 has me wondering of its age .
The receiver ring is marked Ross M-10 with some kind of faded crossed sword stamp and below that is a large letter B and slightly below that are the numbers 6002.
I would like to determine the age and also find an original receiver sight for it since the bore is pretty good, certainly shootable.
Any information will be most appreciated as the Ross website has been no help at all.
 
What kind of rear sight does it have? Dovetail mounted with a notched elevator or folding leaf?
Checkered?
.303?
Barrel contour?
22" is short for a factory barrel.
Any hope of photos?
 
Tiriaq, it has the dovetail rear with a notched elevator, no checkering, in 303 Brit.
Tapered barrel contour.
I personally question the shorter barrel length and lack of checkering since a couple sporters I had in 280 years ago were checkered and also had folding rear sights.
In its current configuration it would make for a superb walking rifle and if it is a cut-down military gun then someone did a nice job.
Sorry, I can only send pictures to a personal e-mail addy as I'm " computer challenged "..
 
If it has a serial number stamped on the receiver it's a factory sporter not a military cut down. The faded crosses stamped on the receiver is the dominion of Canada proof mark that all Rosses received.
 
sequoia4100 said:
If it has a serial number stamped on the receiver it's a factory sporter not a military cut down. The faded crosses stamped on the receiver is the dominion of Canada proof mark that all Rosses received.
Click to expand...

Ok, now here is the confusing part.
There are two numbers, the first # 17*** is stamped on the barrel itself lower left side of the barrel directly in front of the receiver.
The second set are on the left receiver ring and are 4 digits with the letter B stamped above.
 
Kevan said:
Ok, now here is the confusing part.
There are two numbers, the first # 17*** is stamped on the barrel itself lower left side of the barrel directly in front of the receiver.
The second set are on the left receiver ring and are 4 digits with the letter B stamped above.
Click to expand...

Ross factory serial #s are stamped on the left side of the barrel near the receiver, just above the stock line, very small numbers.

Pictures really would help.
 
If you want, send me pics. milstocks107@live.ca. I'll post them for you here.

A 17,000 serial would be a fairly late production.

Plain in checkered stock sounds like an R-10. Does it have a Winchester buckhorn barrel mounted rear sight?

We'll need to see it to know for sure what you have. Guys on the Ross site have told me 303s in 22" length barrels did exist. The big B on the chamber has me worried that it could be a big E, as in enlarged chamber. That should have only been done to military rifles though.

Does the front sight base have holes in the sides for two screws each side?
Is the rear sight bridge a solid plain piece with no provision for mounting a sight, or does it have mounting location for a sight and spring, or a cut out for a fixed fold down peep sight? Also does the bridge have ears or slots for a charger clip?

Another giveaway feature is the bolt stop. Does it have three stop positions or two? Factory sporters have no need for single loading so do not have the mag cut off detent. Also, does it have a mid barrel band on the barrel?

There were at least one or two factories making sporters out of military rifles after the wars too. Most retain some of their original features that were not present on the real factory sporters.
 
I will forward pics.
The front sight base is a barrel band slightly back from the muzzle, bolt release seems to have only two positions.
The rear receiver bridge is flat and is screwed to the receiver itself.
Rear sight assy. does have a distinct " Winchester " appearance.

By the way I'm really grateful for everybodys contributions here..
 
flying pig said:
Another giveaway feature is the bolt stop. Does it have three stop positions or two? Factory sporters have no need for single loading so do not have the mag cut off detent. Also, does it have a mid barrel band on the barrel?
Click to expand...

This is true for most R-10, E-10 & M-10 factory sporters. But the very early ones have a three position bolt stop.
 
Good to know Ax. Seems the more I learn, the more I find there is to learn. Rosses are a lot like Lee-Enfields that way.

This one is a factory R-10. I'll post the pics the OP sent me shortly. His is 11 numbers off of mine!
 
one other feature of the factory sporters that you could look for is the caliber marking. If it says 303 ROSS stamped on the barrel just above the serial number, you are likely the proud owner of a R-10, the factory sporter in 303 British caliber. It will have the same magazine as the MkIII military model in all likelihood.
The barrel profile will be slimmer than the military MkIII version. The Winchester buckhorn sights mounted to the barrel are correct to the R-10 and you should find an R stamped on the barrel close to where it mates with the receiver.
 
Here are the photos of Kevan's rifle:

UG90959%20Ross%20bottom_zpsop5flirv.jpg


UG90959%20Ross%20top%20receiver_zpsly6itvx8.jpg


UG90959%20Ross%20right_zpsgv6fic3p.jpg


UG90959%20Ross%20left_zpso8he1l5i.jpg


UG90959%20Ross%20full%20left_zps76i35ik8.jpg


Beautiful case colors on that bolt Kevan. If this one has not been trimmed (which I don't think it has as the barrel ahead of the front sight would have to be stepped down or the front sight base bored out) then I believe it is more scarce than most R-10s being it is a short barrel version.
 
Brno8x57 said:
one other feature of the factory sporters that you could look for is the caliber marking. If it says 303 ROSS stamped on the barrel just above the serial number, you are likely the proud owner of a R-10, the factory sporter in 303 British caliber. It will have the same magazine as the MkIII military model in all likelihood.
The barrel profile will be slimmer than the military MkIII version. The Winchester buckhorn sights mounted to the barrel are correct to the R-10 and you should find an R stamped on the barrel close to where it mates with the receiver.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is stamped 303 ROSS and there is a small letter R near the receiver.
I'll check but I think the barrel measured 0.620" at the muzzle.
My Dear Wife saw the 303 ROSS stamp on the barrel and remarked jokingly " Here we go, I suppose your 303 Brit dies won't be good enough for this one, well too bad you will have to wait for your next OAP cheque to go shopping, HAHA" !
 
flying pig said:
If this one has not been trimmed (which I don't think it has as the barrel ahead of the front sight would have to be stepped down or the front sight base bored out) then I believe it is more scarce than most R-10s being it is a short barrel version.
Click to expand...

Are there any pictures of the muzzle?

Is it crowned or flat?

Nice rifle at any rate.
 
Kevan said:
Yes, it is stamped 303 ROSS and there is a small letter R near the receiver.
I'll check but I think the barrel measured 0.620" at the muzzle.
My Dear Wife saw the 303 ROSS stamp on the barrel and remarked jokingly " Here we go, I suppose your 303 Brit dies won't be good enough for this one, well too bad you will have to wait for your next OAP cheque to go shopping, HAHA" !
Click to expand...

you scored a nice one there. I have both a 1905R and an R-10. The 1905R is by far my favorite rifle to carry. With the shorter barrel, your R-10 is almost identical dimensions. You will enjoy toting it around in the bush.

I have a set of 303 Ross dies I could sell you or you could make your own with a piece of masking tape and a black marker :)
 
Doesn't look as if the barrel has been shortened.
Can't explain the B and 6002 on the receiver. Any chance of a photo?

I have a 1905R. Someone skillfully filed a sighting groove along the top of the receiver ring. Sight line can be pretty low on these. Swapped receivers for one from a basket case Mk.II service rifle.

I have found that unaltered sporting rifles are encountered more often than unaltered service rifles. As mentioned, most Rosses that turn up are sported militaries.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom