My first rifle was a Globe Firearms sporterized 1943 Long Branch. Bought it directly from Globe about 45 years ago. It is still in my safe. Last time I had it to the range it shot a 5 round 2 1/2 inch group at 200 yards using hand loaded 174Gr Hornady round nose interlock over 37 grains of H335, and yes I am old as dirt.
What about the old 303!!!!
- Thread starter crash60
- Start date
My first rifle was a Globe Firearms sporterized 1943 Long Branch. Bought it directly from Globe about 45 years ago. It is still in my safe. Last time I had it to the range it shot a 5 round 2 1/2 inch group at 200 yards using hand loaded 174Gr Hornady round nose interlock over 37 grains of H335, and yes I am old as dirt.
not the first World War, it was almost over when the U.S. joined in. WW2 was a different matter entirely.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
sir_springer
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays
Who over the age of about 60 didn't cut their teeth on a Lee Enfield .303?
Took my first couple mule deer bucks with this one. Dad bought it from Eatons circa '62, out of a barrel for $10.00, army surplus.
Then he went to work on it. Hand carved the mahogany stock. Cut the barrel to about 19", scrapped every piece of surplus wood off the front and trimmed what was left, and even cut the bridge over the action off. Sourdough front sight and Williams peep at the rear. Had a machinist buddy modify the clip to be flush, holds 5 rounds. My guess is it weighs in around 6 pounds.
Still in my gun safe, along with a couple boxes of Imperial ammo. No way could I ever part with it. Quit shooting it long time ago when I discovered it was perforating primers...? Not sure how to fix that?
Took my first couple mule deer bucks with this one. Dad bought it from Eatons circa '62, out of a barrel for $10.00, army surplus.
Then he went to work on it. Hand carved the mahogany stock. Cut the barrel to about 19", scrapped every piece of surplus wood off the front and trimmed what was left, and even cut the bridge over the action off. Sourdough front sight and Williams peep at the rear. Had a machinist buddy modify the clip to be flush, holds 5 rounds. My guess is it weighs in around 6 pounds.
Still in my gun safe, along with a couple boxes of Imperial ammo. No way could I ever part with it. Quit shooting it long time ago when I discovered it was perforating primers...? Not sure how to fix that?
I don't think he's comparing which is better, just seems to be stating that a hand loader can push it to higher speeds and be just as well off as Joe Schmoe and his brand x 308 with store bought ammo.
this is an enfield in 303 Bevan and I put together
Beautiful, thanks for sharing with us.
I'll bet that it's a pretty good shooter too.
I've hunted with both a No4 MkI and a P14 and killed deer, and while there's absolutely nothing special about the 303, there are several downsides to it in comparison to several other similar rounds (e.g. the 308). Sentimentality and Patriotism (?) can motivate people to choose a particular round, but I've moved on and chosen a better all-round rifle and chambering,
Very nice! Bevan did some great work for sure!
I worked with him for a bit making barrels. It was an awesome learning experience, and a great friendship. I will never part with the rifles we made! Hopefully my sons will hunt with them some day.
I worked with him for a bit making barrels. It was an awesome learning experience, and a great friendship. I will never part with the rifles we made! Hopefully my sons will hunt with them some day.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
funny thing about the old 303 round
it was originally black powder, then cordite, then finally Nitrocellulose
but the British had already decided in 1913 to replace it with a slightly smaller higher velocity bullet .287 I believe, (I don't have my reference material here) but there was a little dust up with the square heads and there was 303 in stock.
so on we go
After the big one, there were a lot of 303 rifles and ammo in stores and no one really wanted to think about war and improving the basic cartridge. And along came the second big dustup worse then the first.
but as time went on things settled down again, and finally the Boffins in the Ministry of Defence got back around to looking at replacing the 303 with a modern cartridge, the old .287 was outdated and the Americans were invited to participate in the design (that was a mistake) the result was the 7x43mm AKA 280 Enfield, but the Americans had the final say and we ended up with a short 30-06, 7.62x51mm that proved to be too powerful for controlled burst from a light rifle.
so whats my point ? Do I have a point ? or am I just getting old and rambling on ?
well the point is that the 303 is really not that great, don't get me wrong I have a fair number of 303's in my vault and I do shoot them on a regular basis. But the 303 might have been replaced and phased out over 100 years ago.
it was originally black powder, then cordite, then finally Nitrocellulose
but the British had already decided in 1913 to replace it with a slightly smaller higher velocity bullet .287 I believe, (I don't have my reference material here) but there was a little dust up with the square heads and there was 303 in stock.
so on we go
After the big one, there were a lot of 303 rifles and ammo in stores and no one really wanted to think about war and improving the basic cartridge. And along came the second big dustup worse then the first.
but as time went on things settled down again, and finally the Boffins in the Ministry of Defence got back around to looking at replacing the 303 with a modern cartridge, the old .287 was outdated and the Americans were invited to participate in the design (that was a mistake) the result was the 7x43mm AKA 280 Enfield, but the Americans had the final say and we ended up with a short 30-06, 7.62x51mm that proved to be too powerful for controlled burst from a light rifle.
so whats my point ? Do I have a point ? or am I just getting old and rambling on ?
well the point is that the 303 is really not that great, don't get me wrong I have a fair number of 303's in my vault and I do shoot them on a regular basis. But the 303 might have been replaced and phased out over 100 years ago.
I think the differences between the .303 and .308,.30-06 etc are purely mathematical and rarely practical for 90% of shots and 90% of shooters. The rifles housing the .303 are most certainly better value for the dollar than anything new under the $700 plus scope mark. Ie if you can't spend $1500 on a new rig, buy a $300 scoped Enfield and save up. But don't buy a junk Axis or something like that. A nice scoped rifle is easier to use for sure but hey I've shot my last four deer with an Iver single shot and buckshot. And the four deer before that with custom Sakos and Leopold scopes.
Most of the anti-.303 stuff is just magazines talking. A 150 gr .303 Dominion at 2700 fps is not practically different from any factory .308 or 30-06. The rifles may not be as user friendly but since when was hunting supposed to be user friendly anyway.
Most of the anti-.303 stuff is just magazines talking. A 150 gr .303 Dominion at 2700 fps is not practically different from any factory .308 or 30-06. The rifles may not be as user friendly but since when was hunting supposed to be user friendly anyway.
Lots of us old guys shot our 1st animal with the 303. I still have mine (#5) about 45+ years ago. Guys are right, better guns and cal. for little money. Still better than SKS and other 30-30 class cartridges. Has a 303 brought over a couple days ago for very cheep.
