Too much $ on 303?? finally done! pics

xcaribooer

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How much $ is too much to sink into a 303 sporter?
I have a nice PH supreme(not my really nice one) that I paid $220 for, $20 for a ba29 side mount ,$160 for mossy oak stock from marstar.proper PH rail and rals3 rings$50..Already up to $450.Not counting the sling and Bushnell elite 3200 3-9x40 scope I plan to mount .

I still want:
-Stock professionally fitted
-extra metal on reciever milled off ,like custom#4
-3 holes drilled and tapped for side mount
-all metal parkerized in "gunmetal grey"

hopeing I can get all this done for $300 I will end up with $750 invested before scope in a gun that if I ever re-sell would probally be lucky to get $400 back out of.But.. I will have the NICE 303 sporter that I have been wanting.What do you think?
 
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Well you cna always take the scope off the gun if you decide to sell it. Good choice on the scope too, its what I have on my tikka.

Your right in the fact that its a sporter, and they are a dime a dozen..

But they shoot real well, don't they? I saw a sporterized enfield rebarreled in 338-06 sell for a pretty penny on this board.

Everyone should have a good 303 sporter. I am planning to fix one up like you are too, but probably with a synthetic stock.

It all matters to you. If you want to do up a beautiful looking gun i mean.. thats half the fun isn't it? Just be prepared that it will most likely sell for far below then that you paid for it.. but who knows?
 
I have a P14 with a chopped barrel -6'' recrowned, monte carlo walnut stock, williams peep sights, modified bolt handle, and drilled for scope.
I love my .303, I think that everyone should own a sporter.
Lets face it the .303 is a great cartridge, it may be old but it still packs a wallop.
As long as your happy with your gun then what does it matter, they are tough as hell, they make a very satisfying BANG and they look nice, cheers! :wave: .
 
xcaribooer said:
hopeing I can get all this done for $300 I will end up with $750 invested before scope in a gun that if I ever re-sell would probally be lucky to get $400 back out of.But.. I will have the NICE 303 sporter that I have been wanting.What do you think?

I don't mean to be discouraging, but you'd have to be REALLY lucky to get $400 if you re-sell it without the scope.
 
I realize that, but that is the same with any custom rifle no matter what it is, you will never get back what you have invested in it.I got a price back from the gunsmith for the work I want done and it was a fair bit less than I figgured.All is good
 
If you like the rifle who cares if you have 500 in to a 200 doller gun. Every one should have a nice 303. I have two. It would be my new gun if they made a new one.
 
+1...everyone definitely should have a nice .303.

You know you won't get its value in a resale...so the real question that comes up is what are you doing this for. Is 750$ too much for an impecably solid gun chambered in a very capable round? The right gun that feels and shoots right could be worth far more if you can get that perfect gun bond...of the two guns that I own that I will NEVER sell, one is a chopped no4...
 
With the price that Savages are going for new, and for what other commercial rifles are going for used, there aren't any sporter projects that make economic sense anymore. There isn't a Lee Enfield/P14 sporter in existence that's worth more than $400 IMO (not including scope of course). There's nothing magical about the 303 Brit round, and there are certainly better actions than the LE, but I use a No4 MkI for hunting because I have it, it shoots well, and I like the way it handles.

So, if you just must have it, and the sky's the limit for how much you will pay - go for it.
 
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Timberlord said:
Hummm...I was looking at a nice sported P14 yesterday for $200 . All numbers matched , nice bore , still has the front sight protector....
:rolleyes:

If they left the rear sight alone also I'd grab it at that price! :eek:
 
Dukeoflawnchair said:
+1...everyone definitely should have a nice .303.

You know you won't get its value in a resale...so the real question that comes up is what are you doing this for. Is 750$ too much for an impecably solid gun chambered in a very capable round? The right gun that feels and shoots right could be worth far more if you can get that perfect gun bond...of the two guns that I own that I will NEVER sell, one is a chopped no4...
+2 there for the sporter!
 
The gunsmithing will be done at Bits n Pieces .The new owners of Wanstalls in Maple Ridge will be using him as his gunsmith so all I have to do is drop it off at the store and wait.Save's me driving all the way to Delta.
 
ilovepotatos said:
I bought a bubba'd .303 for $40. I don't plan on doing anything to it.

It'll still shoot just as accurately as your rifle.

So yes, you're spending too much on it.

That remains to be seen,if I go to the expense of bedding the action ect and this bore being like new,It should be a good shooter.
Your argument is like the one that says a $25 crappy tire fishing rod will catch just as many fish as a $600 Sage, probally true but I think it is about user satisfaction and what ever makes you happy.There is a certain satisfaction in having good equipment.I am the same way in my occupation as a tradesman ,I cant stand junky tools.
I have always been disapointed that remington 700 or Win 70's ect were never offered in 303 so this is my way of having a very nice sporting rifle in that cartridge.By the way,I dont own any can tire fishing rods either.
 
xcaribooer said:
That remains to be seen,if I go to the expense of bedding the action ect and this bore being like new,It should be a good shooter.
Your argument is like the one that says a $25 crappy tire fishing rod will catch just as many fish as a $600 Sage, probally true but I think it is about user satisfaction and what ever makes you happy.There is a certain satisfaction in having good equipment.I am the same way in my occupation as a tradesman ,I cant stand junky tools.
I have always been disapointed that remington 700 or Win 70's ect were never offered in 303 so this is my way of having a very nice sporting rifle in that cartridge.By the way,I dont own any can tire fishing rods either.

I have a crappy Shimano break down fishing rod I found in the back of my old work truck. Never been fishing in my life.

The .303 is a dated round. Rimmed cartridges are a thing of the past. I don't see the point in having a million hunting rifles. It's not like they're collectable like Milsurps...
 
The best shooting .303 I ever owned was a really ratty old Lithgow. I sold it and then watched the purchaser win the .303 event in our Rifle Rodeo. The guy who bought it was happy, I was happy for him and I got back the money that I had paid for it.

I don't presume to compare apples with oranges; if you are satisfied, you did not pay too much.

I guy could say "I gotsa great Lada, gets me where I am going, why would you buy something more expensive?", and I would answer,"Because I want to, and I can afford it!"... I've never owned a Lada, or a Hyundai either!
 
oldbadger said:
I guy could say "I gotsa great Lada, gets me where I am going, why would you buy something more expensive?", and I would answer,"Because I want to, and I can afford it!"... I've never owned a Lada, or a Hyundai either!

I've got milsurps worth twice as much as the POS I drive back and forth to work.;)

Like has been said, if you're happy with the end result, you haven't paid too much.
 
As far as the cartridge itself,I have seen enough moose standing out in the willows go down with one shot from this out dated cartridge to know it is just fine. I have also seen moose shot at in similar conditions with a 7mag and missed due to bullet deflection.
This gun will be my bush gun for moose and blacktail deer and I will use my 270 for mulies.I will always have my 270 along on moose hunts in areas where longer shots would be required..
 
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