Whats available in 303 british????????????

[josquin]

Actually, you can make a pretty nice 303 out of the Martini-Enfield. I have 3 of them that were made in 303. If memory serves, when the 303 was first developed (in black powder) it was for the 303 Martini-Enfiled.

These have wonderful triggers. One could take off the military wood, install custom wood and have a nice rifle without having to bubba the rifle. Think of it as the great grandfather of the Ruger #1.

I have one that had a shot-out barrel which I replaced with a barrel from a NºIII. The trigger is VERY stiff, though (unlike my .310 Cadet). Once I get the new house finished and have a proper workshop I'm going to have to spend some time working on that trigger. I suspect the engagement angle of the sear and tumbler may not be right.

The Martini is one rifle that I wish one of the Italian replica mfrs. would start making. They just ooze history.

Stuart

 

[Ormachek]

Hasn't stopped manufacturers yet. Look at the cartridges available that don't do anything better than existing cartridges.

A very few examples:
300 WSM vs .30-06 & 300 WM
.30/30 vs 32 Special
204 Ruger vs 223 & 22-250
30 TC vs 308 & 30-06
308 vs 30-06
7mm-08 vs .308

None of the above out perform their competitors enough to be truly considered a significant improvement. Yet they sell. All personal choice!

If the truth be told, a 22 LR, a 12ga and a .30-06 would pretty much be all a hunter/shooter would "need", yet look at the ammo counter at the local gun shop and count the different cartridges "stocked'. Or look in your safe and do the same. Personal choice/preference.

I suspect some folks will pipe in that "the 308 is a better choice than the 30-06" and "a 20 ga will work as good as a 12 but lighter", etc.
Again personal choice!

Point being that it doesn't do anything the infinitely more common .308 and 30-06 do, infinitely more common especially in the U.S., where most of our firearms manufacturers make their decisions which cartridges to chamber.

And it would seem that the vast majority have made the "personal choice" not to use .303 or else the manufacturers would be making rifles in it. If there was demand, there would be product.

 

[rem338win]

Try and pick up a churchill or parker hale sporter No3 or No4. Great little guns,like new to new barrels in most of them. Buy some extra enfield magazines and you are good to go. I bought a few of these and I wish I had bought more when they were cheap because no one wanted them.
A company in England makes a No4 conversion kit that converts 303 to 223. This would be something to consider for small game.
The Ruger idea, I would think one should consider the Ruger No 3 rifle in 303 british. I have one in 223 and it is a great little carbine....same size as a martini-enfield 303........

Only they don't make the No. 3 anymore, right?

 

[Lefty Dick]

Lets see, a rimmed cartridge operating at a low pressure, often factory loaded far below it's published numbers vs.
a rimless, cartridge that fits nicely into a short action, that operates at a pressure that allows factory ammo to live up to it's billing.

I'll go 308 Winchester thanks.

This is not a knock against the 303 Brit, it has a very deserved reputation, but the 308 simply surplants it with a slightly better designed, and functionality.

 

[NAA]

Lets see, a rimmed cartridge operating at a low pressure, often factory loaded far below it's published numbers vs.
a rimless, cartridge that fits nicely into a short action, that operates at a pressure that allows factory ammo to live up to it's billing.

I'll go 308 Winchester thanks.

This is not a knock against the 303 Brit, it has a very deserved reputation, but the 308 simply surplants it with a slightly better designed, and functionality.

+1

NAA.

 

[TheTooner]

Hasn't stopped manufacturers yet. Look at the cartridges available that don't do anything better than existing cartridges.

...examples:
...
308 vs 30-06
...

None of the above out perform their competitors enough to be truly considered a significant improvement. Yet they sell. All personal choice!



I suspect some folks will pipe in that "the 308 is a better choice than the 30-06"

For the hunter, there is not much significant between the .308 and .30-06, but the justification for the .308's creation was a military requirement to replace the.30-06with a compact cartridge. In that context, it did outperform the .30-06 enough to be truly a significant improvement.

 

[H4831]

Here is a neat litle Lee Enfield. Some good shop cut these down, 19½ inch barrel and I also have a five shot mag for it. That's a Lyman aperature on it.

 

[NDB]

Ballistically there's nothing wrong with the .303, but rimless is better than rimmed (to avoid feeding problems) - not that that would be an issue in a Ruger #1.

The .303 Lee Enfields would have been replaced by the UK after WW1 if it hadn't been for the onset of WW2 and the logistical problems associated with re-arming an empire. The venerable .303 survived as long as it did due to circumstances and the fact it was certainly up to the job at hand.

I have a Parker Hale #4, of the type mentioned earlier. They were built on military surplus #4 actions with Parker Hale wood and barrels. Just after the war, they would have been an excellent choice in Canada especially as .303 was readily available. Even now commercially made .303 is not that expensive, is it? Around a $1 a round - certainly cheaper than other popular cartridges.

I also have rifles in .308, .223, 7.62 Soviet, .22, etc. etc. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[MadDog]

Globco converted a bunch of SVT40's to 303 Brit many moons ago as well if your thinking semi-auto. Not alot of them around but you trip over them every now and then.

 

[josquin]

Here is a neat litle Lee Enfield. Some good shop cut these down, 19½ inch barrel and I also have a five shot mag for it. That's a Lyman aperature on it.

And pretty nice grain on the buttstock, too!

 

[DEZ]

SIR sold centurion p14 sporters in 300 win 7mm and also .303Brit although not new any more my dads friend had one and it shot quite well . If you look around you can still find a new #4 in the cosmoline I have one that I bought when SIR had the for $350.00 expect to pay at least 3x that for a new one now .